Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can be caused by constipation, labor, and obesity. Hormonal changes can slow down digestion, causing constipation, which can weaken vein walls and cause bleeding. Treatment options include soaking and applying witch hazel, and increasing fiber and water intake.
The relationship between pregnancy and hemorrhoids can be linked to hormonal and weight changes in the body. Hemorrhoids, also known as haemorrhoids, result from swollen veins in or around the rectum or anus. If the piles protrude outside the body, they may look like a miniature bunch of grapes. While the most common cause of hemorrhoids in pregnancy is constipation, they can also be caused by labor and obesity.
Pregnancy and hemorrhoids often go hand in hand for women who experience constipation during pregnancy. Constipation may be associated with hormonal changes in the body, as progesterone, the pregnancy hormone, slows down the digestive process, causing food to move through the intestines more slowly. When food stays longer in the intestines, more water can be drawn out of the digested food, causing constipation.
Constipation can cause pregnant women to sit longer on the toilet or push harder to even produce a bowel movement. The pressure causes pressure on the small veins in or around the anus and rectum, causing the vein wall to weaken. In severe cases, breaks in the weakened skin can result in bleeding from the rectum area. Blood may be noticed on toilet paper or in the toilet after a bowel movement.
During labor, the same pushing motion used during a difficult bowel movement is encouraged. Carrying it down helps move the baby through the birth canal. Pushing is necessary for vaginal labor, in most cases, but it can also be the connection between pregnancy and hemorrhoids. Because of menstrual bleeding after birth, many women don’t notice bleeding hemorrhoids, but pain during bowel movements, itching, and burning may be more obvious symptoms.
Pregnant women who are obese or severely overweight may be more prone to hemorrhoids. Although pregnancy and hemorrhoids are often associated with voluntary pressing and pushing, obese pregnant women may have increased pressure on the rectal veins involuntarily due to extra body weight. When sitting on the toilet to have a bowel movement, the extra weight can cause enough pressure to cause the vein wall to bulge.
Doctors may suggest several treatment options for pregnancy and hemorrhoids, including soaking the hemorrhoids for 20 minutes or applying witch hazel to the hemorrhoids to reduce swelling. Later in pregnancy, women may need help applying these or other treatments as prescribed by a doctor. Increasing your fiber and water intake during pregnancy can help prevent constipation, but pregnant patients should discuss with an obstetrician how much fiber is appropriate during pregnancy.
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