Avoiding the dreaded H word...

[Heaven]

Yes, hemorrhoids...

I don't have any (phew) and would like to keep it that way!! But I've heard it's really common to get them when pushing baby out.

So, what are the best ways to prevent them? Or is it inevitable?

[Visitor7]

I got them in the weeks after having both girls. I'm not sure that you can do anything to prevent them? If there is, I'd love to hear it.

[Snacks]

Could be it is luck of the draw, as I never got them and I pushed for almost 2 hours!
I think, particularly with your first, that reading some good articles about 2nd stage might be helpful. I thought that the care I'd received during my birth was fantastic, but when I think back to it now, I wish I had've known more about 2nd stage. Mine was heavily coached, I was pushing so hard I literally burst loads of little blood capillaries in my head, and it was all directed pushing, rather than just following my body's lead.
I know that this time around statistically it will be much quicker, but I still want to just trust my baby to find her way out rather than push when I don't need to, KWIM?
I don't think I've been very clear, LOL! What I'm saying is, perhaps it is unavoidable (in that, if you are going to get them, you'll get them) but perhaps learning what you can about 2nd stage, particularly working with gravity and being aware that sometimes care providers will direct you too much, might help. Know that it is normal for 2nd stage to take a while in a first birth, and you and your attendants might need to be patient, instead of pushing like mad.

[Cricket]

I didn't get any with my first two, but I did get one a few days after my third was born. Didn't happen right away, which seemed odd to me. I honestly don't know if there's a way to prevent them, but I think what Amy said is bound to help - don't push unnecessarily hard, if you can help it. But, that baby's got to get out one way or another - don't hold back if you need to push, just to avoid hemorrhoids! I think that avoiding straining in the days right after birth is important too. Keep up your fibre and fluids.

If you get them.... get attention for them ASAP! I left mine for a while, hoping they'd go away, and they HURT SO BADLY! Mine was external, which is the nasty kind, I guess. Anyways, the midwife prescribed proctofoam which has a pain reliever, as well as something to help heal the hemmorhoid, and it was wonderful! If you end up needing it, see if you can get that stuff.

Hope all goes well at your birth!

[~Amy~]

I got them both times. With Mya i never knew what was wrong with my bum till about 4-5 weeks after she was born & i told a friend & she said it was hemroids haha! U can get this gel stuff from the pharmacy which clears them up really fast. With Bodhi i had hardly any. The hospital gave me some cream, then i went & got the other stuff from the pharmacy & they healed up really fast.
I have no idea if they are preventable. Its worth looking into tho-----coz they can bloody hurt!

[Janie]

I have never had a roi'd (touch wood), even after childbirth, and I pushed for four hours. I'd say it's luck of the draw, I've never heard of anything you can do to prevent them. Would love to know if there is!

[Dasharity]

I didnt get any untill two weeks before i was due i was so horrified i though i was doing so well, but they are common and i dont think you can avoid them, youll either get them or you wont, sorry love.

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Could be it is luck of the draw, as I never got them and I pushed for almost 2 hours!
I think, particularly with your first, that reading some good articles about 2nd stage might be helpful. I thought that the care I'd received during my birth was fantastic, but when I think back to it now, I wish I had've known more about 2nd stage. Mine was heavily coached, I was pushing so hard I literally burst loads of little blood capillaries in my head, and it was all directed pushing, rather than just following my body's lead.

Sounds just like my labour, I was pushing for nearly two hours too and I pushed so hard, *TMI warning* my bum like, popped out the wrong way? The midwife stuffed it back in with her finger.

Ok back to the subject at hand, I've never heard of any way to prevent them or even to get rid of them, besides surgery.

[Glamourcide]

^ Two hours? I can only hope. I was induced and I went from 'Okay, 1cm, should see something happen tomorrow' to 'You were right, you *are* fully dilated! Push now!' in the space of about eight minutes... and then it was a solid four hours of pushing (no breaks at all, as soon as I'd finished pushing through one contraction, another one would be peaking and the midwife told me to just keep going)... no wonder I had issues afterwards (I guess I had the same thing, the strain was too much and it just kind of went 'pop', as you described!).

[mykids]

I am fairly sure there is no way to prevent them. I carried both my big boof babies low so got them during pregnancy which really sucked!!

Your OB or midewife may know for sure if they are in any way preventable. Good luck

[Junglemum]

Heheheheh i was wondering what the dreaded H word was.

I think when it comes to labour there isn't alot you can do to avoid roids, but TBH a the time it will be the last thing on your mind.

In regards to other times in life, you can avoid roids by having plenty of fluids and fibre to keep things regular, and never straining on the toilet.

[Junglemum]

double post