Are pregnancy-related hemorrhoids making it harder to get through the day? The pressure, itching, and pain feel overwhelming, especially when your focus should be on growing a happy, healthy baby.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are a common but uncomfortable concern. At Georgia Hemorrhoid Institute, we help you manage symptoms with safe, effective, non-surgical options. During pregnancy, our goal is to prevent flare-ups and manage symptoms with gentle remedies.. After childbirth, you can explore additional treatment options to support long-term relief and healing.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are caused by increased pressure on the veins in the rectal area. Some factors are unavoidable, like the growing uterus adding pressure on your pelvic veins. Others, like diet, constipation, and lifestyle habits, can often be managed to help reduce symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
As your pregnancy progresses, your growing uterus and the fetus inside it put more pressure on your bowel and pelvis. This added weight restricts blood circulation in the pelvic area, compressing the veins around the anus and rectum. When blood can’t flow back to the heart properly, it causes swelling and can lead to hemorrhoidal formation.
During pregnancy, your hormones change rapidly. Some of those changes affect your digestive process, increasing your risk of constipation.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can develop for two main reasons. First, the extra weight from retained stool puts more pressure on your rectum. Additionally, constipation can cause you to strain while trying to pass a bowel movement, which can worsen the issue.
Straining during bowel movements increases your risk of hemorrhoids in several ways.
The pressure from straining puts excess pressure on veins in your anus and rectum, damaging the small valves inside these veins. This can cause blood to pool, leading to painful swelling, inflammation, and tissue damage.
If you already have internal hemorrhoids, severe straining can push the swollen veins outside the anus, causing a prolapsed hemorrhoid.
If you develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy, symptoms include pain, itching, and burning in or around the anus. You might notice small, painful bumps or swollen areas around your anus that feel tender to the touch, especially when sitting or during bowel movements. With internal hemorrhoids, you may experience bleeding with bowel movements, and the swollen vessels could protrude from your anus.
When you have hemorrhoids during pregnancy, you may experience intense itching in your anal area. You may also experience pain or discomfort around the anus, especially when sitting. The affected area may feel hard, lumpy, or swollen.
Both internal and external hemorrhoids can cause pain during bowel movements. With internal hemorrhoids, you may experience pain if pushing to pass your bowel movement causes the swollen veins to prolapse. With external hemorrhoids, passing stool can increase pressure on the inflamed and swollen tissue surrounding the anus, causing sharp or stabbing pain.
Internal hemorrhoids may protrude or bleed when passing a bowel movement. As such, you may notice bright red blood on your toilet paper or in the toilet after passing a bowel movement. Some protruding hemorrhoids can be manually inserted back into the rectum, but more severely prolapsed hemorrhoids will remain in place.
To help prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy, focus on diet and lifestyle measures that naturally reduce your risk for constipation.
Increasing your daily fiber intake to about 25 grams may help prevent hemorrhoids during pregnancy. While supplements can help, you can also try adding fiber-rich foods such as leafy green veggies, fresh fruits—especially ones with skin, such as pears or apples—and whole grains.
If you’re already worried about what helps with hemorrhoids while pregnant, you can also choose produce that comes in bright colors, as their flavonoids can help manage bleeding hemorrhoids.
Staying hydrated is also important. Try drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. You should drink water consistently throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty. And, if constipation is already a problem, consider drinking fiber-rich fluids like prune juice to help soften stool and reduce straining when trying to pass a bowel movement.
In addition to increasing your fiber and fluid intake, changing your bathroom habits can also help prevent constipation naturally. Try using a stepstool to elevate your knees above your hips when passing a bowel movement. This position can help relax your muscles and digestive system, making it easier to empty your bowels without straining. Adding more physical activity to your day can also help relieve constipation.
Any time you move your body, even if you do something as simple as walking, you help reduce your risk for constipation. Regular physical activity stimulates your intestinal muscles, promoting healthy contractions that help move food through your digestive tract more efficiently, preventing the stool buildup contributing to hemorrhoid formation. After clearing any form of physical activity with your physician, aim for 30 minutes of mild to moderate exercise each day to reduce your risk for hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
While we would not recommend a medical procedure to relieve hemorrhoids during pregnancy, there are safe and effective ways to deal with them that won’t compromise the health and safety of your growing fetus.
When you have hemorrhoids during pregnancy, finding relief can be complicated. But you can manage your symptoms by:
To manage hemorrhoid symptoms, soaking in a sitz bath of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes, several times a day, can help reduce inflammation and may promote blood flow away from your swollen rectal veins.
To alleviate pain and swelling, apply a covered ice pack directly to the area for a few minutes, several times a day. Topical creams may also provide relief, especially those that contain soothing witch hazel. However, any products you consider must be cleared for safety by your healthcare provider.
If at-home remedies or treatments aren’t providing sufficient relief, consult your healthcare provider or a specialist about treatment options. This is especially important if you’re experiencing severe pain or rectal bleeding.
Several different approaches can help with hemorrhoids while you’re pregnant:
Consult your healthcare provider if you experience severe pain, bleeding, or if your symptoms don’t improve after a week of home treatment.
You should also seek medical advice if your bowel habits change, pass tarry or black stool, or have any concerns about the cause of rectal bleeding.
Your hemorrhoids may need medical attention if:
During pregnancy, your hemorrhoids can be safely evaluated with a visual inspection or a digital rectal exam. For internal hemorrhoids, your healthcare provider may insert a small, flexible tube into your rectum to conduct a sigmoidoscopy. This helps visualize the internal lining of the rectum. You can also begin considering post-pregnancy treatment options by answering these HAE screening questions to help determine if you’re a candidate for hemorrhoid artery embolization (HAE).
With three different locations in Georgia, we are here to support you through the challenges of hemorrhoids during pregnancy and after childbirth. If you’re considering how to manage hemorrhoids during pregnancy, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider. For personalized guidance on postpartum treatment options tailored to your specific symptoms and medical history, request a consultation with our team of experts at the Georgia Hemorrhoid Institute.
Atlanta
3225 Cumberland Blvd. Southeast, Suite 520
Atlanta, GA 30339
Stockbridge
1035 Southcrest Dr., Suite 220 + 250
Stockbridge, GA 30281
Tucker
1975 Lakeside Pkwy., Suite 300
Tucker, GA 30084
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