Treating External Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

When To Call Your Doctor About Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

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What Are The Treatments For Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

The good news is that the problem usually improves after the baby is born. In the meantime, there are a number of things you can do to treat hemorrhoids.

• Place baking soda on the area to reduce itching
• Take a warm bath with baking soda in the water
• Use witch hazel to reduce swelling or bleeding
• Avoid sitting for long periods
• Use Tucks Medicated Pads
• Analgesics: Ointment or cream can be used for external hemorrhoids, if it involves pain and irritation

How Can You Prevent Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Your body undergoes a lot of changes when you’re expecting, and swelling veins can be one of them. Talk to other expectant moms during prenatal classes, share experiences or ask your instructor about natural remedies.

These steps may help you avoid hemorrhoids during pregnancy:

Avoid constipation

• Eat a high-fiber diet. Choose from fresh avocados, beans, and other fruits and vegetables.
• Don’t delay going to the bathroom when you feel the urge. Make sure you don’t sit on the toilet longer than necessary because this puts pressure on your rectal area.
• If you’re already constipated, ask your healthcare provider about a fiber supplement or stool softener.
• Choose a food-based prenatal vitamin. Synthetic vitamins, especially iron, can cause constipation. Food-based prenatal vitamins are more absorbable.

Keep moving

• Get regular exercise right up to your due date as long as your provider says it’s OK.
• Don’t sit or stand for long stretches of time. If your job involves sitting at a desk, get up and move around for a few minutes every hour or so.

Promote good habits

• Drink plenty of water and other fluids. If you aren’t drinking enough, your body will reabsorb water through the colon, leaving dry stool that’s hard to push out.
• Lie on your side when sleeping, reading or watching TV to take the pressure off your rectal veins.
• Try not to gain more than the recommended amount of weight because the more you gain, the more pressure on the rectum.

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Every Time You Go To The Bathroom

What Are The Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

You can have hemorrhoids without having any symptoms at all. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Pain when youre pooping.
• Blood on the toilet, in your stool, or on the toilet paper where you wiped after a bowel movement .

It can be scary to see blood in your stool, but therectal bleeding from an internal hemorrhoid is usually harmless. Still, see your provider about any bleeding you notice if youre pregnant.

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Drink Fluids In Between Meals

Drinking water is one of the best healthy habits to start during pregnancy but it can also aid digestion.

The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recommend pregnant women drink between 8 to 10 glasses of water a day however, you may find that drinking water in between meals, rather than with your meals, can help fight pregnancy heartburn.

Do You Need To See A Doctor

You dont usually need to see a doctor for hemorrhoids. Natural remedies will usually take care of them in a few days.

If youve tried all the aforementioned remedies and pregnancy hemorrhoids symptoms persist, call your midwife or doctor.

If you have severe symptoms like more than a smear of blood, a lump on the rectum, or have rectal pain, call your midwife or doctor.

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Should I Go To The Doctor If I Think I Have Hemorrhoids

If youre still struggling with discomfort once youve increased your fibre and water intake, Ottawa-based pharmacist Shelita Dattani suggests talking to your doctor about using an over-the-counter hemorrhoid product containing pramoxine, which relieves pain. Soaking in a bath with witch hazel or Epsom salts will ease discomfort. An OTC stool softener may also help.

Discussing hemorrhoids isnt funso even if the topic doesnt come up in your prenatal class, know that a few of the women in the group are probably struggling too. Its not a subject people openly talk about, says Brenshaw. They probably prefer to talk about their kids poops, not their own.

How To Prevent Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Avoiding constipation is key to preventing hemorrhoids during pregnancy. Here are some tips for preventing constipation:

Eat lots of high-fiber foods. There are plenty of good ways to incorporate more fiber into your diet. Fiber-filled foods include fruits like pears , avocados, and berries vegetables such as broccoli, artichokes, and Brussels sprouts whole grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and even popcorn legumes including various kinds of beans, lentils, and green peas and dont forget nuts and seeds.

Drink plenty of fluids. Aim for 10 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Use the toilet as soon as you feel the urge. Holding it in can contribute to constipation.

