It seems a lot like the world is against you when you’re pregnant, especially if you’re one of those women who has every problem in the book. Many women suffer from persistent nausea, and some have heartburn. Some lucky women have both! There are many different conditions that women are prone to when they’re pregnant, simply because of their changing body. One condition that many women who are pregnant suffer from, often for the first time, is hemorrhoids.
What Are Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are a condition that occurs directly inside, or outside, of the anal opening. There are blood vessels that lie directly under the surface of the anus, in the soft tissue that surrounds it. If the vessels fill with blood, the entire area can become painful and bleeding from the anus may occur. Many pregnant women find themselves rushing to their obstetrician when they see bright red blood upon wiping, only to learn that they simply need to search for hemorrhoid treatment options.
Pregnancy and Hemorrhoids
Why are women more susceptible to hemorrhoids when they’re pregnant? Most of the time it is due to the fact that women who are pregnant often get constipated. Thanks to the different eating habits that most pregnant women have to endure, the body often goes through a change, trying to get used to food that it’s never eaten before. This often causes constipation and the subsequent pushing during a bowel movement can lead to hemorrhoids.
A woman can also need hemorrhoid treatment when she’s pregnant due to the baby. When you’re standing up with a baby in your belly, everything inside of you is getting squished around quite a bit. The more your uterus puts pressure on the veins that are designed to bring the blood from the bottom half of the body to the heart, the more of a chance you have of getting hemorrhoids. This is why most doctors recommend that pregnant women do not stand, or sit, for any extended amount of time, so as to allow the blood to flow naturally through the body.
There are some different hemorrhoid treatment options that a pregnant woman can choose from, but it is vital that she never tries to treat herself unless she has spoken to her obstetrician first. While most treatments are entirely safe to use, the is some cause for concern that the chemicals in many over the counter, or prescription, products can seep into the skin, causing even more problems than it solves. Before you treat yourself for hemorrhoids when you’re pregnant, ask your OB for what they recommend; they will be able to offer you a treatment that will solve your problem and that won’t harm the baby.