Home Digestive systemHemorrhoids Tips to prevent hemorrhoids in pregnancy

Tips to prevent hemorrhoids in pregnancy

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Hemorrhoids or piles are very common in pregnancy , childbirth and in people who suffer from constipation. They are the result of increased pressure in the anus that causes swelling of the anal veins and tissues, which can often bleed at the time of bowel movements. About 40% of pregnant women can develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy, but it is more common to present in the third trimester.

Although hemorrhoids do not represent a serious health problem, it is a condition that must be treated to avoid rectal pain when sitting, having a bowel movement or when cleaning after going to the bathroom. As pregnancy progresses, the pressure in the veins of the legs and rectum increases, which increases the possibility of having hemorrhoids or worsens the symptoms in those women who already suffered from hemorrhoids. If you want to know how to prevent this condition, read carefully the following FastlyHealarticle where you will find tips to prevent hemorrhoids in pregnancy .

Types of hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids can be inside or outside the body, and depending precisely on their location they are known according to the following classification:

  • Internal hemorrhoids : they are those that are inside the anus, just at the beginning of the rectum. They usually cause bleeding at the time of bowel movements and can also leak out of the body when the person exerts a lot of pressure during bowel movements or spends a long time sitting in the same position.
  • External hemorrhoids: They are outside the anus and can be easily felt. The biggest problem they generate is the pain they cause when cleaning the area after having a bowel movement. When the external hemorrhoid has a blood clot, the pain is much more acute.

Symptoms of hemorrhoids

A person can have hemorrhoids without presenting any symptoms , however, when any of these pads of veins and arteries has a blood clot the symptoms can be very obvious:

  • Bright red, painless bleeding from the rectum.
  • Itching in the anus.
  • Pain in the anus when sitting.
  • Painful bowel movements
  • One or more hard, sensitive balls near the anus.

In the case of pregnant women, the symptoms of hemorrhoids are not different, however, due to the growth of the uterus, a greater and atypical pressure is exerted on the veins of the pelvis and the inferior vena cava, the return of the Blood to the heart from the lower part of the body is much slower, which affects blood circulation and is responsible for the appearance of varicose veins and piles. Therefore, if you want to avoid hemorrhoids during pregnancy , take into account the advice that we give you in the following steps.

Avoid constipation, prevent piles

To prevent hemorrhoids in pregnancy, it is essential to avoid constipation through a healthy diet and abundant fiber-rich foods such as wheat grains, beans, green vegetables and fruits. Likewise, to combat constipation it is also recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water a day and exercise daily, at least a 40-minute walk.

If before getting pregnant you already suffered from constipation or had painful bowel movements, it is advisable that you consult with your doctor about the possibility of drinking a supplement that softens the stool and prevents you from pushing excessively at the time of bowel movements. These stimulating drinks also help the person to have a bowel movement on a daily basis, fighting constipation and helping to prevent piles.

Do not hold the urge to go to the bathroom

Many women, for fear of pain from constipation, delay bowel movements, which increases the chance of developing hemorrhoids . Likewise, it is very important to raise awareness about how the habits we adopt when going to the bathroom can influence the appearance of hemorrhoids. For example, it is necessary to avoid sitting for a long time in the sink, as this helps the swelling of the rectal veins.

In the same way, it is advisable to avoid pushing or exerting pressure when evacuating as much as possible , since if the pressure increases naturally during pregnancy, when pushing or straining we will be generating even more pressure, which undoubtedly increases. the risk of suffering from this condition. Therefore, put these three habits into practice: go to the bathroom on time, do not make effort or push and do not take longer than it should sitting on the toilet, if you follow them all, the chances of you seeing yourself will be lowered. affected by hemorrhoids.

Kegel exercises

Kegel exercises are known to many people for their benefits to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, however, these movements also help increase strength in the muscles of the anus and stimulate blood circulation of the rectum, therefore they are an excellent option for prevent hemorrhoids in pregnancy.

In addition, it is well known that during the last months of pregnancy the risk of the woman starting to suffer from urinary incontinence increases. The Kegel exercises , thanks to strengthen the pelvic floor also help prevent incontinence before and after childbirth, representing an ideal choice for both preventing complications of pregnancy.

Future mom on the move

To prevent hemorrhoids from forming you have to be on the move, and while many jobs or responsibilities suggest sitting for long hours, ideally you should at least get up and change position once an hour . This will allow blood circulation to flow better in the lower part of your body and, in addition to helping to prevent piles, it will also allow you to avoid the appearance of varicose veins.

Therefore, it is advisable to change position every hour and move the body, it can be through a five-minute walk that facilitates the flow of blood to the heart. If, on the other hand, you are resting, it is recommended that you lie down or sleep on your left side . Why? Because this position blocks the pressure in the rectal veins and favors the correct circulation of blood from the lower part of the body to the heart.

Tips for hemorrhoids during pregnancy

If you have read this article a little late and you already have hemorrhoids in pregnancy, we offer you these tips to alleviate the symptoms and make your gestation period much more bearable:

  • Rectal bath . It involves doing a sitz bath in a tub or in a container with hot water and chamomile. The key is to submerge the affected area enough to get relief from pain, inflammation, and itching caused by piles. You can do these baths for 20 minutes two or three times a day.
  • Rectal hygiene : keeping the rectal area clean is essential as debris can further irritate the area. Therefore, avoid wiping with toilet paper and prefer a towel moistened with hot water, so that the task of cleaning the rectum is less painful and rough.
  • Avoid applying any cream or treatment to calm the pain without first consulting with your doctor.
  • Avoid sitting in the same position for a long time or standing for a long time. It is best to lie on your left side to decrease rectal pressure.
  • If the symptoms are unbearable and you think you need medication, consult a specialist immediately.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Tips to prevent hemorrhoids in pregnancy , we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .

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