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Hemorrhoids during pregnancy

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are blood vessels in the rectal area that have become unusually swollen. They typically range from the size of a pea to the size of a grape and can be inside the rectum or protrude through the anus.

Hemorrhoids can be itchy and mildly uncomfortable – or downright painful. Sometimes they can even cause rectal bleeding, especially during a bowel movement.

Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester. Some women get them for the first time while they're pregnant. And if you've had them before pregnancy, you're quite likely to have them again now. They may also develop while you're pushing during the second stage of labor and are a common early postpartum compliant.

In most cases, hemorrhoids that developed during pregnancy will begin to resolve soon after you give birth, especially if you're careful to avoid constipation.

Why are they more common during pregnancy?

Pregnancy makes you more prone to hemorrhoids, as well as to varicose veins in the legs and sometimes even in the vulva, for a variety of reasons. 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, which increases the pressure on the veins below your uterus and causes them to become more dilated or swollen.

Constipation, another common problem during pregnancy, can also cause or aggravate hemorrhoids. That's because straining leads to hemorrhoids, and 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. Progesterone also contributes to constipation by slowing down your intestinal tract.

How can I avoid getting hemorrhoids?

You're more susceptible to hemorrhoids when pregnant, but they're not inevitable. Here are some ways to ward them off – or get rid of them if you do get them:

  • First and foremost, avoid constipation: Eat a high-fiber diet (plenty of whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables), drink plenty of water (eight to ten glasses a day), and get regular exercise, even if you only have time for a short, brisk walk. If you're constipated, ask your practitioner about using a fiber supplement or 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.
  • 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.

What else can I do to get relief?

  • Apply an ice pack (with a soft covering) to the affected area several times a day. Ice may help decrease swelling and discomfort. Some women find cold compresses saturated with witch hazel to be soothing.
  • Soak your bottom in warm water in a tub for 10 to 15 minutes a few times each day. (If you don't have a tub, you can buy a sitz bath at the drugstore. It's a small plastic basin that you fill with water and position over your toilet, allowing you to submerge your rectal area simply by sitting down.)
  • Try alternating cold and warm treatments.
  • Gently but thoroughly clean the affected area after each bowel movement using soft, unscented, white toilet tissue, which causes less irritation than colored, scented varieties.
  • Moistening the tissue can help, too. Many women find using premoistened wipes more comfortable than using toilet tissue. You can buy wipes medicated with witch hazel that are made specifically for people with hemorrhoids.
  • Ask your healthcare practitioner to recommend a safe topical anesthetic or medicated suppository. 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 no more than a week. Continued use can cause even more inflammation.

When should I call my practitioner?

If your own preventive and relief efforts don't help – or if you have severe pain or notice bleeding – consult your doctor or midwife. (Any rectal bleeding should be checked by your practitioner.)
