Is it dangerous to have hemorrhoids during pregnancy?

Not many pregnant women want to share about this "difficult to talk" disease. It is really a silent but persistent obsession of many pregnant women. Up to 20-50% of women experience severe or mild hemorrhoids during pregnancy. Having hemorrhoids during pregnancy makes many pregnant women feel uncomfortable, prone to stress, and affects psychologically and physically. So is this a disease? Is there anything to note?

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I. What is hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are caused by excessive dilation of the hemorrhoidal plexus veins in the tissue surrounding the anus and rectum. Normally, these tissues help control the passage of stool. When these tissues become inflamed and swollen due to excessive inflammation and dilation of the veins, it is called hemorrhoids.

Is it dangerous to have hemorrhoids during pregnancy?

Mechanism of hemorrhoid formation

II. Effects of hemorrhoids on pregnant women

There are many effects on the course of pregnancy.

2.1 For pregnant women

  • Hemorrhoids in pregnant women account for a very high rate and cause a lot of discomfort, affecting pregnant women.
  • Hemorrhoids can be itchy and mildly uncomfortable — or downright painful. Sometimes they even cause rectal bleeding, especially when you have a bowel movement.
  • Difficulty giving birth due to compression of hemorrhoids, narrowing of the birth canal.
  • There is a feeling of headache, fatigue, body weakness, this is a sign that the mother is anemic when she has hemorrhoids
  • Hemorrhoids are large in size, blood flows in streaks when defecating
  • Prolapsed hemorrhoids, hemorrhoids cannot shrink, but protrude out of the anal canal, causing uncomfortable pain affecting health.

2.2 For the fetus

For pregnant women, when they have hemorrhoids, it will make it difficult to give birth naturally. Specifically, pushing at birth will enlarge the hemorrhoids.

The anal area becomes inflamed, which can cause neonatal infection to the baby at birth.

2.3 Can hemorrhoids during pregnancy give birth normally?

In general, pregnant women with hemorrhoids can give birth naturally. In cases where hemorrhoids swell too big, cause pain, cannot defecate, surgical intervention is required.

III. Why are hemorrhoids more common during pregnancy?

3.1 Mechanism of hemorrhoids during pregnancy

The mechanism causing hemorrhoids is to increase intra-abdominal pressure, reduce the connection of blood vessels. Therefore, any reason of pregnancy that affects the above two problems will cause hemorrhoids. The reasons are given as follows:

  • The growing fetus causes the weight of the amniotic sac to increase, putting pressure on the veins in the pelvis and related areas. This causes the venous plexus to become excessively dilated, especially the veins near the anus and rectum. That causes these plexuses to gradually dilate until too much dilation will form hemorrhoids.
  • Hormonal changes during pregnancy also cause general laxity of tissues, including the walls of veins. This means they are no longer as firm as they should be, and the vein walls tend to swell and widen, making it easier for hemorrhoids to form.
  • Increased levels of the hormone progesterone during pregnancy cause the muscles to relax, making the vein walls more prone to bulging. This is also a contributing cause of constipation, because progesterone slows down bowel movements. When you're constipated, you tend to strain every time you have trouble having a bowel movement, and more often than not pushing can cause or worsen hemorrhoids.

3.2 Other reasons

In addition, the following factors also affect the anus to increase the risk of hemorrhoids in pregnant women:

  • Gaining too much weight during pregnancy.
  • Sitting or standing in one place for too long.
  • Hemorrhoids are especially common during the third trimester, i.e. from 28 weeks of gestation onwards. When you have become burdened by the growth of your baby in the womb.

Is it dangerous to have hemorrhoids during pregnancy?

Mixed treatment

III. Can hemorrhoids appear during pregnancy go away on their own?

There are actually two types of hemorrhoids: organic hemorrhoids and symptomatic hemorrhoids. Symptomatic hemorrhoids appear as a side effect of certain medical or physiological conditions. Symptomatic hemorrhoids have two cases: when the patient has cirrhosis of the liver or in pregnant women. Symptomatic hemorrhoids will disappear when the physiological problems are resolved.

That's why, in most cases, it can go away completely without treatment after you give birth. As your hormone levels, blood volume, and intra-abdominal pressure drop to normal levels.

Note

Some women have an episiotomy when giving birth. During recovery, you may have stitches on some of the blood vessels in your anus. After a while, it is very easy to get hemorrhoids.

The first normal birth forced to push hard, the mother used all her strength to push the fetus out, which aggravated the hemorrhoids. When the sphincter muscles have not recovered yet, the mother is pregnant for the second time. That will make the muscle relaxation worse, so the hemorrhoids will be heavier.

IV. Treatment of hemorrhoids in pregnancy without surgery

For pregnant women with mild to moderate illness. 

4.1 Treatment at home

There are many things you can do at home to reduce and prevent hemorrhoids.

