Hemorrhoid After Pregnancy (Causes, Symptoms, Treatment)

Pregnancy is an exciting experience, but it can be a cause of changes in your body, which may be unpleasant. One of the most common issue that ladies deal with is hemorrhoid after pregnancy. In fact, about 28%-48% of women experience postpartum hemorrhoid and always complain about that. There is not a single reason for this type of problem, but it can be treated at home. Only severe cases of hemorrhoid need surgery to cure completely.

In this article of Hipregnancy, we will cover all you need to know about hemorrhoid, its causes, symptoms, treatments, etc. Keep on reading to the end to figure out everything in detail, what you can do about this type of postpartum issue.

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are known as swollen veins in the rectal area, inside the rectum or in the skin surrounding the anus. This problem can happen during pregnancy, and after childbirth as well.

The size of a hemorrhoid can be different, it may be small, like raisin, or may be big, like grape. In addition, they may be painful or even cause bleeding.

Those ladies who develop hemorrhoid during pregnancy, usually get rid of it naturally, because this type of hemorrhoid will go away on its own soon after delivery. But, hemorrhoid after pregnancy needs extra care and should be treated, especially after vaginal deliveries.

According to studies, about 25% of ladies who develop hemorrhoids after pregnancy, will deal with it for about six months. It is good to mention that, the symptoms of this postpartum issue may come and go during this period, and it is not the same all the time. It means that, for example, sometimes you may experience bleeding, but sometime may not, like postpartum headache.

 Also Read: hypothyroidism after pregnancy

Read on the following part to learn more about the causes of this problem, and the ways to manage it.

Causes of hemorrhoid after pregnancy

It is usual to have hemorrhoid after childbirth like other issues, such as postpartum cellulite. This problem usually develops during the last trimester of pregnancy and while delivery, especially vaginal delivery with more than 20 minutes pushing.

Do you want to know what causes hemorrhoid after giving birth? Take a look at the list below to be familiar with the most common causes of hemorrhoid after pregnancy;

• Constipation
• Hormonal changes
• Pain medication
• Dehydration
• Pressure on the veins in anus or rectum
• Additional weight of the baby sitting on the abdomen
• Surgical cut made between the anus and vagina during childbirth

Your hemorrhoid may be the result of one of the above items, or a combination of them. If you don’t take your problem seriously, it may get worse and annoy you all the time.

Also Read: hip pain after pregnancy

Common symptoms of hemorrhoids after pregnancy

Hemorrhoid can be classified into two groups;

1-Internal hemorrhoid; which located inside rectum,

2-External hemorrhoid; which forms around the anal opening.

The symptoms of this postpartum issue may differ from one woman to another, based on the severity of the hemorrhoid, but its common symptoms include; itchiness and pain in the anal area, sensitive lumps near the anus, and bleeding during bowel movement.

You should cure your problem as soon as you see the first signs and symptoms of hemorrhoid after pregnancy. The following steps help you to get relief of this annoying issue and return to its normal shape as it was before pregnancy.

How to get rid of postpartum hemorrhoids?

Fortunately, most ladies get rid of this issue without any treatment, but hipregnancy team believe that, it is better to follow some general guidelines to speed up hemorrhoid healing time and get relief as soon as possible. Don’t forget to consult your doctor about your problem and ask help.

Here are some safe ways that help you get rid of hemorrhoid after pregnancy;

• Add fiber rich foods to your diet; consuming high-fiber foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and cereals, can soften your stool, and treat or prevent constipation, which plays a key role in having hemorrhoid. Apples, pears, broccoli, green peas, black beans, and lentils are good sources of fiber and should be added to your meal plan.
• Avoid straining during bowel movement; this increases pressure on your rectal area and makes your hemorrhoid worse. So, don’t push or strain while sitting on the toilet. This can help you to feel better and reduce your pain.
• Drink plenty of water, especially during breastfeeding; drinking at least 8 cups of water daily during breastfeeding, keep your body hydrated and prevent constipation, which is the main cause of hemorrhoid after birth.
• Apply ice or cold pack; it can be really useful, especially when you have pain. You can wrap the ice in cloth or towel, and apply it for 20-30 minutes, several times per day, based on the severity of your hemorrhoid and the pain you have.
• Soak the area in warm water; do it for about 10-15 minutes, at least 2 or 3 times a day, to sooth your pain. In addition, you can add witch hazel to your bathwater for increasing the healing.
• Don’t sit or stand for too long; this can decrease the pressure on the veins in your anus. So, try to lie down more, or sit down on the pillow, if it is possible. It can reduce the pressure on your backside, too, especially when you are dealing with back pain after pregnancy.
• Use moistened wipes instead of toilet paper; you should keep your body clean, but dry toilet paper is not a good option for those with postpartum hemorrhoid. Because it can increase irritation and make feel discomfort. Fragrance-free, moistened wipes are the best options that you can use to clean the area.
• Use medicated wipes to disinfect the area; this wipes contain hydrocortisone, witch hazel, and lidocaine as main ingredients and can sooth inflammation, pain, and even itchiness.
• Use hemorrhoid creams; talk to your doctor about using this creams first. Your provider can tell you whether you can use this kind of cream. If yes, use it based on your doctor’s guidelines to treat your hemorrhoid completely.

All the above mentioned ways are the best remedy for hemorrhoids after pregnancy, really helpful in managing and treating your problem rapidly.

When to see a doctor about hemorrhoid after pregnancy?

According to researches on hipregnancy, hemorrhoids usually get better with the mentioned remedies, and they don’t other treatments, like surgery. However, if you have the following symptoms, you should make an appointment with your doctor to seek medical assistance;

• Suffering from recurring hemorrhoid
• Uncontrollable anal bleeding
• Facing big hemorrhoids after giving birth
• Experiencing fever, malaise, and chills

Just keep in mind that, your hemorrhoid after pregnancy should get better daily, while using home remedies. If you don’t see any signs of getting better, even after one month of treating, you need to visit a doctor and seek help.

Conclusion

Ladies will face some discomforts, when they enter postpartum period; hemorrhoid after pregnancy is one of them. This postpartum issue is usually followed by pain, irritation and even bleeding. As a result, it should be cured, to prevent the problems it may cause.

In this article, we covered the ways to get rid of this issue and tried to show you the easiest ways.

Now, we are ready to listen to your experiences about this problem; “Did you face with postpartum hemorrhoid? What did you do to treat it?”

FAQs

1. How to treat hemorrhoids after pregnancy?

There are several ways to treat postpartum hemorrhoid, including eating fiber rich foods, using stool softners, drinking plenty of water, sitting on pillow, exerccising, soaking in warm water, and using hemorrhoid creams.

2. What causes postpartum hemorrhoids?

There is not a single reason for hemorrhoid, and diffrent factors may lead to this problem. Hormonal changes during pregnancy which affect digestion, changes in diet, high levels of iron, not being active enough and moving less in pregnancy, as well as the developing baby’s pressure on the mother’s intestines can result in postpartume hemorrhoids.

3. Will hemorrhoids go away after pregnancy?

Yes, hemorrhoids will go away after pregnancy on their own, usual within few weeks. But there are some ways that speed up the healing time and help you get rid of postpartum hemorrhoids as soon as possible.