Hemorrhoids.

  When I was pregnant for our first daughter, I wound up with Hemorrhoids.  They have persisted in the two years since her birth, and now I am pregnant again.  I am worried about the hemorrhoids worsening with this pregnancy and then the birth of our second baby.  Are there any techniques (ex. pressure with a warm, sterile cloth) that would help keep the hemorrhoids from becoming too large during delivery? Do you have any dietary suggestions?  When should someone like me see a doctor abuot the hemorrhoids?
Dear kate:
Hemorrhoids are a type of "varicose vein": a vein that has lost the normal support of the wall and bulged. An analogy would be a weak spot in a bicycle tire, causing the wall to bulge.
Local pressure will keep the hemorrhoids from becoming larger, just as support stocking keep leg veins from swelling.
Local creams to provide relief from discomfort and itching may also shrink the hemorrhoids temporarily. Warm baths are soothing. A diet that is high in fiber and liquids to create a soft, bulky, easy to evacuate stool is recommended. Local application of gylcerin suppositories will assist passage of hard stool.
Hemorrhoids can be destroyed by injections that sclerose the veins; banding that contricts the blood supply and causes the tissue to gradually shrink away; surgery to remove the hemorrhoids. Generally, surgeons prefer to wait until after pregnancy to surgically remove hemorrhoids.
If a hemorrhoid becomes thrombosed (the vein clots), it swells and is very painful. At this time, surgery to open and drain the hemorrhoid, pregnant or non-pregnant, brings immediate relief.
Keywords: hemorrhoids
This information isprovided for general purposes only and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.