TMI alert - Labour with piles...am scared.

[AttillaTheHan]

Sorry if this is too much information but I am 37 wks pregnant and am suffering terribly with piles at the moment. I am honestly in agony despite trying every treatment possible. Does anyone know or have any experience of childbirth with piles? I'm worried that I won't be able to push because of the pain.
Blimey I'm so glad there is mumsnet I would never ask this in real life!!

no idea but bumping for you

ooh poor you
haev an epidural!

will that help then? I suppose I won't feel the pain but I don't want to mask the contractions...

Hi, I got piles after having dc1 and had them pretty badly before having dc2 - I was really worried about labour but I can honestly say I didn't think about them at all while I was actually pushing. The urge to push is so overwhelming that piles are not going to stop you, believe me! Obviously, you can expect them to be pretty bad afterwards but your gp will be able to sort you out with something to help. I have to say though, my poor bum has never been the same since having children and you might find you'll be more prone to having piles afterwards....

Thanks for the reassurance Peggotty. I have had piles on and off since having dc1 and so I know what you mean exactly.

Glad you said you didn't really think about them during labour. I have resigned myself to them being bad afterwards. The things we do for kids hey?

I worried beforehand too, but it was fine. I think I used some cream to make sure they weren't an issue leading up to my due date. The MW will give you some.

Don't worry.

No prob Atilla Admitedly, I felt a bit sorry for the midwife who was stitching me up after my ds(now 11 weeks) was born as the sight of my piles must have been hideous to behold. And I'll never forget the midwife commenting after dd was born(my 1st child) 'well, your stitches look fine, but your piles are horrendous' !!

I've given birth with existing piles at least once and it's also extremely common to get them during labour anyway. They'll be bloody sore afterwards but as peggotty says, you won't think about it at the time. The urge to push is so great that you wouldn't be able to hold back even if you wanted to (and why would you, best to get it all over with)!

In your remaining time, drink lots of water, eat lots of fruit/raw veg, keep using the cream/suppositories and get the weight off your pelvis as often as possible.

See if you can blag some lignocaine gel off your midwife/GP/consultant/whoever. It's a really good painkiller that is often applied to vaginal stitches/tears & swelling but it's damn good for piles too!

I got them really bad after labour with ds, they were excrutiating afterwards, much worse than the stiches from the 3rd degree tear!
Am due any day with dc2, and am worried it's going to happen again! It is scary what we put ourselves through isn't it!

Just remember to stay off the birthing stool - it's not a good place for women with piles! At least not if you're on it for an hour or so!

Try lying on your left hand side to push (left lateral) - might help avoid worsening your piles.

I am due with dc2 and feel 'heavy' in the bum area which I didn't feel with my first. Midwife said this is due to muscles being weaker and said to make sure I do pelvic floor exercises..... I too am concerned