Varicose vein 'down there'...

I have a family history of varicose veins and unfortunatley with this pregnancy I've got some pretty nasty ones in my legs. After speaking to my ob I've been wearing support stockings every day since about 20 weeks.

I've suspected for a few weeks that I might have one 'down there' because I get a lot of aching and discomfort, especially when I get up after sitting down for a long time.

Anyway, I checked it out as best I could this morning and I'm pretty sure I do.

My MIL had one when prg with her DD and had to have a caesar and a pretty unpleasant surgery to remove it.

I'm soooooo p****sed off! I swear it never ceases to amaze me the new and interesting ways my body finds to screw me over! After two surgeries and IVF in the last 18 months you'd think that'd be enough but nooooooooo!

I don't see my ob again till monday week so I've got plenty of time to stress over it.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Did you have to have a caesar because of it?

OK, good news story from me!

I haven't had theem, but my Mum, my SIL and one of my very good GF have had the awful V V V !

My Mum: had them with both me and my younger brothers pregnancies: gave birth vaginally twice, no issues. As soon as she was not pregnant, they went away totally.

Same with SIL.......she has had them in all 3 of her pregnancies, to the point of tears, has given birth vaginally all 3 times, the VVV have now all disappeared, although she does complain that she feels an "ache" when she stands for too long, so when she finished up BF'ing her little baby she is off to the gynae to see what he suggests

My GF has had them in 2 out of 3 pregnancies, her babies have all been delivered vaginally (induced) with big heads, all the VVV have now disappeared.

HTH.....

(BTW, all the people I now who get them are all petite slim women, and my OB suggested that it happens more to women when their pregnancy bulk puts a strain on that region, as the usually slim body is not as used to the extra weight.....not sure how true that is........?)

Lucy, you're an angel! Thank you so much for posting those stories, you've made me feel soooo much better!

Um, I'm neither slim or petite! LOL. I'm not big either, but definately not petite. I have put on around 8kg so far though, so that's a fair bit of extra weight for me.

Thanks again sweetie!

No prons hon.......I was chatting to SIL about it just the other day........she found if she lay on the couch, on her side, with a pillow between her knees, that that was comfy/alleviated the aches? (easier said than done with a toddler running round, I know..........)

Thanks for the tip Lucy, it's not too uncomfortable at the moment and that's not what really bothers me (although ask me again in 14 weeks!) it's MIL's horror story of an emergency caesar etc that's scaring me.

Hi Willow
I have seen many women with varicose veins down there but I have not yet seen one that needed a CS because of it. Your varicose veins would have to be very large and lots of them to make it necessary for you to give birth by a CS

Thanks Alan, that's fantastic! I do know that my MIL's was very large and that 'side' was twice the size of the other 'side' by the time she gave birth (I'm sorry, basic anatomy is escaping me at the moment!). Her ob was apparently very concerned about it rupturing, her baby also turned at the last minute and was breech, so maybe the combination of a breech delivery and the vv was why she had to have the caesar? Not sure. It was 20+ years ago too.

I am feeling a lot better about it tonight. If it weren't for my recent history I probably wouldn't have been so upset but I just really want things to go right this time.

Thank you Nessa! I knew I could count on you guys to make me feel better about this!

I guess it could get a lot more uncomfortable as I get closer to term, but I'm hoping that doesn't happen.

I'm just glad to hear that my MIL was obviously an exception to the rule and most women still have a vaginal birth.

Willow - I too have discovered that I have them - it totally freaked me out - and like you I felt like it was just 'another' way that my body has let me down :( So I really feel for you. I also suspected for quite a few weeks, because I felt so swollen down there, and ached. As for the C/S - I chose a C/S last time because of VV in another area (roids) & really felt at the time is was the right choice, but FWIW - I really don't think it was. I do regret it, but there's nothing I can do about it now but move on.

Anyway, I talked to my OB about it last week & the news is really good. She was very confident that they would go away after the birth, and be no hindrance at all to a VB. She said that she had one patient very recently who had very severe ones, and they were completely gone after the birth. She was VERY reassuring that it wouldn't be an ongoing problem.

So try not to stress - try to put your feet up. I do feel for you & know what you are going through. :hug:

Thank you so much Linda, it helps to know that I'm not the only one to be so upset by it! I felt a little silly last night after being in such a panic about it. But I've heard MIL's story so many times I just freaked out!

I'm not going to tell her that I suspect I have the same problem because I know she'll be really negative about it, and like I said for her it was 20 years ago. I would never elect to have a caesar (well never say never, but I am really determined to have another vaginal delivery) because the thought of another surgery (would be my third in 18 months) really scares me. I was just concerned that if it got really bad I might be pushed in that direction.

I really hope it does go away after the birth, having them in my legs is bad enough and they won't go away!

It's hard to find the time to put your feet up when you've got a little one to chase around isn't it? But I do nap every day when she does on the days I'm at home so I'm sure that helps. I am going to try to avoid doing things that require a lot of standing up. Luckily my job is a desk job and I'm only there two days a week.

Don't feel silly about the panic - I think it's worthy!

I would avoid talking to your MIL about it too, esp as she had such a bad time with it. I guess over time they have realised that VB isn't going to do much more damage & definitely not as much trauma as a C/S.

I hope it doesn't get too much worse for you. Do you swim? I find being in water works wonders!

I have them but they are only troublesome if I bear down on the toilet.......they don't affect my day to day activities at all. No caesarian here though.....my ob sees them as normal so would advocate vaginal birth.

HTH xx

Just wanted to update this thread and let you all know that we had a normal vaginal birth, the v vein actually didn't get any worse the further the pregnancy progressed (and DS was born at 41.3 wks) and now just a week after delivery it is totally gone, I can't feel it at all!

So for anyone else suffering, rest assured it will more than likely just disappear after the birth.

Thanks Willow,
I'm so glad you posted an update. Mine is 'killing' me...but i'm sure i'll live!! I just hope I only have the one.
I am so pleased you got a vaginal birth and I'm inspired by the fact that the VV has gone already after such a short time.

I just need to wait 20 odd weeks then...

I'll update too - mine was gone within a few weeks of birth. It didn't cause any probs at all during delivery & cleared up just fine. :)

LOL the things we go through for our babies :p

I didn't have any with #1, had slight swelling with #2 but no dramas, OH MY GOD though with #3 my labia were double their normal size and ached all the time - I didn't even question my ability to have a VB as everything I read said they were quiet normal and although they were horrid to look at and painful they did go away within a few days of the birth:D. I remember so clearly wanting to walk around holding myself in so to speak :lol:.

Now pregnant with #4 - 21.5 weeks atm - I have a couple of veins there and some aching when I get up in the morning. I imagine it will get worse again and running around after the other 3 during summer will be a killer but I know that they will disappear after the birth.