Expecting women usually feel pressure or fullness around their vagina. This is a common pregnancy symptom and can develop anytime during the three trimesters. The reason and effects may vary for different women.
This condition is majorly associated with the growing baby in the last trimester. Some women start to experience a dull ache or pressure from inside the vagina during their first and second trimesters also. In some cases, women don’t report any such experiences during their pregnancy. Here are some of the known causes of vaginal pressure in pregnant women.
Pelvic Pressure
Babies start to grow and gain weight during the second and third trimesters. This adds pressure to the pelvic floor. As your pregnancy advances, the growing weight of the baby exerts pressure on your internal organs and pelvis. The pelvic muscles also tend to weaken and this leads to vaginal pressure. You may also feel like some heaviness is weighing down on your pelvic floor.
Hormones
Hormones undergo a number of fluctuations throughout the pregnancy stage and are responsible for causing a majority of the changes that take place. In the last trimester, increased production of hormone relax in causes the ligaments and joints to loosen up. This is your body’s preparation for labor as you move closer to your due date. As a result, the pelvic joints may get displaced and cause intense pain. You may feel pressure and pain around the pubic bone with movement such as climbing stairs, sitting down, standing up, or sometimes even walking.
Constipation
Hormonal changes can cause constipation during pregnancy in a number of women. The hormone relaxin also causes the digestive process to slow down and this can lead to difficulty in bowel movement. This hormone is produced more during the early pregnancy stage. Also, iron supplements prescribed by your doctor can worsen this issue. You may feel heaviness in the vagina and discomfort around the pelvic area because of no relief. This problem can be corrected by increasing water consumption and including a fiber-rich diet in your pregnancy.
