What Causes Postpartum Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are common during the third trimester of pregnancy and one month after delivery. In a study of 280 women who gave birth, 43% had hemorrhoids. Many of these women had related conditions, such as constipation during pregnancy, and pushing for more than 20 minutes during delivery.
Hemorrhoids are caused by pressure on the veins in your rectum or anus. Veins have valves to help the blood flow toward your heart. But when these valves are weakened because of pressure, blood can pool in the veins. This makes them swell up, similar to the way varicose veins form.
Pregnant women have the additional weight of their baby sitting on their abdomen and pelvis. This makes it hard for the blood to return from the pelvis area.
Many pregnant women also have constipation, or fewer than three bowel movements a week. This can be due to:
- Hormonal changes that affect the digestive system
- Diet changes during pregnancy
- Too much iron due to taking iron supplements
- The growing baby pressing on the mothers intestines and affecting digestion
Constipation is also common after giving birth. In many women, this could be caused by a combination of changing hormones, pain medication, dehydration, or a fear of pain from their hemorrhoids or episiotomy site .
Hemorrhoids can get worse with straining and constipation. If you have hemorrhoids when youre pregnant, youâll likely experience worse postpartum hemorrhoids.
What Can Cause Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
As your unborn baby grows, your uterus gets bigger and begins to press against your pelvis. This growth puts a lot of pressure on the veins near your anus and rectum, and these veins may become swollen and painful as a result.
The increase in the hormone progesterone during pregnancy can also contribute to the development of hemorrhoids, as it relaxes the walls of your veins, making them more prone to swelling. An increase in blood volume, which enlarges veins, can also contribute to hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
Three common additional causes of hemorrhoids during pregnancy include:
- Straining during bowel movements
- Straining from carrying extra pregnancy weight
- Sitting or standing for long periods of time
Hemorrhoids are most common in pregnant women who experience constipation.
As many as 38 percent of pregnant women become constipated at some point during their pregnancy, according to research published in the journal BMJ Clinical Evidence.
One cause of constipation during pregnancy may be when the growing uterus pushes against the bowel. Iron supplements you may take can also contribute to constipation, so its worth trying to get the iron you need naturally through your diet.
Pregnancy hormones can also slow down the movement of food through the digestive tract, making constipation more likely.
Swollen Veins In The Rectum Known As Hemorrhoids Are A Fairly Common Occurrence During Pregnancy
Also referred to as piles, these painful irritations typically develop during the third trimester. Expectant mothers may have internal hemorrhoids found on the inside of the rectum. External piles are ones located just under the skin around the anus. Thrombosed hemorrhoids form when blood from external hemorrhoids pools or clots.
Fortunately, it’s a manageable, and often temporary, problem.
You May Like: How You Know If You Have Hemorrhoids
Medical Treatment For Hemorrhoids
During pregnancy, always talk with your doctor before taking any medication, including those you apply to your skin . This will ensure treatments do not pose a risk to your baby.
Topical over-the-counter or prescription treatments may help hemorrhoids. These medications often include pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Creams or ointments that contain hydrocortisone-pramoxine can be especially effective for reducing pain, inflammation, and itching caused by hemorrhoids. But these ingredients may not be safe for pregnancy. Make sure to discuss them with a doctor.
The doctor may also be able to recommend a safe laxative or a suppository to relieve constipation.
Some prescription oral treatments, like , are available for treating hemorrhoids, but they may not be safe during pregnancy or if youre breastfeeding or chestfeeding.
Other medical treatment options for hemorrhoids includes:
Your doctor may suggest packing the site of the hemorrhoid with absorbent bandages to avoid excessive bleeding.
You can try to reduce hemorrhoids or prevent them from developing in several ways.
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Push Your Hemorrhoids Back In
How Can You Treat Symptoms During Pregnancy
If you experience symptoms, try one of these remedies:
- Cold therapy can help reduce swelling and bring temporary relief. Apply an ice pack to the affected area.
- Soak in warm water several times a day. If you don’t have a bathtub, you can buy a sitz bath. After getting out of the tub, pat the area dry, and then point your hair dryer on low heat on the area. It can feel quite comforting.
- If sitting is uncomfortable, get a donut-shaped pillow to ease the pressure.
- Apply witch hazel pads to the area and change the pads frequently. Witch hazel has a cooling effect and helps reduce swelling.
- Baking soda used wet or dry can be applied topically to help alleviate itching.
