Pregnant with Hemorrhoids

You got a lot of great responses. There is one thing I wanted to reiterate from Sheila's response. I recently had (still having some issues) an external hemorrhoid that was very painful and bleeding. While in the shower, I got my finger nice and soapy, and I gently pushed it back in. That helped immensely, though the outside skin is quite irritated still. You might try that, even though it sounds unpleasant in multiple ways.

i had external hemorrhoids and whoa it hurted, so i just use to sit on warm wet towels and then put preparation h!!!! it helped, mine lasted for about almost 2 and a half weeks!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!

I remember getting hemorrhoids so bad. The best way is to actually try to prevent them. I ate tons of total cereal and that really seemed to help. The easier it is for you to go the less pressure you have to put on that area trying to push out. And gross as it sounds if you can push it in a little (sorry) it won't itch so much.

Trust me, I've been down that road, and it's NO fun.

Talk to your OB/GYN. There are Rx products that are SO helpful. Most of the OTC products are very brief in addressing the issue vs. treating the inflammation which is the biggest source of pain.

Mine flared after my second child while going through chemo which is notorious for causing such issues.
I've worked in the pharmaceutical industry for a decade, and I'm amazed that someone wasn't more creative with the names of these products.
The two I used were Rectagel and Analpram (snickers ok here). I preferred the first.

You may want to get some flushable Preparation-H wipes. They were a Godsend!

Hi J.,
I know how you feel. That hurts, and it's so uncomfortable!
What worked for me, is the hemorrhoids cream, not the gel. You don't say if you have internal or external hemorrhoids. For the internal, you should ask to your doctor, or OB/Gyn if you may use suppositories. It is uncomfortable at the beginning, but VERY effective and soothing.
There are a couple of things that may help you also (and helped me too!): After each bowel movement, I would clean that area very well but gently with wipes for that purpose (you can find them at any store like Target, Wal-Mart, Schnucks, or any pharmacy) put an ice cub in my rectum and hold it there for a few seconds (uyyyy!..but believe me that helped me to reduce the swelling a lot), put some cream, and then lie down for a little moment, that helps to sooth the pressure you have in that area because of your pregnancy and the bowel movement itself. I did the same in the mornings, and before going to bed.
Drink lots of water and natural fruit juices every morning before breakfast and during the day. Don't stay stand or sit for too long, change positions and if you have to stand for long, use a step stool to put one of your foot on it so your lower part of your body rest a little bit.
Keep doing this very frequently and they will be gone. The cream should be used 3 -4 times a day, but remember asking to your OB/Gyn.
Good luck and take care of yourself.

I had awful hemorrhoids during my first pregnancy so I know how you feel. First of all, make sure you're eating enough fiber and drinking enough water so that you don't become constipated because that will make things a lot worse. I thought I was drinking a lot of fluids but it was drinking mostly decaf. iced tea and I found out that the tannins in tea can cause constipation so I had to knock off that habit. The Preparation H wipes helped a little bit to relieve some of the itching and irritation so I used those whenever I was in the bathroom. I used the cream (the cream worked better than the ointment) during the day and before bed I would put in a suppository. The hemorrhoids didn't go away completely until after I delivered but the Prep H at least kept them under control. If you're having a really bad time, then you might ask your OB about an Rx product like the previous poster suggested.

I had similar problems while pregnant with my third..and actually diaper rash cream worked the best for me..and we already had it here. That and making sure I had enough fiber and water.

I agree about the fiber and trying to eat right to avoid constipation. You may also want to talk with your doc about stool softeners (I know at least some are safe during pregnancy) to make it easier to pass a BM and not aggravate the situation. I also noticed that the tucks pads they gave me after my first birth (to help soothe and heal the whole perianal area) were 95% witch hazel, so I started using a cotton pad or tp covered in witch hazel on the area whenever it gets upset. It seems to help swelling and hemorrhoids too--although it does burn a bit at first.

No fun at all--hope you feel better soon.

I love the Earth Mama Angel Baby Mama's Bottom balm. It was soothing and organic.

I've found that Tuck's pads work the best. They can be left in place and soothe for a long time.