Vulvar varicose veins (Warning: WAY TMI )

[ExistentialistCat]

Will the indignities of childbearing never end?

I'm 27 weeks pg with my second and have developed what I'm pretty sure are vulvar varicose veins. There are dark purple outgrowths at the opening of my vagina and to one side. They're not painful or even itchy (yet) but they're getting worse as I've had a terrible persistent cough and am running around after a very active little daughter.

I'm seeing my MW tomorrow but thought I'd try to gather some information on here. If you've suffered this:

1. Did they go away after childbirth?
2. Did they pose a significant risk to 'normal' delivery?
3. Have you ever been able to feel sexy again?!

Would really appreciate some support as googling results are woefully inadequate...

Can't advise on this I'm afaid Ecat but didn't want you to go unanswered. As one who is 24 weeks, has piles and is yo-yo-ing between the runs and constipation, you have mu utmost sympathy.

I had them when i was pg with dd4 and i had a normal delivery and they went away afterwards

I also had vaginal varices in my 2nd pg.

1. Yes, as promised by MWs, they disappeared straight away after birth

2. They do not affect delivery in any way; well, not with mine!

3. Yes; am now pg with DC4 so I must have

Try not to worry and (I know hard when you have little one to run around after) put your feet up, literally, as much as possible.

Wishing you the best of births!

Thanks for the kind messages, everyone.

Went to see the midwife this afternoon. Turns out I'm twice lucky: I have vulval varices AND a prolapsed posterior vaginal wall. Yay. MW described pregnancy as a 'one-way process,' which made me laugh, until she explained that she meant that it was all going to get rather worse until the baby is actually out.

How do you think a support thread for people whose fanjos are turning into purple cauliflowers would go down?!

I had quite a few varicose veins around my vulva when pg with dd. Didn't realise until one popped out and started bleeding every time I touched it (when pulling up pants etc).

I spoke to the mw who was rubbish and thought it was a cyst that I would need removing after the birth. But it was causing so much bother that I eventually plucked up the courage to go to the drs, she took one look and prescribed me piles cream. It was gone within 2 days.

don't affect delivery as baby's head will push the blood out of them! they go away pretty quickly if i remember rightly but you will probably get them a bit earlier in subsequent pregnancies. (am on preg. no 3) the advice about getting your feet up is good but try not to slouch back in sofa as that is not good for foetal positioning! unfortunately no one position is good for every pregnancy niggle! they are also rarely mentioned in any pregnancy book, probably so as not to scare you!

Grade 2 compression tights (sadly not available on prescription, though stockings are but not so good for this problem) are effective but cost around £20 per pair. I have 1 leg (from foot right up to labia!) affected by veins (not much to see but lots of spider veins), with hideous ache in leg/labia. NO ache at all while wearing the tights. You MUST remove at night, and ideally you need to measure foot, calf and thigh first thing in the morning, and take the measurments to Boots or similar. You may have no pain now - but it may develop as the baby gets bigger.

You could always start with grade 1 compresion - that might be enough to stop it getting worse - and they MIGHT be a lot cheaper.

Hope that helps!

I had them (and boy, did they ache!) during my second pregnancy and

1. Yes, they went away after (never to return, not even when I was pregnant for a third time!)

2. No affect whatsoever on my (normal) delivery

3. Yes, no problem at all.