A Pain in My Butt: Hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids. Yep, I have them. I had them at the very end of my first pregnancy and this pregnancy they returned at week 6. Now in the third trimester, they're showing their lovely little faces once again and this time with a vengeance.
What causes them? When you are pregnant your blood volume doubles. Increased blood flow to the pelvis helps these little guys come out. In addition to more blood volume, you have increased pressure from the baby and your growing uterus pushing on the veins around the anus. Also, your hormones are changing and this contributes to hemorrhoids. With the change in hormones and your baby growing inside you, you are more likely to experience constipation and this also contributes to these little fellows joining you in the bathroom. Sitting posture and/or sitting for a long time can also cause these fun pregnancy side effects.
Don’t worry, they are likely to go away after you’ve delivered your baby and your body has had a chance to heal and recover from the 9 months of change it just experienced.
Mine have gotten so bad this pregnancy (likely from my job that has me sitting for 6+ hours a day) that I had to find solutions now. In the past, I have treated pregnant women who have hemorrhoids by doing myofascial release (a technique that uses gentle, sustained pressure on the tissue) on their glutes (aka butt). So I thought, well, I can do that by rolling on a ball on my sit bones. I am also now seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist who does work on my glutes just to make my “friends” go away. My midwife gave me this amazing, all natural hemorrhoid cream and advised me to get a cheap ($20) bidet to help with the itching and irritation. My wonderful husband got me a donut to sit on in the car. I also make sure I am drinking half my bodyweight in ounces of water a day and eating lots of fiber rich foods so I never have to feel like I need to strain to have a bowel movement.
All of the above have helped, but yes, my favorite position to be in when I come home after work is relaxing on my couch, so no, I have not eliminated them. They are a literal pain in the butt and they are a great reminder that I am creating a miracle.
If you have hemorrhoids, whether pregnant or not, there are ways to help decrease the discomfort. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want suggestions.
