How to Treat Pregnancy Hemorrhoids

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Co-authored by Wendy Powell and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 References

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• Home Treatments
|
• Lifestyle and Prevention
|
• Medical Attention
|
• Expert Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings

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Hemorrhoids are common in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, and can range from merely unpleasant to excruciating. What's worse, it's not even socially acceptable to complain about them, unlike with morning sickness or swollen feet! Thankfully, there are some simple and efficient ways to prevent them from occurring. If you do happen to get them, they're fairly easy to treat.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Home Treatments

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1. 1
   Place an ice pack on the area for 15-20 minutes to reduce swelling. Wrap an ice pack in a hand towel or washcloth and place it directly on the swollen area for 15-20 minutes at a time. This is safe to do 3 or 4 times throughout the day, as needed.

   • Never put ice or an ice pack directly on your skin. The skin around your anus is particularly delicate and the ice can damage it.
   • Follow up with a warm washcloth to calm your skin, if you like.
2. 2
   Fill a sitz bath with warm water and sit for 15 minutes to ease the pain. A sitz bath is a small plastic basin that you fill with warm water and attach to the seat of your toilet. Submerge your anal area in the warm water for 10-15 minutes. You can also sit in warm water in a regular bathtub, but a sitz bath may be more convenient for you.

   • The water should be warm, not hot. Check the temperature to ensure the water is between 99 and 102 °F (37 and 39 °C).
   • If your hemorrhoids itch, add 1 tbsp (15 g) of baking soda to the water.
   • You can buy a sitz bath online or at a pharmacy or medical supply store.
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3. 3
   Apply witch hazel or baking soda with a cloth to reduce swelling. You can buy over-the-counter medicated pads to relieve your symptoms, but these home remedies work well and cost less. Soak a soft cloth in alcohol-free witch hazel and pat your anal area gently to apply it. You can apply baking soda wet or dry, so do whatever feels comfortable to you.

   • These remedies are safe to use as often as you need them.
4. 4
   Up your fiber intake to make bowel movements easier to pass. Bowel movements can be painful during a hemorrhoid flareup. Minimize this by eating plenty of foods that are high in fiber, such as whole-grains, beans, and raw fruits and vegetables. Try to include at least one of these foods with every meal.

   • Try a fiber supplement, like Metamucil, if you're having trouble eating enough fiber-rich foods. You can buy fiber supplements online or at your local drugstore or supermarket.
5. 5
   Keep the area clean with gentle wet wipes and squirt bottles. Keeping the anal area clean after bowel movements is really important for healing. Since your anal area is inflamed, avoid scrubbing and use gentle wet wipes to clean yourself. You can also use a squirt bottle to clean the area.

   • Washing the area with mild soap and warm water after every bowel movement works, too.
6. 6
   Wear cotton underwear and loose clothes to prevent itching. Tight-fitting clothing can cause you to sweat, which will increase the pain and itching of hemorrhoids. Cotton is ideal because it's a breathable fabric and doesn't trap moisture like other materials.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Lifestyle and Prevention

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1. 1
   Drink plenty of fluids to prevent constipation that causes hemorrhoids. Constipation, most commonly caused by dehydration, is the number 1 culprit behind hemorrhoids. Drink enough water that your urine is consistently clear or light yellow. Other fluids help keep you hydrated as well, but focus primarily on drinking water.

   • Eating plenty of foods that are high in fiber, including whole grains and raw fruits and vegetables, will also help you avoid constipation.
   • Avoid chocolate, dairy, bananas, and red meat, which can dehydrate you and make constipation worse.
2. 2
   Wait rather than strain if a bowel movement won't pass easily. Straining on the toilet can lead to the development of hemorrhoids, so try to avoid it when possible. If you feel like you need to go but can't without straining, wait a little while, then try again.

   • To reduce strain, try propping your feet on a low stool when you're on the toilet. This lifts your knees above your hips, putting you in a more natural position so you don't have to strain as much.
3. 3
   Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time. Sitting or standing for long periods puts pressure on the veins around your rectal area, which can increase the chance of hemorrhoids. This is especially true if you find yourself sitting on the toilet for an extended period of time.

