Hemorrhoids in pregnancy appear mainly during the third trimester . Just as varicose veins (varicose veins) in the legs tend to swell, those in the rectum also experience more pressure.
Hemorrhoids can be of two types, depending on whether they are inside or outside the body:
- Internal hemorrhoids: They occur where the rectum begins, just inside the anus. The main and most common problem is that they cause bleeding during bowel movements, but they are not usually as painful as external ones, and you may not even notice any discomfort.
- External hemorrhoids: They occur outside the anus. They can cause difficulties when moving, sitting and especially when cleaning the area after bowel movements.
WHY DO HEMORRHOIDS ARISE IN PREGNANCY?
Hemorrhoids, or also called “piles”, are pads of intestinal tissue that swell in the area of the anus or in the lower area of the rectum. These pads have many veins and arteries, they are common and are the consequence of increased pressure in the anus. For this reason, they can appear during pregnancy, childbirth, or due to constipation. We are going to focus on hemorrhoids in pregnancy.
During pregnancy, varicose veins tend to appear anywhere on the body. This is because little by little, the overload of the uterus is greater, and this exerts pressure on the veins that are located in the lower part of the body. In this way, the return of blood from the lower areas of the body is slowed down, putting added pressure on the veins below the uterus. The result of all this is that the veins dilate and swell.
The veins found in the rectum do not escape this process that leads to the formation of hemorrhoids. Other symptoms for its formation are straining during defecation and constipation.
On the other hand, we can say that the veins of pregnant women swell easily as a result of the increased levels of the hormone progesterone, which has the characteristic of relaxing the walls of the blood vessels.
What are your symptoms?
The appearance of hemorrhoids in pregnancy causes one or more sensitive and hard protuberances to be seen in the anus area.
If it’s internal hemorrhoids, the swollen tissue can often bleed at the time of bowel movements, which can scare you. The color of this bleeding is a deep red, and unlike vaginal bleeding, rectal bleeding does not mean that the fetus is in danger.
Associated with internal hemorrhoids, we find other symptoms such as itching, burning, pain and discomfort in the affected area. In this case, it often becomes difficult not only to sit down, but also to change position, walk or find the best position to sleep . They can also cause intense pain at the time of going to the bathroom and, sometimes, bleeding may appear.
Be that as it may, if you are not totally sure that bleeding during bowel movements is the consequence of having hemorrhoids, it is best to request a medical consultation. This is because rectal bleeding can be a sign of more serious disease.
Finally, despite the fact that the risk of hemorrhoids in pregnancy is common and that during this period you are more susceptible to suffering from them, you can do something to relieve them:
- Drink plenty of water and eat a diet rich in fiber to avoid constipation.
- Practice exercise on a regular basis.
- Do not postpone the need to go to the bathroom.