39 weeks pregnant and have a really bad hemorrhoid?

TMI Warning – I had the same thing with my last pregnancy.

Have you tried pushing it back into place while taking a really hot shower or during a really hot bath? I know it’s disgusting, but it was a suggestion I got during my last pregnancy and worked better than anything else.

Here’s how to do it.

1. Find it. (Not hard since it’s killing you.)
2. With very warm water soaking or running down the area, use your index or middle finger to hold it from the bottom.
3. Gently push up into your bum allowing it to move the way that it naturally goes.
4. Stop and check if you feel better. If not, keep pushing until you have to stop or it feels like it’s back to the right place.
5. When you are sure you are down, douce the area with cold water or a cold shower to relieve some of the swelling.
6. Sit on a ice pack or something else very cold like a bag of frozen peas.
7. When the swelling is better, put on the Prep H.
8. If it feels irritated, go back to the ice.

Every time that you have a bowel movement or feel it start to move out, hop back in the shower and push, push, push.

**Edit: And really hot showers and baths aren’t good for you in that they can raise your basal temperature. So, the idea is "get in, get it back up in place, get the cold water going, get out".

Haemorrhoids don’t pop up overnight, they develop slowly over time. They are common during pregnancy due to increased blood volume, increased pressure in the rectum/anus due to the weight of pregnancy and constipation. Hereditary factors also come into play. Sitting on hard surfaces for long stretches of time, heavy lifting as well as sitting or standing for long periods can also contribute to the development of haemorrhoids.

—-Blood Volume
During pregnancy, your blood volume increases to such an amount that that you veins become dilated. The veins below the increasing weight of your uterus are more susceptible to becoming varicose (abnormally swollen or dilated) as your growing baby and uterus places increased pressure on them.

—-Constipation
Constipation can result in haemorrhoids from straining, which can weaken the blood vessels and lead to haemorrhoids. Make sure you have a diet high in fibre, drink enough fluids and exercise regularly to prevent constipation – see your pharmacist for safe fibre preparations if you need.

There are several things you can do to treat haemorrhoids using a combination of diet, natural remedies and over the counter preparations.

NATURAL REMEDIES

—Tissue salts, which you can get over the counter from your pharmacy or a health food store

—Witchhazel which you can also purchase from your pharmacy, is used topically. You can apply it on a cotton ball to the affected area when going to bed. Leave the wet cotton ball on overnight and you will usually see great results in 2-3 days.

— Phytopro by Metagenics you will need to see a naturopath for this one, but taking them around 2-3 times a day will usually result in haemorrhoids disappearing within 1-2 days.

—- Arnica – Make up a solution of one tablespoon of arnica tincture in one litre of cold water, apply topically twice per day, using a facewasher or other clean cloth.

—Warm baths several times a day in warm water for 10 minutes or so.

—-Acupuncture for improving blood circulation

TRY= 50g Shepherd’s Purse & 30g Knotgrass
Prepare the herbs as a hot tea infusion and drink 3 cups per day.
Also apply Swedish Bitters tincture directly onto the haemorrhoids twice daily.

DIET
A diet high in fibre from vegetables, fruits and cereals will help with softer bowel movements that are easier to pass and will help keep you regular. Make sure you are drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day.

MEDICAL TREATMENTS
Apart from diet and the other suggestions above, there are a number of other treatments for haemorrhoids (depending on the type), including:

—-Astringent ointments or suppositories to shrivel the haemorrhoids (available over the counter from your pharmacist, e.g. Proctosedyl)

—-Injections

—-Rubber band ligation

—-Surgery as a last resort
Chat to your GP about treatment options so that you have a treatment plan in place which is safe for you and your baby.

TIPS
1. If you have external haemorrhoids and find wiping after going to the toilet to be painful, try some gentle babywipes.

2. Make a herbal bath to soak all your tender bits in – and add a good amount of sea salt to your bath or sitz baths to help heal. Also using a peri-squeeze bottle is a life-saver on the toilet.

BATH COMBINATION (tied up in a muslin bag):
- Lavendar – Uva Ursi – Calendula – Rosemary – Comfrey – Sage
Lovely smell and very soothing, I found

3. Buy a rubber ring to sit on if you have pain when sitting

Yikes! Sometimes heat can inflame it more. Try a cold compress to reduce the swelling. Try not to strain when you poop at all. Eat more fiber until it settles down if you’ve been constipated. And about it going away…. my wife has one that she developed in her second pregnancy 23yrs ago that is still around. Her doc said she can have it removed if it bothers her. It doesn’t really cause her a lot of pain so it would be mostly for cosmetic reasons.

If you want to get hemorrhoid relief, one of the first things you will want to try to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. You will be less likely to get constipated and so you will not only be able to deal with the hemorrhoids that you have now but really prevent them from recurring in the future. Dried fruits like prunes and raises are often used to help soften the stool. Drinking lots of water is a great idea too as it helps to hydrate the colon. Two of the best natural herbs include Witch Hazel and Butcher’s Broom. These herbs help to relieve swelling. Horse chestnut is another herb that can help with hemorrhoid relief. This is an herb known for relieving symptoms such as swelling and inflammation and to strengthen blood vessel walls. It can be taken either as a tea or in capsule form. Taking a warm bath is a great way to relive some of the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Also applying ice to the area can help to shrink the hemorrhoid.