Hemorrhoids and Pregnancy

Hemorrhoids are the swollen tissues that in or around the rectum and are often inflamed and painful. Pregnant women can be more susceptible to hemorrhoids because during pregnancy the veins below the uterus get more blood circulation than normal and hence these enlarge. At first you may feel burning pain and bleeding. The blood released is usually bright red. But it is advisable to get the anal bleeding checked even if you suspect it to be due to hemorrhoids.

The developing uterus may put more pressure on the pelvic region and a major vein that receives blood from the lower part of the body. This slows down the blood that should be circulated to the upper part and exerts stress on the uterus.

Another major cause is constipation. The tough bowel movement strains your uterus and rectal veins. The increase in the hormone progesterone may also contribute to hemorrhoids by delaying movement in the intestinal track.

Following are some tips to prevent constipation.

* Drink plenty of water. Drink 8-10 glasses of water and also some fruit juices if possible as fruits contain fibrous elements.

* Exercise regularly. Find out safe exercises and perform them regularly to ease the process of digestion.

* Eat food that is highly fibrous. Eat raw fruits, vegetables and cereals.

* Avoid gaining too much of weight. Due to excess weight, the pressure on the bowel increases aggravating the hemorrhoids. Gain reasonable amount of weight and do not exceed the guidelines.

* Lay down rather than sitting or standing for a long time.

If you are suffering from hemorrhoids, you can try the following to relieve yourself of pain:

* Try stiz bath. It’s a small basin which you can fill with water and position in your toilet. You can find it in any of the drug stores. Soak your rectum in the sitz bath containing warm water several times a day for 10-20 minutes.

* Keep it clean. Thoroughly but gently clean your anorectal area and maintain it that way. Also make sure you keep the area dry as moisture may worsen the pain.

* No weight-lifting. Avoid picking up weights either heavy or moderate.

* Try topical anesthetic or medical suppository. Take the advice of you doctor before trying any of these on your own. Use them for a short term as extended usage may cause more inflammation.

Kegel Exercise is another useful method for hemorrhoids. Its tensing and holding your rectal and vaginal muscles for 8-10 seconds, relaxing and repeating for for a few times. Kegel exercise not only increases blood circulation but also makes the rectal and vaginal muscles stronger which will make the healing after delivery easier.

If the difficulty persists and you are unable to find relief even after trying all the above mentioned steps, it is advised that you get in touch with your specialist doctor. But in most cases hemorrhoids will go away after delivery.