- Coconut oil can relieve pain and inflammation. So can pure aloe vera without added chemicals and fragrances or arnica.
- Stay clean and use soft, unscented toilet tissue or unscented wipes to avoid more irritation in the affected area.
- Acupuncture.
What Are Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
The easiest way to understand hemorrhoids is they are varicose veins of the anus, says , MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale School of Medicine. And pregnancy hemorrhoids are no different than ones you may experience when youre not pregnant.
Veins in the rectal area get dilated under pressure, explains Scott Sullivan, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina, and when they dilate to a certain size, they have difficulty getting back to a normal size, he says. Pregnancy tends to aggravate them.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can either be inside the rectum or external. External ones are more likely to bleed and be itchy, while internal hemorrhoids are typically more painful and can have some bleeding too.
Don’t Miss: How To Heal Internal Hemorrhoids Fast
How Can I Prevent Hemorrhoids From Forming
One way to prevent hemorrhoids is to minimize straining. That includes avoiding heavy lifting, like picking up your three-year-old. To alleviate the strain of constipation, Toronto-based registered dietitian Cassandra Reid recommends changing your diet. Along with hormonal fluctuations, she says, constipation in pregnancy can also be caused by a lack of fibre. Eating during pregnancy can be hard, says Reid. Hormonally, you might be going for more of your wants versus what you really need, which is a balanced diet. Along with foods that are rich in fibre, Reid also suggests drinking plenty of water and taking probiotics.
What Can You Take For Hemorrhoids While Pregnant
Traveling while pregnant is hard. Traveling with a tantruming toddler. Thats.
Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy does not have to be a big deal if you make some simple lifestyle changes. It is common to develop hemorrhoids while being pregnant as there are many changes taking place in the expectant mother’s body. It can be a troublesome and painful condition at a time that should be filled with.
Top 5 Hemorrhoids Cures February 2018’s Report | hemorrhoidcenter.org See Which Hemorrhoid Product is the Most Recommended by the Experts and Users!
Cereal holds a special place in the stars heart, especially because Rice Krispies.
Get Rid Of External Hemorrhoids 2009 Here is how to get rid of hemorrhoids. How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids Fast, Naturally at Home and. area might also help get rid of external hemorrhoids. Use Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper to clone your Macs hard drive to an external USB drive as an emergency backup. step and the Time Machine
What Can You Take While Pregnant to Help You Have a Bowl Movement? The enlargement of the vein in the anus is a hemorrhoid . Bowel movements are regulated by the veins in the anus that are filled with blood.
Because most people with piles get curious about why their butt itches, lets take. youve already gone, and mucous discharge or bright red blood while defecating. Anything that causes an increase in your abdominal pressure can.
Safe treatment while pregnant Guaranteed Results, or full refund
Also Check: How To Deal With External Hemorrhoids
Treating Hemorrhoids With Fiber
Hemorrhoids are easily treated at home and should go away within a week. One meta-analysis of seven randomized trials suggested that fiber has an apparent beneficial effect for symptoms and bleeding in the treatment of hemorrhoids.
Since passing hard stool may lead to hemorrhoids, research suggests increasing intake of fiber to help eliminate straining while having a bowel movement. In clinical studies of hemorrhoids, fiber supplementation reduced the risk of persisting symptoms and bleeding by approximately 50%. Since fiber supplementation is safe and affordable, it is a commonly recommended treatment for women during pregnancy.
Apply Diluted Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many uses in keeping your skin healthy, and helping skin fissures heal quickly is just one of them.
Although there is no scientific research on using apple cider vinegar for hemorrhoids, there is evidence that it helps reduce inflammation and kills bacteria. Research published in journal Medscape General Medicine found that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar kills off various strains of bacteria.8
To use apple cider vinegar to get rid of hemorrhoid, dilute equal parts of raw apple cider vinegar with water. Soak the mixture in a cotton ball and apply to your anal area for quick relief from the discomfort caused by hemorrhoids. Use the apple cider vinegar hemorrhoid remedy every time after you use the bathroom.
Read Also: How To Tuck In Hemorrhoids
What Causes External Hemorrhoids
The most common cause of external hemorrhoids is repeated straining while having a bowel movement. Hemorrhoids develop when the veins of the rectum or anus become dilated or enlarged and can be either internal or external. External hemorrhoids are usually found beneath the skin that surrounds the anus.
