Table of contents:
- What causes hemorrhoids in pregnant women?
- What are the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids in pregnant women?
- How do you deal with hemorrhoids in pregnant women?
- Eat lots of fiber
- Kegel exercises
- Wear a pillow when sitting
- Avoid sitting too long
- Using hemorrhoid medication without a prescription
- Clean the anus
- Do you need hemorrhoid surgery in pregnant women?
- Surgery is the last resort for hemorrhoids in pregnant women
- Choice of hemorrhoid surgery (hemorrhoids) in pregnant women
- 1. Procedures for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH)
- 2.Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD)
- 3. Traditional hemorrhoidectomy
Piles or hemorrhoids are conditions of the blood vessels in the anus to swell. Everyone can get hemorrhoids, including pregnant women. Hemorrhoids during pregnancy often occur at the end of the second trimester to during the third trimester of pregnancy. Why can this condition that is a complaint of pregnant women occur and how to deal with it?
What causes hemorrhoids in pregnant women?
Quoting from Women's Health, pregnancy makes blood volume increase and causes blood vessels to dilate. The enlarging uterus also puts pressure on the blood vessels in the rectum (the last small part of the large intestine before the anus).
In addition, the increase in the hormone progesterone during pregnancy causes the walls of the blood vessels to relax, which makes them swell more easily. Progesterone also affects constipation by slowing down the work of the intestinal tract.
Still quoted from Women's Health, at least 50 percent of pregnant women experience hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids) and will improve after giving birth.
What are the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids in pregnant women?
Some of the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids that pregnant women feel are:
- Rectal itching or a burning sensation.
- Bright red blood comes out after defecating.
- Sharp, stabbing pain near the anus.
- A bulge or extra layer of skin around the anus.
- Pain or pain during or after bowel movements.
- Uncomfortable pressure.
Usually, pregnant women can feel these lumps. Hemorrhoid will disappear by itself after delivery.
However, if pregnant women experience heavy bleeding, it is important to immediately visit the nearest doctor to be able to determine what treatment is needed.
How do you deal with hemorrhoids in pregnant women?
Hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids during pregnancy usually occur in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, when the stomach gets bigger. This condition certainly makes it uncomfortable, especially when sitting and defecating.
Here are some simple ways to deal with hemorrhoids in pregnant women:
Eat lots of fiber
Eating lots of fiber can prevent constipation, which makes stool hard. The straining force when constipation is released will add pressure to the blood vessels, making them swell more and more irritated.
Also, when you have a bowel movement, avoid forcing or pushing too hard. This makes the hemorrhoid worse.
Kegel exercises
Kegel exercises not only help strengthen the perineal walls for childbirth, Kegel exercises also increase blood flow which can relieve and prevent hemorrhoids.
You can do Kegel exercises three times a day, every morning, noon, and night. For a start, do it 5 times and increase it 20-3 times with each gymnastics.
Wear a pillow when sitting
Sitting on a chair with a flat, non-soft base is very uncomfortable. You can use a pillow that has a hole in the middle, to reduce pain.
Avoid sitting too long
The sitting position puts more pressure on the veins of the anus and rectum. If the job requires long sitting, pregnant women can stand up every hour and walk leisurely for 10 minutes.
Moving as often as possible can reduce pressure on the buttocks and anus and avoid hemorrhoids in pregnant women.
Using hemorrhoid medication without a prescription
Use non-prescription hemorrhoid drugs to reduce hemorrhoids in pregnant women. Talk to your doctor about hemorrhoid ointment or cream, or what medicinal wet wipes are suitable for your condition.
Even so, hemorrhoid creams or ointments do not work to cure hemorrhoids. The medicinal content in hemorrhoid ointments or creams only serves to relieve pain and tenderness due to hemorrhoids.
Clean the anus
Clean the buttocks and anus area using non-perfume wet wipes after every bowel movement. When cleaning your butt, use a tapping motion, not rubbing. This is to avoid irritation that makes the buttocks even more uncomfortable.
Do you need hemorrhoid surgery in pregnant women?
Quoting from the Los Angeles Colon and Rectal Surgical Associate, hemorrhoid surgery (hemorrhoids) or known as hemorrhoidectomy is not the main choice of hemorrhoid treatment during pregnancy.
Even so, surgery is possible and not very rarely performed during pregnancy or immediately after delivery.
Many women have hemorrhoids during pregnancy or childbirth. Some women may need more intensive care than others because of a more severe condition.
In fact, both women who are pregnant and who are not, require less surgery. Usually the doctor will provide medication or other treatments first to prevent symptoms from getting worse.
Your doctor will prescribe a stool softener to prevent constipation and a topical cream that can help relieve symptoms. The doctor will also suggest doing this treatment accompanied by changes in diet and daily activities.
Ultimately, doctors will try to avoid surgery by trying to shrink the inflamed tissue with noninvasive treatments or managing symptoms until delivery is possible.
Surgery is the last resort for hemorrhoids in pregnant women
Hemorrhoid surgery is sometimes needed in certain cases. Hemorrhoid surgery can be done during pregnancy or immediately after delivery.
Pregnant women may need to have hemorrhoid surgery if other treatments are ineffective and very painful or symptoms get worse. If hemorrhoids in pregnant women cause uncontrolled bleeding or deep hemorrhoids, hemorrhoid surgery is necessary.
Generally, hemorrhoids during pregnancy often get worse during the third trimester.
However, if the condition does not get worse or other problems do not appear until after the 27 or 28 week of pregnancy, the doctor will determine whether to need surgery immediately or should wait after delivery. This decision depends on the condition of the pregnant woman.
Choice of hemorrhoid surgery (hemorrhoids) in pregnant women
If pregnant women need to perform hemorrhoid surgery, local anesthesia will be given during the operation. There are 3 operation options, namely:
1. Procedures for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH)
This procedure provides an effective alternative to hemorrhoid surgery during pregnancy. This procedure is effective in dealing with internal hemorrhoids and provides less pain after surgery.
2.Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD)
This procedure is performed by identifying blood vessels through the Doppler system and does not require removal of hemorrhoid tissue in pregnant women.
Once identified, the hemorrhoid bundle was ligated. Because no tissue is removed, the recovery time can be shorter than with traditional hemorrhoidectomy.
3. Traditional hemorrhoidectomy
In some cases, traditional hemorrhoidectomy is the best option to remove internal hemorrhoids and stop symptoms.
This procedure is performed by stopping blood flow to the tissue, then cutting it with a scalpel. This procedure may require stitches, and the procedure may bleed.
Pregnant women may need to stay a night or two in the hospital after having surgery.
Hemorrhoid surgery pain in pregnant women will usually last for several weeks and may take 6 weeks or more to completely heal.
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