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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Piles vs giving birth.... Help?!

47 replies

FKat2016 · 10/12/2016 18:17

I'm due to have a baby. Am I being unreasonable to be scared of the prospect of giving birth, mainly because I already haven really painful piles (sorry if tmi, I'm panicking a bit)?!

Any sort of pushing/straining REALLY hurts, even very gentle pushing/straining... I feel like I will have no choice but to have an epidural, I don't know how I will be able to push hard enough to get the baby out otherwise?!

Obviously the pain of contractions and labour will be a whole other realm of discomfort, but I'm really anxious about the pushing stage for the reason mentioned above.

I know many women suffer with piles in pregnancy, can anyone give me any tips on how to reduce bum trauma during childbirth, or shall I just cut my losses and go straight for the epidural?!

OP posts:

minisoksmakehardwork · 10/12/2016 18:41

I had piles in each of my pregnancies. TBH I was so busy concentrating on the ring of fire I didn't notice what might have happened to my piles.

Possibly after stitches with 1 & 2 things were a little tighter afterwards. I'm sure they must have stitched into the piles after ds1 was born. But I honestly didn't give them any thought while I was in labour.

AllTheBabies · 10/12/2016 18:44

I have had piles since dd1 was born and to be honest they didn't even register when I was having dd2. My labours are quick so so time for pain relief but your mind is somewhat distracted by the human coming out of you

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 10/12/2016 18:48

can labour make piles worse?

any chane of by passing labour altogether and going for section?

Original poster

FKat2016 · 10/12/2016 19:19

Its not so much I'm worried they will get worse in size, it's the pain! I know not all people actually have much pain with them but mine are super painful, even the motion of going to sit down or stand up is enough for me to scream! Mine must be more internal than external, I don't think there's much to see... Again, sorry if this is all a bit gross.

Mine have been caused mostly from the continuous constipation I've had throughout pregnancy. If I don't strain, I don't go, and sometimes... You NEED to go! It's unbearable being so bunged up on top of being heavily pregnant.

Yes, the pushing stage of labour can cause piles in the first place- so if you already have a head start I'm sure it can make them worse!

I'd like to avoid c-section if at all possible, I'm not sure I could even arrange one at this stage anyway unless it was an emergency?? Not sure if that's the case, perhaps you can.

Perhaps the pain of everything else will override it but I'm feeling a bit anxious about it all

OP posts:

AngryVagina · 10/12/2016 19:24

Have you seen a doctor? They should be treated if terribly painful. I had them with my first and they got sore so I used cream which kept them at an acceptable level, and didn't notice them in labour at all. You'll not notice, the pain all merges into one. This time I've got them again but not causing me enough bother to need treatment.

minisoksmakehardwork · 10/12/2016 19:25

Are you taking iron (gave me horrendous constipation) and have they given you lactulose to help you go, even if you're not on iron I would take some. It's safe in pregnancy as it goes to your bowel and helps coat/soften your stools so they pass easier. Ask your mw or GP about it when you see them next.

Honestly you will be thinking more of getting baby out than piles.

JustHavinABreak · 10/12/2016 19:25

I could have written your post OP. I'm due in a few weeks and only last week I was pleading with the surgical team to find a way to remove them pre-delivery if possible. This is my 3rd baby and to be honest, I've never worried about the actual delivery before but I'm dreading it this time. Or rather I'm dreading the state of my rear end afterwards. Last time was so bad that I'd actually consider a CS this time to avoid it. It might reassure you to know that the delivery with the epusual was much better afterwards for the piles. Can't explain why though.

Original poster

FKat2016 · 10/12/2016 20:11

I'm in the process of changing doc surgery at the moment and will try to book an appointment- assuming I don't go into labour before then! I've spoken to midwives about it but all I really get told is that it's just one of those fun pregnancy things and best option is not to do any straining and eat more fibre. I have always eaten lots of fibre. If I don't strain, I just don't 'go' because my bowels are so sluggish.

I'm not taking iron as my levels were healthy but I will ask about the lactulose as that sounds helpful.

I should have been more proactive about dealing with it before but I've basically been avoiding going to the doctors because they've been really unhelpful every time I've been throughout pregnancy, for different things, and I've ended up leaving each time quite upset (hence changing surgeries)!

Thanks for all your posts X

OP posts:

Niggit · 10/12/2016 20:17

I don't know whether this will be helpful at all, but when I went into hospital in labour with DD, I told the midwife I had been in so much pain with the "ring of fire" when giving birth to DS that I'd actually held off pushing as hard as I otherwise could have done, and could she do anything to help? When I was fully dilated with DD she gave me a shot of local into my perineum, and it made all the difference. Would that help, do you think?

mrscarrotironfoundersson · 10/12/2016 20:22

When it got very very desperate my friend used suppositories to help her go, even when heavily pregnant. On the shelf in Boots...

