When
you have a new baby who's about to come into your life, it can be a
joy like no other. But pregnancy also comes with annoying things that
you wouldn't like happening to your body (or “side-effects”, if
you may call it): stretch marks, bloating, constipation, skin
itching, discharge from the vagina, you name it. Perhaps the worst
that can happen to you during this stage are hemorrhoids (or piles),
which can be very uncomfortable and painful, but there are some
things that you can do deal with hemorrhoids during pregnancy (visit
http://hemorrhoidshealth.com/).
The
reality is that pregnancy is actually a period in a woman's life
wherein she is more prone of getting hemorrhoids (as well as varicose
veins in the legs and the vulva). This is because the growing uterus
is exerting pressure on the inferior vena cava and on the pelvic
veins, among other reasons. With this, the blood flow from the lower
part of your body is being slowed down.
Aside
from this, an increase in the hormone progesterone is another
culprit. This condition causes the walls of your veins to go into a
relaxed state. This allows them to swell more easily, leading to
hemorrhoids.
How
do you avoid hemorrhoids? This
is perhaps one of your biggest questions as you undergo pregnancy.
Though hemorrhoids is almost always inevitable at this point in your
life, there are some tips that you can follow to prevent them.
Constipation
(or infrequent bowel movements and known as a common cause of painful
defecation) is one of the several causes of getting piles during
pregnancy. So, naturally your goal here is to prevent getting
constipated, therefore you must eat foods which contain high amounts
of fiber like vegetables, beans and grains. Combining this with a lot
of water intake and regular exercise will help you go a long way in
preventing piles.
You
should also make it a point that you don't strain when moving your
bowels. Avoid staying too long in the toilet to avoid pressure on the
area. Move around more often and don't take too much time sitting or
standing for long periods of time (this is especially applicable when
you are working in the office).
How
do you treat and get rid of hemorrhoids?
Now, if you already got the piles, this could be the question that
you're desperately trying to find an answer to! To get relief from
hemorrhoids during pregnancy, follow these steps: (1) apply an
icepack to the affected area daily, as this decreases the swelling
and pain; (2) clean the affected area with white toilet tissue well
after every bowel movement; (3) visit your physician for prescription
of a topical anesthetic to overcome the pain.