Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

Like all other types, hemorrhoids during pregnancy are a result of the veins in and around the rectum and anus becoming varicose (swollen).  They can be internal, external or thrombosed and vary in size and painfulness.

Anyone who’s ever had or suffers from hemorrhoids know that they can be extremely painful and itchy, in some cases bleed and if left untreated they can even lead to surgery which involves a painful and lengthy recovery time.

One of the causes of hemorrhoids is increased and prolonged pressure.  Travelling on long journeys and desk jobs that involve sustained periods of sitting down are often the culprits.  In pregnancy however, it’s the pressure of the increased weight of the developing baby in the uterus and the pelvis that causes pressure walls of her veins in the rectum.

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Another reason why a lot of women experience hemorrhoids during pregnancy is due to the changes in hormone levels.  The body produces a chemical called relaxin which acts to soften the joints and ligaments in readiness for birth.  This also softens other areas such as veins, making them far more easily prone to collapsing and resulting in hemorrhoids.  Constipation also goes hand in hand with pregnancy too, the added straining to pass a stool is an added pressure on the already softened veins of the rectum.

Options for treatment are limited during pregnancy as chemicals etc may not be a good idea due to the absorption into the blood stream and over to the baby.  Skin may also have an increase in sensitivity as well which causes irritation from the cream’s ingredients, not good when you’re already suffering.

However all is not lost, there are many self help steps that you can take yourself to gain some relief.  Try to make sure you always choose a high fibre option in your diet such as brown bread instead of white, fruit juice instead of coffee, cereal instead of bacon and eggs and try to increase your intake of fruit and veg.  These foods will help to keep the stools softer and therefore reduce the straining which causes the hemorrhoids.  Don’t forget to keep drinking plenty of water, dehydration is also a prime reason for harder stools.

Keep the area as clean as you can to avoid infection in the area.  Try to have warm baths and add some salt.  The warmth will increase blood flow and promote healing and the salt will help to keep the area thoroughly clean.  This can be easier said than done though especially when you’re approaching the end of the pregnancy and getting in and out of a bath isn’t the easiest task, so make sure your partner is around to give you a hand.

Lastly, try not to worry.  Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are very common, when the baby is born there will be an instant relief from a lot of the pressure that’s causing the problem.  There are also treatments and cures available naturally that are simple and easy to use, so there are no nasty side effects.

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