Not trying to freak you out but research rectocele (?) If you've had this problem since DC1 and struggling to pass etc.

Reality16 · 10/12/2016 20:22

I just popped some suppositiories when I had piles, never even thought of seeing a doctor. Have you not done anything in terms of treating them?

SleepymrsE · 10/12/2016 20:22

I gave birth 9 weeks ago and was very bunged up after months of taking iron tablets and anti-sickness meds. Didn't think twice about the piles but the midwife did give me an enema during labour as she thought being bunged up was stopping DD from moving down. She was right, within 15 mins of giving it to me, DD was born (very nearly on the toilet!).

Elland · 10/12/2016 20:23

I was in terrible pain with them a few weeks ago, try and get in with your new surgery and get them to prescribe you some anusol, my piles are still there but I had no pain what so ever after a couple of days of using it.

You can actually get anusol over the counter but the pharmacist wouldn't sell it to me without me seeing the GP, it is safe to be used in pregnancy though!

Good luck!

AnaVanda · 10/12/2016 20:31

I had horrendous piles during pregnancy and after a really quick birth with my son. I didn't feel them at all during labour but ended up in bed with them for a week after. What really helped was hot baths and lignocaine gel prescribed by my doctor. After the birth, get to the doctor and insist they do something about them. I had anti sclerosing agent injected into mine and have been problem free since.

Zaphodsotherhead · 10/12/2016 20:36

I was prescribed Anusol - my piles got worse! Went back to the doctor to find that I was allergic to one of the ingredients and had to move to Anugesic, which have something different in. So if Anusol doesn't work for you, then see if you can get something else on prescription.

This happened during horrendous piles with DD2. I was using suppositories, cream, rings, etc and nothing was helping at all. I just thought the piles must be bad, but no, it was the cream making it all worse.

Buttwing · 10/12/2016 20:42

I think it's really hard to get rid of poles in late pregnancy. I've had them with all 4dc so I feel your pain. I found warm baths helped a bit but what was a god send was the lidocaine cream my gp prescribed it's a numbing cream was amazing it really helped with the pain. You can buy it over the counter as vagisil the itchy fanjo cream I can't recommend it enough it totally numbs them.
As for labour they didn't even register.

Buttwing · 10/12/2016 20:42

Piles not bloody poles!!

Youcantscaremeihavechildren · 10/12/2016 20:43

I'm not sure if this would help, I do have huge amounts of sympathy for you though as I got piles for the first time after having ds. I took a supplement, rutin. It really helped mine go away, but this was after having ds so no idea if you can take it whilst pregnant, but it might be worth a bit of research.
Also, suppositories with painkiller in them, plus cream to number the area?
During birth with ds I used a pool, which was brilliant, no pain at all whilst in the warm water. Also it isn't really like pushing consciously I don't think, more of a bearing down, I didn't feel like I couldn't push, and any pain I managed with hypnobirthing techniques and a couple of paracetamol. I was 'pushing' for ages too, ds had a massive head!
You need to consider that with s c section, you could be immobile, laying on your back for 24 hrs, that Gordon me, with dd the first time round, was awful, I could not have done that with piles, I couldn't lay on my back or sit at all when I had ds.

Cakescakescakes · 10/12/2016 20:45

You can buy lactulose over the counter. It's cheap and easily available and totally safe in pregnancy. I had to take a big spoonful every single evening (sometimes one in the morning too) when I was pregnant and for a couple of months afterwards too. Drink plenty of water with it too. It's great.

Youcantscaremeihavechildren · 10/12/2016 20:45

Oh sorry, my stupid phone, ignore typos, you get the idea!

Original poster

FKat2016 · 10/12/2016 20:48

Thank you for all your suggestions, everyone!

OP posts:

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 10/12/2016 21:35

if you have a medical condition that causes you daily pain and discomfort YES I think a section should be an option.

Maybe pass it by your MW but remember they may be reluctant to give full facts on it. There is simply no way, if I had any medical condition that could get worse - entertain idea of risking it getting worse in Labour.
All sorts can happen in labour anyway - I wouldn't want to risk having other issues from labour on top of worse piles.

with a section its all very straight forward however. with risks but you know what the risks are - there are too many however to mention from labour

Reality16 · 11/12/2016 00:37

Major abdominal surgery rather than attempt to treat piles

Soozikinzi · 11/12/2016 00:43

The over the counter medicines are no where near as effective as the prescribed ones I was prescribed procetedyl for piles which is brilliant and I think can be used when pregnant but the rules may have changed since my youngest is 18 ! Hope all goes well xxx

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 11/12/2016 00:44

You talk like a section is an easy option!

See your doctor asap, don't let your MW fob you off and get some proper treatment.

Best of luck.

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