Swollen down there

[AutumnAir]

I'm feeling a ton of pressure in my pelvis and lately I've noticed that my vulva and perineum are really swollen, especially when I go to the loo. Even if it's just for a wee and I'm only there half a minute it feels all tender and swollen. I haven't gotten up the courage to have a look at it with a mirror yet.

I've got SPD and have been seeing a chiropractor, but even with that my pubic bone and hips are very sore and stiff - I wonder if this is connected?

Anyone BDTD? Any suggestions for relieving it a bit?

(Sorry for the TMI!!)

[jennica]

Me too I developed a vericose vein in that area and some are starting on the leg on the same side. I am also suspecting SPD, but it comes and goes at this point so I am not sure. I see my chiro today so I will be talking to her about this. I talked to my midwife and she gave me some tips. She said it sounds like the baby has dropped really low in my pelvis and that is causing blood to pool and pressure to build up. So, she suggested I do some butt up in the air chest to the floor positions every now and then. Also, she said to elevate my feet every day and ice the swollen area. She also told me to drink nettle tea - 2 cups to a quart per day - to get rid of the vericose veins. The veins haven't gotten worse, but haven't gone away either. I also bought a belly support band, but it is somewhat uncomfortable so I only wear it on walks. I take a walk every day and afterward elevate my feet and ice the area while my circulation is going. Everything is still swollen and there is a lot pressure. I'm hoping the chiro will help.

[AutumnAir]

I'm sorry you're suffering too! Those sound like good ideas - I'll definitely give them a try. The chiro I'm seeing says he's done as much as he can for me in terms of pelvic alignment - that now it's just a case of maintaining things until the baby's born Which is a bummer, as my hips and pelvis are still really painful - I struggle getting up and down the stairs.

This baby is definitely hanging out very low - I feel tons of pressure down there all the time - but I'm kind of wary of doing anything that might change its position too much. I had a very bad experience with DD when she was posterior and asynclitic. Though I guess it's too early to be really worrying about OFP yet...

Ta for the info and I hope your chiro can help you out

[AmyKT]

Lots of pressure for me, too. My MW said it's common with 2nd or 3rd babies to feel that much earlier. For me, I think it's a pelvic floor issue, and the fact that I'm sitting much more this pg than last. I've got some nettle, so I'll up my daily tea consumption to help with varicose veins. I've certainly got them on my legs, if not my vulva.

I hope you both get some relief.

[jennica]

I saw my chiropractor today. My pelvis was out of alignment and she spent a lot of time massaging a few really tight muscles that were pulling it that way. She gave some exercises to do too. One thing is to do a lunge type of thing, where I sit in between two pieces of furniture and hold onto them for support. Then sit on one knee with one leg up, and stretch. She said to go back and forth and keep both sides even. She said that should really help with circulation. The exercise is kind of hard to explain, but it involved using a band to gently strengthen the pelvic area. Those I should only do for a few weeks though, she said in the last month I wouldn't want to do them because then everything should loosen up. I'm actually getting a bit concerned about positioning even though it is really early (I'm 27 weeks) because the baby stays posterior and breech (feet down) almost all of the time. I'm concerned that because it has fallen so low in the pelvis I need to start working on proper positioning sooner.