Hemorrhoids are veins or blood vessels located in the rectum and anus that have become unusually painful and swollen. It has different sizes which can be as small like a pea or as big as a grape. It can protrude through your anus or inside your rectum. Anyone suffering from hemorrhoids will feel mildly uncomfortable. Sometimes you will feel pain during bowel movement that can lead to rectal bleeding.
What you must know
Hemorrhoids are usually experienced by a pregnant woman on its third trimester. Some women acquire hemorrhoids during their first pregnancy. If it is your second or third pregnancy already, you have greater chances of getting it again. Hemorrhoids could also be developed on your second stage of labor and one of the common complaints of early postpartum. Do not worry too much about hemorrhoids because if you are careful enough in avoiding constipation, most probably it will be resolved after you give birth.
The common causes
You need to accept the fact that you are prone to hemorrhoids and appearance of varicose veins in your legs during pregnancy because of so many reasons. Remember, you have a growing uterus. It put pressure on your pelvic veins and inferior vena cava which is a huge vein on your right side of the body that accepts blood from your lower limbs. This means it can slow the return of your blood from the lower portion of the body that leads increased pressure on your veins below the uterus. It can cause to be more swollen or dilated.
Another common complaint of pregnant women is constipation which also aggravates hemorrhoids. You tend to strain whenever you are having a hard time during bowel movement.
During pregnancy, your progesterone hormone increases which causes your walls of veins to calm. This allows swelling more. This hormone contributes as well in constipation through slowing down the intestinal tract.
Dealing with them
You are prone to hemorrhoids during pregnancy. However, you can deal with this.
•Help yourself not to feel constipated. Consume high-fiber meals. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and oatmeal. Drink lots of fluids especially water. Do simple exercises such as walking. If you are still constipated, consult your obstetrician in order to give you a stool softener or fiber supplement.
•Do not wait for the time that you need to go to the toilet. You should not hold your bowel movement. Avoid lingering as well inside the toilet because it gives pressure on the rectal area.
•Engage in kegel exercises. Apart from helping you strengthen the muscles surrounding your anus, kegel exercises will also ready your muscles around urethra and vagina for the upcoming delivery of the baby. Kegel exercises can also increase your blood circulation in the rectal area.
•Prevent from standing or sitting for a long period of time. In case your job requires you to be sitting or standing for long stretches of time, move around or walk for a couple of minutes.
•Whenever you are watching the television, reading or sleeping, lie on the left side. This will remove pressure from the rectal veins. It will also increase the blood return to the lower half part of the body.
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