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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
The best way to avoid them is to birth in a good position (not lying on your back) and to avoid having an epidural or other pain relief which reduces your mobility. I got them from my first birth - and you guessed it, lying on my back after an epidural. I wasn't even able to sit up as my blood pressure was too low (from the epidural) and DS was in foetal distress (from the epidural).
Have a read of New Active Birth. It is abo****ely brilliant and will help you birth in a way that will help you avoid the "H" word, as well as other unpleastantries such as tears and episiotomy.
Thanks girls.
Some good advice!
I have New Active Birth and have read it, such a great book.
I just wrote my birth plan (yes, finally) and made sure to put in that I would like to go with my body and instinctively push rather than have directed pushing.
Aaargh, why did I read this thread?! Now I'm reminded of the shocking 10 WEEKS (yes, you read right) of bum problems after having DD... It doesn't help at all that I inherited lazy bowel from my dad's side of the family (pop, aunty and dad all have it) so I was already in big trouble before adding 'roids to it
I'd almost forgotten about the horrible constipation and profuse bleeding, it's all coming back to me now
Just so you know, I birthed Emily standing up, and Nina on my back, I had hemmeroids for about 3 months after having Emily, but only once after having Nina. And with both girls, I only pushed for about 5 minutes.
Hopefully you're one of the lucky ones that just doesn't get it.
Good luck with your impending birth!
I was always under the impression that it wasn't labour that caused hemorrhoids, but the weight of the baby pressing down in the final months... compresses blood vessels or something...
Not that that really changes anything, it seems it's luck of the draw either way!
^ That theory makes a lot of sense. I personally didn't have haemorrhoids until after DD was born, but for a good two months beforehand I just... couldn't do *anything* (sorry if that's TMI). Ugh.
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Avoiding the dreaded H word...
I think that avoiding straining in the days right after birth is important too. Keep up your fibre and fluids.
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