   • The toilet might very well be the only place you have to get a little quiet time to yourself, but avoid watching videos or reading while sitting on the toilet, as these activities can cause you to sit too long.
   • While watching TV, reading, or sleeping, lie on your left side to increase blood flow to the lower half of your body.
4. 4
   Do Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening the muscles around your anus makes hemorrhoids much less likely. To find your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination mid-stream. Practice until you can tighten these muscles even when you're not urinating. At that point, you can tighten your pelvic floor muscles at any time in any position, although you might find them easier to do while lying down.

   • Kegel exercises can also reduce the severity of bleeding and prolapse if you currently have hemorrhoids.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Medical Attention

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1. 1
   See your doctor if symptoms persist for a week or more. Hemorrhoids can be an embarrassing condition to talk about. Perhaps as a result, many people try to treat them on their own without seeking proper medical attention. Your doctor will examine you, determine the severity of your hemorrhoids, and recommend specific treatments based on your specific circumstances.

   • There are many over-the-counter creams and other treatments for hemorrhoids. However, while they may help ease the associated pain and itching, they don't do anything to treat the underlying problem.
   • Your doctor might also recommend a rectal suppository. These usually require a prescription and help relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
2. 2
   Ask about fiber supplements or stool softeners if you're constipated. Constipation is relatively common during pregnancy and the straining that naturally follows can lead to hemorrhoids. If you're already constipated, your doctor can recommend specific fiber supplements or stool softeners that will make your bowel movements easier to pass.

   • Fiber supplements are typically available over-the-counter at pharmacies, grocery, and discount stores (or online). Stool softeners, on the other hand, might require a prescription.
   • Don't take laxatives unless your doctor specifically tells you to. They can be dangerous if you're pregnant.
3. 3
   Discuss surgical options if your symptoms remain after delivery. Hemorrhoids are most common in the third trimester and even if they continue to plague you for a few weeks, they usually go away on their own after the birth of your baby. However, if you continue to have symptoms after delivery, your doctor might want to have your hemorrhoids surgically removed.

   • Doctors typically don't consider other more aggressive treatments, including sclerotherapy and cryotherapy, which are less invasive than surgery, unless you've had severe symptoms for over a month.
   • Your doctor won't normally consider surgery until after delivery. Until then, do everything you can to help relieve your pain and discomfort.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How can I avoid hemorrhoids when I'm pregnant?

  

  Wendy Powell
  Maternal Health & Exercise Specialist

  Wendy Powell is a Maternal Health and Exercise Specialist and the Founder and CEO of MUTU System, the world's best-selling, medically recommended online fitness education program for mothers. Wendy specializes in pregnancy, post-baby recovery, postpartum exercises, fitness education, and body confidence. Wendy works to shift the conversation on women's bodies towards equality and empowerment for health, confidence, and power. She is a published author, international speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur. Wendy is on the Women's Development Board of the MicroLoan Foundation and is a frequent contributor to the BBC. MUTU System has been featured in Vogue, the Huffington Post, Fox News Health, Daily Mail, and The Guardian, and is recommended by Hollywood Trainer, Jeanette Jenkins.

  

  Wendy Powell

  Maternal Health & Exercise Specialist

  Expert Answer

  The main thing is not to strain. An excellent way to alleviate that is to raise your feet when you sit on the toilet. That puts you in a more natural toileting position so you can evacuate more easily.

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Tips

• Don't ignore or resist the urge to go. Stool can dry out if you let it sit for too long, which will make it even harder to pass.
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• With lifestyle changes, including changes to your diet, it might take several days to a week for your condition to start to improve. Have patience!
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Warnings

• If you have bleeding during bowel movements or hemorrhoids that don't go away after a week of home care, see your doctor.
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• While there are many over-the-counter medications to treat hemorrhoids, there is no evidence that these products actually improve the condition or do anything beyond relief of pain, itching, and swelling.
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