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Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy: Overview by: Sue Bristol, R.N. There is one thing that hemorrhoids and pregnancy have in common: they are both as old as mankind itself! Hemorrhoids were even mentioned in the Bible."and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had "emerods" in their secret parts". What are hemorrhoids? We all know what pregnancy is but, what are hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids are basically varicose veins of the rectum and/or anus. If they are in the rectum, they are called "internal" and are not visible without a medical instrument. If they are located around the anus, they are called "external" and are visible as reddened or even purple balls. What causes hemorrhoids during pregnancy? The bottom-line cause of hemorrhoids in anyone is increased pressure inside the lower abdomen. So what causes the increase in pressure? Pregnancy and labor. These are times of greatly increased pressure. The extra weight of pregnancy. Heredity. You don't inherit hemorrhoids but you may have a genetic tendency toward developing them. Constipation. This is a very common occurrence during pregnancy. Poor bowel habits. This is often the effect of constipation. Diarrhea. Many hormonal changes occur during pregnancy and diarrhea may be the result. Non-pregnancy related issues: Aging and underlying medical conditions such as heart or liver disease or the presence of intestinal tumors. What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids during pregnancy? How will you know you have hemorrhoids? Your doctor will tell you for sure whether the following symptoms you're experiencing are due to hemorrhoids. bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowel movement itching and burning around the anus pain with bowel movements (if the pain is sudden and severe, you may have developed a thrombus or strangulation). If this occurs, call your doctor at once. a feeling that the bowel is not empty after having a stool tenderness around the anus swelling around the anus a lump around the anus which may appear as a purple ball a feeling that you are sitting on something How can you treat your hemorrhoids during pregnancy at home? There are many steps you can take to ease your symptoms in a safe way. There are also many reasons to do so. You definitely do not want your hemorrhoids to be at their peak during labor and delivery lest they become chronic. Properly treated, most "pregnancy hemorrhoids" will go away after delivery. Change your way of eating to include more fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, beans, bran, and whole grain bread, pastas, and cereals. Drink more water so as to keep your stools moist and soft. Avoid foods that clearly irritate your hemorrhoids. Keep a food diary and a list of symptoms so as to see patterns. Avoid heavy lifting (which you should be doing during pregnancy whether or not you have hemorrhoids). Wear cotton underwear so as to avoid buildup of moisture. Change your position frequently. Take short walks or at least stand up and stretch every couple of hours. Take sitz baths. This simply means to sit in warm water 10-15 minutes three times per day. Apply ice to anal area. Keep your anal area scrupulously clean but avoid rubbing. Don't use perfumed or scented soaps. Sleep on your side if you can to reduce the pressure in your pelvis. Do not, under any circumstances, strain during your bowel movements. Use stool softeners if needed but do not use laxatives. Apply hemorrhoid creams or ointments or cotton pads soaked with witch hazel. Do not despair. You can most likely keep your symptoms under control by applying these measures and you will probably not have trouble with them after the pregnancy. If they recur, institute these same measures. May you have a happy, and hemorrhoid-free, pregnancy!
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HemorrhoidCure101.com
Sue Bristol, R.N.
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