Embarrassing question 🙈

[Amanda86]

Hey everyone,

So I’ve got a bit of an embarrassing questions.

Is it common to have swollen labia (vaginal lip) during pregnancy? It seems the left one is quite swollen and tender.

I was using sudo cream and I’m now using savilon (just got this today) not sure it’ll make a difference.

Just want to see if this is common/normal? I’m currently 24+3

Thank you 🙈

[DianeArnold]

Hi Amanda86. Sorry to hear you have this, but it is not normal to have a swelling of the labia during pregnancy. We have little glands called "Bartholin's glands" either side of the vagina, that produce a fluid to lubricate the vagina. They can easily become infected - usually just the one and become swollen and painful. I think you need to see your GP as you may need to have a course of antibiotics before it becomes worse. Hope it soon gets better. Diane

[Amanda86 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks for the quick reply Diane. I’ll call my GP to see if it’s possible to get an appointment for today 🙂 xxx

[DianeArnold in reply to Amanda86]

Brilliant! If it's what I think it is, it can become quite painful. Good luck! Diane

[Amanda86 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thank you 🙂 they’ve no appointments but a duty doctor is going to call me back so hopefully they’ll prescribe me antibiotics 🤞 xxx

[DianeArnold in reply to Amanda86]

Oh that's good, so I hope you soon have some relief. Diane xx

[Amanda86 in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane, thanks again. Spoke to duty doctor who got me to pop along to surgery to have a look. She said it’s enlarged blood vessels due to pregnancy, because it’s alreasy swollen and my job is active it’s rubbing off my pants and causing further irritation. Basically she said just take it easy and try to rest to prevent further irritation but if it becomes any more red or swollen/painful then just to pop along again.

Very difficult taking it easy in work unfortunately (I work in a residential care home) but I’ll make sure to take it easy at home when I’m off 🙂 xxx

[DianeArnold in reply to Amanda86]

Hi Amanda. OK. How pregnant are you now? Diane xx

[Amanda86 in reply to DianeArnold]

I’m 24 weeks 3 days 🙂 xxx

[DianeArnold]

Hi Amasnda86. Just had a look at some of your previous posts and noticed the "Vaginal ache" one. You must be around 28/40wks now, so that is indicative of vulval veins. It might sound daft, but try and wear an old-fashioned pad (the thick ones). They can give you some support. The good news is that they disappear after birth. Diane

[DianeArnold in reply to DianeArnold]

Oops! Got ahead of myself there! Still think a pad might help - try it. Diane xx

[Amanda86 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thank you very much Diane, I’ll try that with the pad!

I don’t know if it makes any difference but my placenta is covering birth canal (or it was at 20 week scan) I’m back at 32 weeks to see if it’s moved. Just thinking if it’s still lying this way it could maybe be extra weight below 🙈

Xxx

[DianeArnold in reply to Amanda86]

Hi Amanda86. Yes, it could possibly do so. Hopefully the placenta will gradually move to one side as your little one grows. Diane xx

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Hi, I think I did seem to remember thinking one lip looked more prurple/reddish than the other and more swollen. Was sticking out more. Your body does lots of weird & strange things during pregnancy. It did go down. Try not to worry