What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are varicose veins ? that is, blood vessels that have become unusually swollen ? that show up in the rectal area. Sometimes the enlarged veins can protrude through the anus; you'll be able to feel a soft, swollen mass near your rectum when this happens. They're generally anywhere from the size of a raisin to a grape. Hemorrhoids can be merely itchy or downright painful and may sometimes even cause rectal bleeding, especially during a bowel movement.
Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy. Some women experience them for the first time while they're pregnant ? and if you've had them before pregnancy, you're quite likely to get them again now. You may also develop them during the second stage of labor, while you're pushing. Either way, you'll find they often go away on their own (or with some simple measures mentioned below) some time after delivery.
Why are they common during pregnancy?
There are a few reasons that pregnancy makes you more prone to hemorrhoids (as well as varicose veins in the legs and sometimes even in the vulva). Your growing uterus puts pressure on the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cava (a large vein on the right side of the body that receives blood from the lower limbs). This can slow the return of blood from the lower half of your body, thus increasing the pressure on the veins below the level of your uterus and causing them to become more dilated or swollen. Constipation, another common problem during pregnancy, can also cause or aggravate hemorrhoids because you tend to strain when having a hard bowel movement. In addition, an increase in the hormone progesterone during pregnancy causes the walls of your veins to relax, allowing them to swell more easily (and also contributes to constipation by slowing things down in your intestinal tract).
What can I do to get relief?
? Take a sitz bath for ten to 20 minutes several times a day, or whenever you can. You don't have to run a bath in the tub ? drug stores sell small plastic tubs that you can fill with warm water and position over your toilet, allowing you to submerge your rectal area by just lowering your pants and sitting down. Soaking in warm water can be very soothing.
? Some women find comfort with an ice pack or cold compresses medicated with witch hazel, while others swear by a heating pad. Try alternating hot and cold treatments; start with an ice pack followed by a warm sitzbath.
? Use soft, unscented, white toilet tissue, which causes less irritation than colored, scented brands. Moistening the tissue can help, too. Many women find wiping with special medicated moist towelettes more comfortable than using toilet tissue.
? Ask your healthcare practitioner to recommend safe topical anesthetics or medicated suppositories. There are many hemorrhoid-relief products on the market, but consult your practitioner before trying one on your own. Most of these products should be used for a short-course of treatment only (a week or less) since continued use can cause even more inflammation.
How can I get rid of or avoid getting hemorrhoids?
Though you're more susceptible to hemorrhoids when pregnant, they're not inevitable! Here are some ways to ward them off or reduce them if you do get them:
? Avoid constipation: Eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water (eight to 10 glasses a day), and try to get some regular exercise, even if you only have time for a short, brisk walk. If you're constipated, ask your healthcare provider about using a fiber supplement or a stool softener.
? Don't wait when you have the urge to have a bowel movement, try not to strain when you're moving your bowels, and don't linger on the toilet because it puts pressure on the area.
? Do Kegel exercises daily: Tense the muscles around your vagina and anus and hold for eight to 10 seconds before releasing and relaxing. Repeat 25 times. Not only will Kegels increase circulation in the rectal area and strengthen the muscles around the anus (thereby decreasing the chance of hemorrhoids), but they also strengthen and tone the muscles around the vagina and urethra, which aids in postpartum recovery.
? Avoid sitting or standing for long stretches of time. If your job involves sitting, get up and move around for a few minutes every hour or so. At home, lie on your left side when sleeping, reading, or watching TV to take the pressure off your rectal veins and help increase blood return from the lower half of your body.
When should I call my practitioner?
If your own preventive and relief efforts don't help, or if you notice bleeding, consult your doctor or midwife. (Any rectal bleeding should be checked by your practitioner.) In most cases, your hemorrhoids will get better after delivery with the measures discussed above, though occasionally minor surgery may be required after pregnancy.
hope this helps anyone else who maybe suffering from or likley to get piles.....