Pregnancy is a beautiful phase for any woman, but is sometimes accompanied by unexpected conditions, which leads to: how does one deal with piles during pregnancy? Piles are also known as hemorrhoids, and if not addressed well, can be cause for a very horrendous period of time. Take note, however, that piles can occur in anyone, not just expectant women, but this article focuses on ways to manage the condition in the latter. The reason why piles occur during pregnancy is that hormonal changes lead to relaxation of the veins, one of the contributing factors of piles.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDf8jFYOGr0″ width=”220″]Piles are usually very itchy and will often feel sore. Patients will attest to the fact that the piles cause tenderness at the anus, and in some cases, will cause bleeding during defecation. This is what makes piles during pregnancy quite painful so that a trip to the washroom becomes very uncomfortable. If you are keen, you may have noticed some mucus after passing stool. Certainly an uncomfortable phase, so what are some of the things you can do to make piles more bearable especially if you are expecting?
Tips to help ease piles during pregnancy
- Constipation is one of the causes of piles, so the fundamental rule in managing this condition is to keep constipation at bay. How is this achieved?
- Make sure that your food has sufficient amounts of fiber. This is a key step in managing constipation. Foods that are rich in fiber include fruits, dried fruits, vegetables as well as wholemeal bread.
- Ensure that you take plenty of water. When pregnant, this will definitely mean more trips to the washrooms, but it is a better option compared to the piles.
- Whenever you can, avoid standing for extended periods of time.
- Go exercising regularly to enhance blood circulation. Check with your trainer to ensure that you take part in exercises that do not stress you and the baby growing inside of you. If this is not possible, take a brisk walk.
- Some pregnant ladies will find that the piles stick out of their anus, making the condition very painful. To prevent this, push the piles inside the anus as gently as you can. Use lubricating jelly to prevent friction which makes the piles sore.
- Resist the urge to strain when defecating as this worsens the piles during pregnancy.
- Following defecation, use moist (preferably warm) toilet paper to clean the anus rather than dried toilet paper. Some pregnant women find that wipes work just fine, but it is important to make mention that you need to avoid using scented wipes as this could make the anal region very itchy.
- Lastly, choose to pat the anal area after defecation, rather than rubbing it. This prevents friction which could have negative effects as earlier mentioned.
- Do not use any medication to relieve pain without first consulting your midwife or gynecologist. All in all, piles during pregnancy are a manageable condition if you follow these tips.