Expert: Lawrence Jay Rappaport <B>M.D.</B> - 8/16/2004
Question My daughter is 38 weeks pregnant and is experiencing great vaginal discomfort to the
point that she can not walk for long periods of
time. She is carring very low. Is this discomfort normal? Is there anything she can do for relief?
Answer At 38 weeks gestation, it is common to feel pressure and vaginal discomfort. Some patients cannot walk at all. The only treatment that can be done is to stay off your feet until you go into active labor. If this is her first baby, your daughter should wait until she has contractions (at the level of her belly button) that are 3 minutes from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction, and each contraction lasts for, at least, 45 seconds. When that occurs for a full hour, she should call her doctor and go to the hospital. If this is not the first baby, wait until the contractions are 6-8 minutes apart (from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next). She should start labor within the next 2-3 weeks. Good luck to her. She can try Tylenol, a heating pad, or warm showers to alleviate the discomfort.
