Hemorrhoids, also known as piles are a common problem that can occur to anyone. In this problem, inflammation occurs in the rectum, the nerves of the lower part of the rectum, which causes problems of pain and itching and also brings blood to the stool. Although this problem can happen to anyone, the risk of hemorrhoids in pregnancy is high. That’s why pregnant women need to take special care of their diet during this period. In this article, know what are the symptoms, causes, and treatment of hemorrhoids in pregnancy.

What are Hemorrhoids? 

Piles or hemorrhoids are the cause of inflammation in the nerves of the rectum (rectum). It can be as small or as large as a peanut. This causes pain and itching at the time of bowel movement. At the time of bowel movement, blood also starts coming in and it seems that the stomach has not been cleaned. If the problem is severe, then you need to consult a doctor immediately.

Hemorrhoids in pregnancy

According to experts, the problem of hemorrhoids is common in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. Two types of hemorrhoids may appear during pregnancy: Internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids require treatment which includes medications and non-operative methods such as rubber band ligation etc., whereas external hemorrhoids do not require any treatment unless there is an uneasy feeling. Like other problems during pregnancy, piles problem is also common, but it can be avoided by taking care of diets.

Hemorrhoids symptoms in pregnancy

The characterization of the piles depends on whether it is internal or external. In both cases, its symptoms are different.

Internal Haemorrhoids

It occurs inside the rectum. Its symptoms include.

• Rectal bleeding – The patient may get blood during bowel movements.
• Prolapsed hemorrhoid: This is when an internal hemorrhoid comes out from the rectum due to pressure. In this condition, the patient feels pain and unease. If there is no prolapse hemorrhoid, the patient usually has no pain in the internal hemorrhoid.

Increased pressure due to the development of the uterus during pregnancy can also cause piles.

External Haemorrhoids

It occurs around the rectum and its symptoms include

• Rectal itching or pain when sitting
• Painful lumps near the rectum
• Hemorrhoids may bleed or cause pain if given too much pressure during bowel movements.

Causes of Hemorrhoids in Pregnancy

Hemorrhoids or Piles in pregnancy are a major result of Hormonal and physical changes. Other reasons for this include:

Development of the uterus – As the fetus develops, the uterus begins to enlarge, causing pressure on the pelvic veins and on the interior vena cava (the vein that carries blood from the lower limb). Due to this pressure, the blood flow in the lower part of the body decreases, and the pressure on the nerves under the uterus increases and swells. This causes varicose veins in the rectum and causes hemorrhoids.

Constipation – Constipation problem is also responsible for Piles during pregnancy. When the stool becomes hard due to constipation, more pressure has to be applied at the time of bowel movement, which increases the problem of hemorrhoids, as it causes excessive pressure on the rectum.

Increase of progesterone hormone: In pregnancy, the secretion of progesterone hormone is high and this hormone is responsible for constipation.

Piles History: Women who already have Piles are more prone to increase during pregnancy. Piles is common in the third trimester of pregnancy or the second phase of labor. Bleeding may be a problem due to hemorrhoids even after delivery.

Treatment for Hemorrhoids in pregnancy

Hemorrhoids in pregnancy need to be treated immediately when there is a problem, otherwise, the condition can be serious, such as severe pain and bleeding can cause anemia. You can adopt some home remedies and lifestyle changes to treat Piles.

Home Remedies

Piles problem can be relieved by adopting these domestic methods.

• Use wipes and pads that have witch hazel.
• Use gentle and flushable wipes.
• Sit for a while in a tub of lukewarm water. This will give relief from pain and irritation. Also, take a warm bath. Keep your body immersed in water for 10 to 15 days, this will provide relief, and blood circulation also increases.
• Apply ice pack on the affected area. It helps reduce inflammation and irritation. You can do this several times a day.
• Do not sit too long and do not put additional pressure on the anus.
• Drink plenty of water and eat fiber-rich things, this will not harden the stool.
• Do not put a lot of pressure during bowel movements and do not sit in the toilet for a long time.
• To strengthen the muscles, do Kegel exercises.

Consult your doctor before taking any type of medication during pregnancy. The doctor will tell you the safe medicine or other methods for the treatment of piles. Witch hazel is also a homeopathic treatment of piles, but be sure to consult a doctor before using it during pregnancy.

Other treatment of hemorrhoids

In addition to home remedies, other methods of treating piles include.

Topical treatment – To reduce swelling and pain in the Anus area, doctors may recommend analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointments.

Stool softener – Since stool hardening is a major cause of piles, the doctor may advise you to take a stool softener to prevent constipation. Always use it only on the advice of a doctor during pregnancy.

Oral flavonoids – The doctor may recommend flavonoids as oral medicine for the treatment of hemorrhoids. According to research, it is safe even during pregnancy.

Rubber band ligation – During banding, a small rubber band is applied to the base of the hemorrhoids. This band prevents blood flow to hemorrhoids causing hemorrhoids to fall on their own. This process may take 10 to 12 days. During this process scar tissue is formed which prevents hemorrhoids from being in the same place again.

Sclerotherapy – In this, a chemical solution is directly inserted into hemorrhoid. This makes it smaller and creates scar tissue. However, hemorrhoids may recur after this treatment.

Hemorrhoidectomy – This is a surgical procedure to remove hemorrhoids. There are several risks associated with this, including general anesthesia, muscle damage to the anus, more pain, longer recovery time, and so on. This is the reason why it is recommended only in severe cases.

How to avoid piles in pregnancy?

Piles’ problem is closely related to your diet and lifestyle. Therefore, this problem can be avoided to a large extent by improving the diet. Measures to avoid the problem of piles in pregnancy:

• Eat liquid things as much as possible and drink at least 10-12 glasses of water.
• Eat fiber-rich whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Fiber is very helpful in dealing with the problem of constipation.
• You can also use fiber supplements but on doctor’s advice
• Do not sit in the toilet for too long, this can increase the problem of piles.
• Whenever the stool is desired, do not suppress it, go to the toilet immediately.
• Keep moving as much as possible, do not sit in the same position for much longer.

Does piles problem end after pregnancy?

In many cases, after delivery, the problem of hemorrhoids can be cured on its own without any treatment, because after delivery your hormone level, blood volume, and intra abdominal pressure are reduced. Usually, the third trimester of pregnancy or soon after the birth of a child can be a problem of piles.

To avoid the problem of hemorrhoids in pregnancy, you need to keep a healthy lifestyle and eat fiber-rich foods. Also, drink plenty of water and other fluids. These measures will not cause constipation and the risk of hemorrhoids also decreases when there is no problem of constipation.