Hemorrhoids during pregnancy, what should I do now?

1. Being pregnant is of course the best thing there is and of course you want to go through this as smoothly as possible. Back pain, fatigue and "binge eating" are hard to prevent.

2. Being pregnant is of course the best thing there is and of course you want to go through this as smoothly as possible. Back pain, fatigue, and "binge eating" are hard to avoid.

1. But unfortunately, these aren't the only "problems" that can show up when it comes to pregnancy. Did you know that pregnant women have a high chance of developing hemorrhoids? This is because during pregnancy, the uterus gets bigger. This compresses your intestines and makes your bowel function less efficient. The blood circulation in the pelvic veins also decreases and the risk of hemorrhoids is increased again (1).

2. But unfortunately, these aren't the only "problems" that can show up when it comes to pregnancy. Did you know that pregnant women have a high chance of developing hemorrhoids? This is because during pregnancy, the uterus gets bigger. This compresses your intestines and makes your bowel function less efficient. The blood circulation in the pelvic veins also deteriorates and the risk of hemorrhoids is increased again (1).

1. Stool pain, bleeding and itching around the anus are the most common symptoms of hemorrhoids. During pregnancy, hemorrhoids are also often associated with constipation.

1. Are Hemorrhoids Dangerous During Pregnancy?

1. Hemorrhoids are not dangerous for pregnancy, but this does not mean that they are not very annoying.

2. What can I do about it?

1. During childbirth it is not possible to prevent hemorrhoids 100%. If you do have hemorrhoids, there are still a lot you can do to address them.

2. During childbirth it is not possible to prevent hemorrhoids 100%. If you do have hemorrhoids, there are still a lot you can do to treat them.

1. Click here to read tips for tackling hemorrhoids: Tips against hemorrhoids

1. Click here to read what you can do to prevent hemorrhoids as much as possible: Prevent hemorrhoids

3. Reduce hemorrhoids quickly after pregnancy!

1. It is not only possible to develop hemorrhoids during childbirth. The chance that you will develop hemorrhoids after pregnancy is of course also high. During the delivery you can of course imagine that there will be a lot of pressure on your lower body. This can manifest in hemorrhoids. Below you can read tips on what you can do to treat hemorrhoids as quickly as possible.

1. These tips to quickly reduce (or prevent) hemorrhoids during pregnancy work mainly because they improve your bowel movements. Drinking a lot of water ensures better hydration of your body and also your intestines. This makes it easier for food to slide through.

1. Eating a lot of fiber is also important for better bowel movements. Fiber ensures that you have softer stools that put less pressure on the walls of your intestines. This also reduces the pressure on the veins that can turn into hemorrhoids (2).

1. Good posture while defecating also helps to prevent or reduce hemorrhoids. The best position for number 2 is to squat. If it is possible to put your feet a little higher, you can certainly do that. This can be done by using stools or other aids. This is how gravity helps you.

2. Good posture during defecation also helps to prevent or reduce hemorrhoids. The best position for number 2 is to squat. If it is possible to put your feet a little higher, you can certainly do that. This can be done by using stools or other aids. This is how gravity helps you.

1. Eating white bread is disastrous for the prevention or reduction of hemorrhoids. This is because there are no fibers in white bread at all. As a result, you get a droppy-like stool faster that does press on the walls of your intestines. Very inconvenient if you want to prevent hemorrhoids and constipation. So always grab wholemeal or other brown bread that contains fiber.

1. You can also try to keep moving daily. For example by taking a walk. This stimulates your bowel movements so that you are less likely to suffer from constipation, which in turn can cause hemorrhoids. Exercise remains important during pregnancy, but fanatic sports are not necessary for your bowel movements. A walk is enough.

1. Research also shows that a salt bath for your butt, in a bidet for example, helps to eliminate hemorrhoids during pregnancy (3).

Creams against hemorrhoids during pregnancy

1. In addition to these practical tips to prevent and reduce hemorrhoids during pregnancy, there are also many creams that you can use to relieve the itching. Most of the time, the creams do not help to remove the hemorrhoids, as is also clear from source 2. Usually these creams have an antibiotic effect to prevent inflammation of the hemorrhoid. This can help reduce itching and pain.

Reduce pain from hemorrhoids during pregnancy

1. In addition, there are a number of other things you can do to reduce the itching or pain of hemorrhoids during pregnancy. Try to keep your anus clean after your bowel movements. This means you have less chance of inflammation of the hemorrhoids. You can also use baby wipes for this. They are usually gentler on the skin around the anus, making it more comfortable than with other moist toilet paper. In addition, it usually contains less or no substances that can irritate your skin than other wet wipes, such as perfume or dyes.

1. You can also use a spray bottle to clean your anus with more water. These are the same bottles with which you can keep plants moist.

1. Take a warm bath if you can. A warm bath can provide relaxation which also helps "relax" the hemorrhoid.

1. Press an ice pack against it. Ice can have a good numbing effect so that you will not be bothered by the pain temporarily.

1. Avoid sitting for extended periods. If necessary, set a timer so that you don't sit for more than half an hour. Then you just walk around or grab a cup of tea and you can continue sitting.

Finally ...

1. Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are very annoying and many women suffer from them when they are pregnant. This is because the uterus reduces the functioning of the intestines, which increases the risk of constipation a lot. The blood flow in the area also deteriorates, which increases the chance that you will develop hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are not dangerous, but very annoying!

1. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to reduce the risk of hemorrhoids and reduce the burden of hemorrhoids through lifestyle changes. It is important to drink plenty of water, eat fiber and keep exercising, even if only with a walk, to promote bowel movements and to keep your stools "thin". If none of this helps, you can also use creams, special toilet paper and compresses to reduce hemorrhoids.