Try not to sit or stand for long periods of time. If you sit down at work, make sure to get up and walk around for a few minutes every hour. At home, try to rest on your side when reading or watching TV, to relieve downward pressure on your rectal veins.

Ask your doctor about using a stool softener. This can help if other methods fail to ease your constipation. Using laxative pills for constipation is not recommended during pregnancy, as they can cause dehydration and might stimulate uterine contractions.

Identify the right muscles by stopping urination midstream. .

Once you know which muscles to use, tighten them and hold the contraction for five seconds. Then relax for five seconds. Work up to holding the contraction for 10 seconds. Try to do at least three sets of 10 reps a day.

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Attempt Noninvasive Treatments First

Most people, pregnant or not, do not require surgery for their hemorrhoids. We can prescribe stool softeners to prevent constipation and topical creams that help soothe symptoms, especially when used in conjunction with changes in diet and activity. We will also give you tips on how to lessen pain and swelling, including using sitz baths and ice packs.

If this is not effective, we also have other noninvasive and less-invasive treatments that we may be able to try, depending on your specific symptoms and situation.

When a pregnant woman comes to visit us for treatment or removal of hemorrhoids, we

try our best to avoid surgery. We try to shrink your inflamed tissue with noninvasive treatments or manage symptoms until you can deliver, but removal procedures are necessary in some cases.

What Are The Common Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids In Pregnancy

The common symptoms of hemorrhoids during pregnancy are as follows-

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What Are The Treatment Options

Small hemorrhoids often clear up without treatment or with home treatment and lifestyle changes. If youve continued problems or complications, such as bleeding, you should see your doctor.

Your doctor can rule out other causes of bleeding during bowel movements, such as colon or . If your symptoms become severe, your doctor may recommend medical procedures to remove or shrink the hemorrhoids.

Your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatments are treatments that your doctor performs in their office. Some treatments include the following:

• Rubber band ligation is the most common nonsurgical treatment, and it involves your doctor tying a tight band around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply. Eighty percent of people who receive treatment for hemorrhoids have this type of treatment.
• During coagulation, your doctor uses infrared light, heat, or extreme cold to shrink the hemorrhoid.
• During sclerotherapy, your doctor injects a chemical to shrink the hemorrhoid.

If you have severe hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids that dont respond to in-office medical treatments, you may need a doctor to surgically extract them. This has been shown to provide symptom relief and reduce future outbreaks.

study in 2004 compared the rate of recurrence of hemorrhoids in 231 people.

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There Are Options For Removal

While hemorrhoids are often at their worst during the third trimester, we try to perform any necessary surgery during the second trimester. If the problem does not emerge until after week 27 or 28, we can determine if you require immediate surgery or if you can wait until after birth. This decision is dependent on the specific details of your case. If you need a removal procedure, we can use a spinal block or local anesthetic during removal, and avoid general anesthesia.

There are three general options for hemorrhoids that require treatment at this point:

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Causes And Risk Factors Of Hemorrhoids

You may be more likely to get hemorrhoids if other family members, like your parents, had them.

Pressure building up in your lower rectum can affect blood flow and make the veins there swell. That may happen from:

• Pushing during bowel movements

People who stand or sit for long stretches of time are at greater risk, too.

You may get them when you have constipation or diarrhea that doesnt clear up. Coughing, sneezing, and vomiting could make them worse.

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The Bottom Line About Treating Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Half of women get hemorrhoids during pregnancy. That number is so high because the changes your body goes through while gestating are naturally contributing factors to hemorrhoids:

These changes are necessary for a growing baby, but bad for a body susceptible to hemorrhoids. Make yourself as hemorrhoid-proof as possible by strengthening your rectal walls with kegel exercises, staying regular with high fiber foods and plenty of water, and taking as much weight off of your pelvic floor as possible by staying active and sleeping on your side.

