Women are always extra careful during pregnancy, afraid that any carelessness might harm the baby in their belly. They even avoid taking medication if possible. So what should pregnant women do if they have hemorrhoids? How can they treat it?
Reasons why pregnant women are prone to hemorrhoids
According to statistics, the incidence of hemorrhoids in pregnant women can be as high as 76%. This is because the growing fetus exerts pressure on the inferior vena cava after pregnancy.
1. The increasingly enlarged uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, increases intra-abdominal pressure, affects blood flow, and causes congestion, dilation, and bending of the hemorrhoidal veins, resulting in hemorrhoids.
2. In addition, pregnant women have reduced gastric acid, decreased physical activity, slow gastrointestinal motility, and the fetus compresses the intestines, causing weak intestinal muscles and often resulting in constipation.
Constipation can compress the veins in the intestinal wall, impede blood flow, and increase abdominal pressure during defecation, leading to dilation of the hemorrhoidal veins and the formation of hemorrhoids. Symptoms include blood in the stool or blood dripping after defecation. Severe cases may include jet-like bleeding or prolapse of internal hemorrhoids, as well as discomfort such as swelling, pain, and itching around the anus.
Precautions in daily life
1. Pay attention to diet. Pregnant women should try to eat light and avoid spicy, heavy, and stimulating foods. They can eat more vegetables and fruits to supplement nutrition.
2. Drink plenty of water to promote digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, consuming foods rich in dietary fiber can promote gastrointestinal motility, enhance digestion, and prevent constipation.
3. Pay attention to sleeping position. Pregnant women should sleep on their left side to prevent compression of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava, which may hinder blood flow. Choosing a left side sleeping position can effectively prevent the development of hemorrhoids.
4. Engage in appropriate exercise. During pregnancy, pregnant women tend to be lazy and often sit or lie down for long periods, which is not conducive to blood circulation. Impeded blood flow can easily lead to hemorrhoids. Therefore, pregnant women should walk or exercise regularly. They can also do pelvic floor exercises 10-30 times daily to reduce venous congestion, promote blood circulation, and prevent the appearance of hemorrhoids to a certain extent.
Treatment methods for hemorrhoids in pregnant women
1. Eat more foods rich in fiber, such as various root vegetables (celery, leek, spinach, radish, cabbage), coarse grains, and avoid spicy and irritating foods.
2. Drink plenty of water, preferably a glass of light saltwater or honey water in the morning after waking up. This can prevent constipation and reduce the stimulation of hard stools on hemorrhoidal veins.
3. Use local fumigation to improve blood circulation around the anus. Use warm water to fumigate the area daily to keep it clean. For obvious swelling and pain, use a decoction of honeysuckle, sophora flavescens, and phellodendron amurense, along with atractylodes and angelica dahurica. Fumigate twice a day for 20-30 minutes each time.
4. In addition, pregnant women with hemorrhoids should avoid prolonged sitting or standing and increase rest appropriately. Generally speaking, after delivery, with the decrease in intra-abdominal pressure and the relief of venous return obstruction, hemorrhoids during pregnancy will gradually shrink within a few months. Therefore, hemorrhoids during pregnancy usually do not require surgical treatment.
