Um.. Swelling? Sorry if TMI!

[Sage_SS]

I got out of the hospital yesterday. I had a catheter in for nine days and now I have a bit of a rash/irritation from where the rubber tubing was laying against me. While using a mirror to investigate this I noticed that my vagina is very swollen. Is this from all the contractions I'm getting or should I be concerned about it. There's no itchiness or anything else, just the swelling.
I'm very sorry if this is TMI but I've never seen my area during labor before.

[Jackies Ladybug]

i would ask the hospital if they used a latex catheter, sounds like a latex reaction to me.

i have heard of vaginal swelling during labor though, but i thought it was in the late stages.

[coyotemist]

It very well could be that swelling is from the catheter, fluid has a way of moving to all the area around it.

Does the rash itch or hurt? If it does when you urinate, you could use some zinc oxide ointment on it. If you do that, be sure to wear a pad, as it doesn't wash out of fabric very well.

If it is too uncomfortable, you could call your doctor and see what they say. If it was in another area, I'd suggest hydrocortisone cream (steroids tend to help bring down swelling due to irritation) but I'm not sure thats a good idea on mucus membranes.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Sage_SS]

Thanks you guys.

No, the rash didn't itch or hurt, it was a bit uncomfortable when my panties would rub against it, so I took those off for the night. My husband says it looks much better right now, and some of the swelling has gone down, tho its still quite swollen. I was contracting all night long tho. I think the contractions must have something to do with it.

I've never had a reaction to latex before.

[KatWrangler]

I bet you had a reaction to latex from the catheter. Or could it be tape adhesive?

[~bookcase~]

Just wanted to add that everything looks different in that area during pregnancy. After birth it changes back to non-pregnant state, ie: colour changes, 'swelling' reduces...so some of what you saw might be totally normal, no infection/ reaction, 'normal' pregnant vagina

Our bodies are amazing