If you already suffer with problematic hemorrhoids, they can be treated during pregnancy with topical medicine and sitz baths to relieve your symptoms. Doctor Butlers Advanced Formula Hemorrhoid & Fissure Ointment fights symptoms while delivering healing herbs and essential oils that can keep you focused on attending to your baby and bodily needs during and after pregnancy. Be sure to discuss with your personal physician the use of all over the counter medications before using, while pregnant or nursing.

About Robert Cutler, D.O.

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How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

First the bad news: Hemorrhoids are permanent, so unfortunately, you cant get rid of them per se. The somewhat good news? Some women may not feel any symptoms, and if thats the case with you, then you dont have anything to worry about, Sullivan says. Just monitor it. However, if yours are uncomfortable, you can at least treat the symptoms. Heres how to ease hemorrhoid pain during pregnancy:

Ice pack. The simplest remedy, a cold compress can offer immediate, albeit very temporary, relief.

A sitz bath. This is an easy home remedy for pregnancy hemorrhoids. If youre having pain, your best friend is a warm tub of water, Minkin says. You dont need to put anything in itjust sit there and read a book for 10 or 15 minutes. Get out of the tub, pat the area dry, and then take your hair dryer on low heat to the areaits soothing, and you dont have to rub the area. Follow up with an over-the-counter medication .

Witch hazel pads. These have a cooling effect and can be used to clean the area or, when folded, as a compress to reduce swelling. One mom, plagued with no less than five hemorrhoids during pregnancy, found these pads to be especially helpful. I use witch hazel wipes or pads every time after I go to the bathroom, she says. In addition to generic witch hazel pads, you can also find treatments specifically for hemorrhoids, such as Tucks.

What Can I Do For Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

• Eat a high-fiber diet and drink plenty of liquids to help avoid constipation.
• Keep your weight gain within the limits your ob-gyn suggests.
• Get up and move around to take weight off the veins of your pelvic area. Sitting for a long time puts pressure on these veins.
• Apply an ice pack or witch hazel pads to hemorrhoids. Witch hazel helps relieve pain and reduce swelling.
• Try soaking in a warm tub a few times a day.

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Preventing And Treating Hemorrhoids

To prevent or ease constipation and hemorrhoids:

• Eat a high-fiber diet
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water
• Dont strain during a bowel movement
• Increase the amount of exercise you get every day

To treat the itching or pain of hemorrhoids:

• Take warm soaks in a tub or a sitz bath. Warm water can help shrink or soothe hemorrhoids. Add baking soda to the water to relieve itching.
• Apply ice pack compresses.
• Apply an over-the-counter or prescription medicine to hemorrhoids to relieve the itching.
• A stool softener to prevent straining.

Be sure to check with your provider if your symptoms worsen or you have excessive bleeding from hemorrhoids. And remember that these problems are usually short-term and get better after delivery with time and treatment.

How To Get Rid Of External Hemorrhoids Fast

This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 208,634 times.

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Key Points About Hemorrhoids And Varicose Veins In Pregnancy

• Both hemorrhoids and varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins. These veins are often in the legs, but when they form in the rectum, they are called hemorrhoids.

• Many normal changes in pregnancy can increase the risk for hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

• Hemorrhoids and varicose veins in pregnancy are a short-term problem, and they get better after your baby is born.

• You can do things to ease the discomfort they can cause. These include sitz baths, ice packs or cold compresses to reduce swelling, and creams or other medicines, such as stool softeners, your healthcare provider may recommend.

• The best way to help prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy is to prevent constipation. If you are constipated, don’t strain during bowel movements.

Home Remedies For Hemorrhoids

There are many steps you can take at home to relieve and prevent hemorrhoids. Here are some ideas.

• Use wipes or pads that contain witch hazel.
• Use gentle, flushable wipes when you have a bowel movement.
• Use a sitz bath or soak in clean warm water for 10 minutes at a time a few times a day.
• Take Epsom salt baths in warm water thats not too hot.
• Hold an ice pack on the area for a few minutes several times a day.

You may want to speak with a doctor before treating hemorrhoids at home. This will ensure you get a proper diagnosis and understand the treatment options available to you.

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