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Katherine Ryan, the 42-year-old comedian, has shared a surprising and little-known pregnancy symptom on the NearlyParents podcast. She and her husband, Bobby Kootstra, are expecting their fourth child. Katherine is already a mom to three kids: Violet from a previous relationship, and Fred and Fenna with Bobby.
During the podcast, Katherine explained that her vulva has turned blue. She joked it looked like a “Smurf” or “Avatar vag.” She said this is caused by expanding blood vessels and pressure from having multiple pregnancies. The hosts, Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo, were both shocked and amused. Katherine clarified that it’s not completely blue—just visible veins popping out.
Sophie admitted she also noticed swelling in her vulva early in her pregnancy, which surprised her. Katherine reassured listeners that despite appearances, the body usually returns to normal after pregnancy. She added a playful warning this time might be trickier, but in general, things go back to how they were.
This symptom is actually known as vulvar varicosities. These are swollen veins in the vulva that can appear during pregnancy. About 20% of pregnant women experience them. They are caused by increased blood flow to the pelvic region and slower blood return to the heart. Symptoms can include pressure, pain, fullness, itchiness, and in more severe cases, the veins may bulge and appear bluish. Most of the time, they go away after the baby is born.
Katherine’s candid discussion has helped bring attention to a normal but rarely talked-about pregnancy experience, showing that many unexpected changes can happen during pregnancy.