If you are pregnant or already have children, you likely know that there are horror stories about all the weird things that can happen to your body as a result of giving birth. Some of these things are permanent, but others are not, although they may last for a while and cause you a bit of discomfort. One of these conditions is postpartum hemorrhoids.
What are postpartum hemorrhoids?
To know whether or not you have postpartum hemorrhoids, you first have to know what they are. Hemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein, which is a fancy way of saying arteries that have become enlarged. They become quite swollen and make it difficult to do some of the things you have to do each day. The reason is that you can only get hemorrhoids in your rectal area. It causes your rectal area to itch and it may also be very painful. It can also interfere with your ability to go to the bathroom correctly. Anyone can get them at any time, man or woman, but they are especially common among pregnant women and after delivery, for different reasons.
You can get hemorrhoids if you have a problem with irregularity, it you’re straining a lot, or just because of some of the normal swelling that happens when you’re pregnant. The good news is that there are many ways to get rid of them or treat them, so you don’t have to keep suffering.
How to treat postpartum hemorrhoids
Most cases of hemorrhoids will go away on their own after a while, but since they may cause you discomfort or pain, you are able to treat them in a number of different ways. Here are the top 10 most common ways to treat them. Some of these can be used as preventative measures as well, to keep you healthy.
1. Alleviate the pain with an ice pack or ice. The first thing you can do to lessen the swelling and your pain is to use ice or an ice pack on your bottom. You can simply sit on an ice pack for a few minutes or lie down and use one.
2. Sit in a warm bath. Sitting in a bath of warm water can also provide relief for the swelling and pain. Just make sure that you are relaxing while you’re in there and that you don’t stay in there too long. This can also help you keep your body clean, which is very important.
3. Uses special wipes. You can use moist wipes instead of toilet paper, or you can opt to purchase special hemorrhoid wipes so that you can make sure that you’re staying nice and clean each time you go to the bathroom.
4. Eat more fiber. Since hemorrhoids may be caused by constipation during pregnancy, you need to be sure that you’re eating enough fiber. Good sources include beans, fresh vegetables, and cereals. A balanced diet should solve a lot of your problems for you, so be sure to eat healthy meals in general.
5. Exercise. Exercising around 30 minutes a day can also make sure that your hemorrhoids are kept at bay and go away quickly. This is because your digestive system works better when you get up and get moving. Try walking around your block or playing with your kids each time you have a chance.
6. Use creams. There are creams that you can buy to help lessen the pain of hemorrhoids. You have likely seen some of them on television commercials, so you’ll know what products to buy in the store. These are also able to help control the itching. You can put them on the site of the pain and swelling, so it will stop causing you problems.
7. Take over-the-counter pain relievers. If the pain is unbearable or there is very bad swelling in your case, you can take pain relievers to clear up the problem. This can help you solve the issue and you won’t have to be stressed out over your comfort level.
8. Drink more water. This is a good idea no matter what, but drinking water is an essential part of a healthy diet as well. You should drink around 8 glasses a day, which should keep you regular more often than not. When your intestines are moving along well, you are unlikely to get hemorrhoids, since you have no trouble going to the bathroom.
9. Don’t sit or stand for too long. Standing or sitting down for too long may cause your rectal area to become strained, which can cause you pain or swelling, so make sure you’re paying attention to everything you do. You shouldn’t be on your feet for long time periods, and you also shouldn’t sit around all day either. In addition to that, you should keep your bathroom visits quick as well. Don’t sit there for longer than you have to, and make sure you go every time you feel like you need to. Holding it in may cause you even more problems.
10. Check with your doctor. If you try some of these things and nothing works or you feel like you have had your hemorrhoids for too long, you may want to consult your doctor. There are special prescription creams that may be able to help you, and you can also get advice to make sure that your case is normal.