Mortifying request for advice! (Piles, childbirth)

[embarrassed38]

NC for this for obvious reasons :-)

I'm 35+5 and a few days ago noticed some really rather large external (or prolapsed internal?!) piles - quite sore, not agonising, not bleeding at the moment. I've been told I'm having a big baby and have noticed increased pressure in the pelvic region generally over the past few weeks so wonder if that has caused them. I was also aware that piles were a possible hazard of pregnancy so not freaking out too much :-/

I've gone and got some anusol, which hasn't made much difference yet, and having a bath each day with salts, plus using wet wipes, trying to eat more fibre and drink plenty of water. I'll also ask the midwife on Friday (cringe) if she can recommend anything.

My concern, which might be really irrational, is that when I give birth, is that I'll tear (big baby) and the tear will go all the way to these piles and god knows if anything will ever be the same again :( Or it will just really really hurt during labour to have these things being stretched about.

I'm also worried about DH seeing them! I was going to tell him (would usually tell him gross stuff) but figured I'm about to lose a whole lot of mystique as it is and maybe some things are better kept to oneself.

Has anyone got any good advice re piles (external), how to heal them /shrink them quickly, or what is likely to happen during labour with them?

Sorry for far TMI.

I had piles both times with mine! My babies weren’t big and the piles didn’t make any difference to the birth. I didn’t even think about them. They are mostly gone away now unless I strain too hard!

I think you are doing all you can to treat them - I suffered with them and never thought twice about them during labour. I did tear and can confirm all is back to normal now.

Don’t worry too much about it. Honestly after watching you give birth your DH won’t care about a few piles!

Good luck x

I suffered really badly with piles in my second pregnancy - had to lie in bed with ice in my pants just to cope kind of bad - probably about the same sort of stage as you. I don’t remember them figuring at all during the birth (vaginal with 2nd deg. tear) so take heart! Midwives will have seen it all and be sure to ask if you’re concerned.

I’ve managed to keep them at bay so far with this pregnancy. My best advice is: warm sitz baths (two inches of water in the bath) after each bowel movement to clean and relieve pressure, and if you can tolerate it use some oil afterwards to massage them back inside. Keeping them lubricated really helped mine to resolve. There are also bum/bits sprays you can use (witch hazel usually features) which I’ve been using preventatively, as well as the massage at any hint of a problem.

Good luck - I had no idea piles could be so intrusive until experiencing it for myself!

It's embarrassing isn't it, this is my first pregnancy and I too have piles, well mainly one sizable external pile which thankfully isn't painful anymore but does bleed if I strain. I was given some Lactulose by my doctor to help soften my stools so you could try that? x

Please don't suffer in silence, there are much better treatments than ansol that your midwife or dr can give you, I had terrible ones after my second pregnancy and at 5 months PP had them banded, if they are "out" and won't go back in they can be excruciating, please ask for some help from a medical professional, I ended up in out of hours with mine

Witch hazel op. Will sting at first but will shrink them back. I got one when I had my daughter and no issues since.

If you mix sugar and water together into a paste that helps draw them back in

When you say Anusol, OP, are you using the cream or the suppositories? The former is useless in my (post-childbirth) experience but the suppositories cleared mine up in a few days.

Another one here for witch hazel!

It's super soothing.

The gel you can get in Superdrug in the acne section is awesome.

Put a few baby wipes loose in the freezer...
Bliss...

Thanks so much for the tips particularly witch hazel - I had some for after labour but was scared it would sting. No such bad luck and it's already working!! Thank god!

@embarrassed38 which witch hazel do you have ? I'm suffering so bad I'm honestly considering having a planned section as to not end up in a complete state if I tear as well never mind from the pushing.

@mrssunshinexxx I got a bottle from boots - actual witch hazel rather than something containing it. Was for my fanny post birth as recommended by a friend, but I'm so happy I had it in the house!

www.boots.com/boots-distilled-witch-hazel-b-p-c-200ml-10115211

@embarrassed38 does it sting like hell?

Do you put it in a cotton wool pad and hold it on for a while ?

Thank you so much for asking this question! I am in the same situation and have been worrying about giving birth with piles too

@mrssunshinexxx no I was amazed it didn't actually sting at all! It felt much fresher and better after. It's possible the anusol and baths had already helped? I slept last night with a sodden witch hazel cotton wool pad in my pants sort of wedged between my bum cheeks!

@special no probs, happy to help 😂

@embarrassed38 ok I think I'll try get some neat stuff from boots
Did you get something like the attachments or the gel? X

@mrssunshinexxx I sent a link in my other reply - it's the distilled witch hazel so the consistency of surgical spirit and in a similar type of boots bottle. But I'm sure other formulas are also good!

@embarrassed38 oops just seen that thanks are yours any better ? I think I will end up having mine banded after delivery whether natural or section

They're better than they were in that I couldn't really sit down and they were throbbing! Now they are just there... as they're external I'm not that keen to have them around so yes i would also consider having them removed if they don't go away by themselves. Feel I couldn't even go for an (extreme) wax with things as they are currently ☹️

I had piles and just used ice to make them shrink. I was given anti inflammatory tablets, but this was after birth. They seemed to shrink quite quickly.

That's positive for after birth @Longdistance