  • Use soft, colorless, unscented paper to gently wipe when you go to the bathroom. You can use wet wipes, a shower or a soft cloth to feel more comfortable.
  • Soak in warm water for about 10 minutes, several times a day.
  • Avoid standing or sitting in one place for too long.
  • Rest your feet on a low platform when sitting at work or when going to the toilet to relieve pressure on the pelvis.
  • Drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fiber-rich foods to help soften stools.
  • Do not strain when going to the toilet or sit for too long on the toilet.
  • Have a bowel movement as soon as you feel the need, don't hold it for too long.
  • Do exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles.
  • Avoid lifting or lifting heavy objects.
  • Exercise regularly (moderately) to increase blood circulation, improve digestion.
  • Avoid gaining too much weight during pregnancy.
  • Always keep the anal area clean and dry. Use a soft cloth dipped in warm water to gently wipe the anal area after a bowel movement or after bathing and keep the area dry. Excess moisture can cause irritation in this area

4.2 Drug treatment

During pregnancy, consult your doctor before using any medicine, including those applied to the skin. This will make sure the treatment doesn't put your baby at risk.

Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend a laxative or suppository. Or maybe you need other treatments as prescribed by your doctor.

 4.3 Some notes

Don't try to put up with it, as untreated hemorrhoids can get worse over time. Over time it causes complications that increase pain, and can even cause anemia if you bleed too much.

Don't be afraid to visit your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment of hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids aren't the only cause of bleeding near your anus, so talk to your doctor right away if you notice blood in your wipes or stools.

Is it dangerous to have hemorrhoids during pregnancy?

Methods applied: cold compress, correct posture during bowel movements, hygiene, medicine and rest

V. Hemorrhoid surgery during pregnancy

In fact, doctors rarely recommend surgery during pregnancy. There are too many dangers associated with surgery.

5.1 Possible hazards

  • Risk factors like any surgery. Drug allergy events, anesthetic events, anesthesia, etc.
  • Post-surgery recovery problems.
  • Drug reactions after surgery.
  • During pregnancy, the whole body of the pregnant woman is in a state of congestion. Therefore, care must be taken when appointing surgery. Especially the problem of hemostasis during and after surgery.
  • Ease of infection and slower recovery than the average person.

5.2 Reality

  • The problem of surgery is still raised, but rarely performed.
  • Ensure the safety of pregnant women and babies.
  • Usually, the symptoms of hemorrhoids will go away on their own after giving birth, so pregnant women only go to the doctor if they still have hemorrhoids after giving birth. 90% of cases usually do not require surgery.
  • However, mothers also need to wait at least 6 weeks after giving birth to have hemorrhoids removed. We have to wait for the muscle tissue in the anus to return to normal. At this point, the doctor will help assess the extent of hemorrhoids and choose the appropriate treatment.

5.3 Cases requiring surgical intervention

  • Except for a few cases, it is necessary to treat hemorrhoids before birth or right after birth. Before making a decision for a patient, the doctor must weigh the benefits and risks.
  • When hemorrhoids are occluded: This is a case that requires emergency surgery, hemorrhoid removal. However, in these cases, pregnant patients should only perform anesthesia with local anesthesia.

BECAUSE. Prevention of hemorrhoids during pregnancy

There are many ways, you should refer to the ways below:

6.1 Constipation should be avoided

  • Use regularly and provide plenty of fiber for the body with fruits and berries.
  • Eat vegetables like broccoli, collard greens.
  • Use whole grains such as oats, brown rice, popcorn; legumes such as lentils and chickpeas.
  • You can eat nuts like almonds, walnuts, etc.

6.2 Provide plenty of water

Provide plenty of water for the body. Pregnant women should drink more than 4 liters of water per day.

Is it dangerous to have hemorrhoids during pregnancy?

The right exercises help strengthen the pelvis. That helps you give birth easier and avoid hemorrhoids

6.3 Urinate on time

Limit the fasting of bowel movements when needed because it can cause constipation, which is the cause of hemorrhoids in pregnant women.

Avoid sitting or standing for too long for long periods of time. If office work requires frequent sitting in front of a computer, try to stop after 30 minutes, gently exercise your body by walking (for a few minutes) to relieve pressure on the anal area.

6.4 Beneficial Habits

Avoid lifting or lifting heavy objects as this will increase pressure on the abdomen and pelvis.

If itching occurs, avoid scratching the skin because it can affect the vein wall.

Avoid gaining too much weight, which puts pressure on the rectum, increasing the risk of hemorrhoids in pregnant women.

6.5 Eat a lot of yogurt

Yogurt is rich in probiotic bacteria that help with constipation, stimulate the digestive tract, and get things moving. The bacteria in yogurt help improve nutrient absorption, which is especially important during pregnancy.

6.6 Get regular antenatal check-ups and tell your doctor about your symptoms

If you have frequent constipation and it doesn't improve, talk to your doctor about laxatives that you can take.

During pregnancy, pregnant women cannot arbitrarily use drugs that need to be prescribed by a doctor. Therefore, it is best for mothers to visit a doctor for examination and timely treatment.

VII. To have a safe pregnancy, avoid hemorrhoid complications

It is important for you to recognize early if there are signs of hemorrhoids. Your GP, midwife or obstetrician can help you know for sure. Don't be shy, you can be sure they've seen thousands of other hemorrhoids, too. If they also have a child, they will empathize with you even more.

There are many ways to treat hemorrhoids during pregnancy that each have a different effect. To have a healthy pregnancy, pregnancy check-ups and care are absolutely necessary. So if you have any problems, please see your doctor. Helpful tips that will be appropriate for your particular situation and your baby's safety.


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