varicose veins

[MovingMomma]

I have a couple of varicose veins in my vulva.  One in the outer labia & one in the perineum.  They aren't really painful, mostly annoying.  I'm a bit worried about what they'll do during birth.  

I put the Earth Mama Angel Baby bottom balm on them daily.  Any other suggestions?  Anyone else have these?  

[Peony]

I've had them every pg, they have never been a problem during the birth. I've never put anything on them since they aren't painful. They disappear (Until next time!) after the baby is born. 

[Baby_Cakes]

  Bumping this b/c I feel very alone!!!  I just discovered one and, truthfully, it hurts.  Is there anything I can do for it now to ease the pain?  I feel like it's going to explode when I give birth and I'm really afraid.  I have my mw appt tomorrow and will bring it up but thought maybe I could just ask for you guys's experiences/opinions.  

[Beckily]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

  Bumping this b/c I feel very alone!!!  I just discovered one and, truthfully, it hurts.  Is there anything I can do for it now to ease the pain?  I feel like it's going to explode when I give birth and I'm really afraid.  I have my mw appt tomorrow and will bring it up but thought maybe I could just ask for you guys's experiences/opinions.  

The Mayan work is supposed to help, if you wanted to go try that. http://arvigotherapy.com - there should be someone near you.
 

[miriam]

I had varicose veins since I was 14 years old.  I was very althetic and really pissed that this happened to me.

I had the perineum and vulvar varicose veins with my first baby.  It did not interfere at all with the birth.  I did not have them with the other pregnancies.  My veins did not get worse, but I made it a priority to take care of them. I recall my mother's and my grandmother's varicose veins and I took charge!

Varicose veins are hereditary.

You can control their ugliness by wearing support hose all the time.  

Do not get constipated.  

Take psyllium seed to allieviate any bouts of constipation and drink lots of juice and water.  

Senna tea can help too.

Put your legs up when ever you are sitting AND put a board under the foot of your bed or between the mattresses to help circulation.  

I also took lots of vitamin E during all pregnancies, lots of protein, and calcium, and I like to think that it helped.

[LadyJennifer]

Glad I'm not the only one! A leg varisosity and a labial varicosity showed up in my second pregnancy (much to my dismay!). I tried all sorts of things, but nothing really seemed to help. Witch hazel applications help temporarily. Butcher's broom is supposed to help too (I just started taking that). Anyway, I birthed my son vaginally with no problems, and they went away after delivery.

Now pregnant with #3 and they're back full force. I wear support knee high for my right leg (the one with the varicosities), and that's really all I can do. I'm hoping the butcher's broom helps!

[miriam]

I also soaked long cotton bandages in a solution of warm water and oak bark powder as an astringent for my legs and put plastic over that and then leggings over that and put my legs up.

[Beckily]

In my training varicosities are usually the result of pelvic congestion. Usually the uterus is sitting in a less than ideal position and blocking the circulation to and from your legs. This often occurs in athletic women, actually, because the uterine ligaments are designed to stretch and the jarring movements of running and such make the uterus bounce around and generally not sit nicely.

With pregnancy, you're adding a giant baby, ect to a uterus that isn't ideally positioned and everything gets more exciting :)

The gentle belly massage can help shift things so that you have as good a position as you can get, discomfort lessons, blood flow improves and life is perfect. ;)

... I just wish I did it more. I have the same pelvic pain that I've helped woman after woman get rid of during pregnancy and do I fix it for myself? Noooo.. *eyeroll*

But I do it enough that I do not have swelling in my feet at all and my uterus sits nice and centered.

[doulawho]

During my pregnancy with my daughter 2 years ago my vaginal varicose veins were insanely bad. With this pregnancy I have been taking Vitamin E supplements at the recommendation of my midwife and have had hardly any pain or discomfort!!! It seems like pehaps they are still there, as there is still some bulging and such, but it just doesn't hurt this time.