There is a range of symptoms that can affect a person with hemorrhoids. Symptoms tend to vary depending on the severity of your hemorrhoids. Some of the symptoms that you may have include the following:
- itching around the anus or rectal area
- pain around the anus
- blood in the stool
You may notice bleeding when using the bathroom. This includes seeing blood on toilet paper or in the toilet. Lumps around the anus may feel as if they are swollen.
These symptoms may also occur because of other conditions. But if you experience these symptoms, you should schedule an exam with your doctor.
What Causes Haemorrhoids During Pregnancy
Haemorrhoids are caused by a reduction in the tone of anal canal cushions, which control your bowel movements.
During pregnancy, haemorrhoids can be triggered by an increase in pressure on your rectal veins. This can result from your uterus enlarging, pressure from your growing baby, and increased blood flow. All of these occurrences increase the pressure on the veins around your anus as pregnancy progresses. Further, straining on the toilet because of constipation can trigger or worsen haemorrhoids.
Straining on the toilet because of constipation can trigger or worsen haemorrhoids.
Don’t Miss: Which Preparation H Is Best For Hemorrhoids
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 Are Hemorrhoids And Varicose Veins
Hemorrhoids and varicose veins might seem to be two different, unrelated problems, but they are actually quite similar. And, many women, especially those in the third trimester of pregnancy, have them.
Both hemorrhoids and varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins. These veins are often in the legs, but they also can form in other parts of your body. When they form in the rectum, they are called hemorrhoids.
Read Also: What Is The Procedure To Remove Hemorrhoids
Symptoms Of Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids can be felt as bulges at the anus, but they usually cause few of the symptoms that are typical of internal hemorrhoids.
External hemorrhoids can cause problems, however, when blood clots inside them. This is referred to as thrombosis. Thrombosis of such a hemorrhoid causes an anal lump that is
- very painful,
- tender, and
- often requires medical attention.
The thrombosed hemorrhoid may heal with scarring, and leave a tag of skin protruding in the anus. Occasionally, the tag is large, which can make anal hygiene difficult or irritate the anus. Even after such a hemorrhoid goes away, a residual skin tag may remain, and this may need to be surgically removed.
How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids In Pregnancy
Hemorrhoid distress, often referred to as piles, is certainly one of the popular complaints endured by numerous folk. Hence, it is no surprise that many expecting mothers, who happen to be exceptionally vulnerable to them, calling for ways to have hemroids eliminated while pregnant.
Many females choose not to use prescription drugs purchased over-the-counter or medications administered for them through their practitioner during pregnancy and rather go for all-natural hemorrhoids remedies that can be conveniently put to use from home.
Hemorrhoid flare-up is easily manifest in the course of pregnancy. This is a result of the arteries of the womb or vaginal canal that end up swollen and engorged. The extra weight of infant within the expecting ladies is usually an excess stress to the blood vessels of the rectum.
A handful of females may even experience hemorrhaging during pregnancy. The irritation, discomfort, inflammation and also pain within the anus may just be the indicator of hemorrhoid flare-ups. The pile is often fretful and excruciating.
Following are some natural remedies that you should go for to address the discomfort brought by hemorrhoids:
2. Cleaning up: Hemorrhoid patients should softly soak the rectum by using a toilet tissue with purifying solution in it. You should never scour or scrub the spot since the complications could very well intensify. Apple cider vinegar is a great solution for hemroid sufferers. Use it on a soft cloth to clean up the rectal area.
Don’t Miss: How Can I Ease The Pain Of Hemorrhoids
Procedures For Hemorrhoids Treatment
Some hemorrhoids cant be managed with conservative treatments alone, either because symptoms persist or because an internal hemorrhoid has prolapsed. Fortunately, a number of minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatments are available that are less painful than traditional hemorrhoid removal and allow a quicker recovery. These procedures are generally performed in a surgeons office or as outpatient surgery in a hospital.
Band it. The most commonly used hemorrhoid treatment in the United States is rubber band ligation, in which a small elastic band is placed around the base of a hemorrhoid . The band causes the hemorrhoid to shrink and the surrounding tissue to scar as it heals, holding the hemorrhoid in place. It takes two to four procedures, done six to eight weeks apart, to completely eliminate the hemorrhoid. Complications, which are rare, include mild pain or tightness , bleeding, and infection. Other office procedures include laser or infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, and cryosurgery. They all work on the same principle as rubber band ligation but are not quite as effective in preventing recurrence. Side effects and recurrence vary with the procedure, so consult your physician about whats best for your situation.
You May Like: Can You Use Vagisil During Pregnancy