Labial Edema After Childbirth: Causes, Symptoms & What to Expect

Question
Have you ever heard of massive labial edema after giving birth?  In 2000, I delivered a healthy son but had a prolonged delivery.  After the baby's head crowned, the doctor was called away for an emergency.  For about an hour a nurse "stretched" me using jelly.  I had a epidural and did not feel the pain.  When the doctor returned I only had to push 2 or 3 times and my baby was born.  My labia minora started swelling shortly after and became gigantic.  Six or seven ob/gyns and all the labor nurses observed me over the next three days and none of them had seen swelling this bad before.  The swelling subsided quickly on the seventh day.  After a laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy five years later, I experienced severe edema again, this time only on one side of the labia.  It lasted three days.  In 2006 I gave birth to another son, this time the labor was uneventful, and had massive swelling that lasted 5 days.  Have you ever heard of anything like this, and do you think I may be at risk for reactions like this to other types of trauma / surgery in the future?  Thanks!  

Answer
It sounds like an extreme reaction to the trauma of being in at the crowning stage for such a prolonged period.  I suspect that, had you not had the epidural at the time, your body would have gone ahead and pushed the baby out, and it disturbs me that you were put "on hold" in this way for the doctor's convenience.  Unfortunately, since it has happened since, you probably will continue to have to deal with this condition.  You may want to try Kegel exercises, if you have not already.  An intensive Kegel regimen (more than 100 strong Kegels every day) may help strengthen and tone your pelvic floor and prevent further episodes, by helping to constrict the muscles that are overrelaxing and allowing the edema to occur.