It's quite common to experience piles during pregnancy, it's just another common side effect that comes with growing a little human. Piles, also known as hemorrhoids are essentially swellings caused by enlarged blood vessels that can develop inside or around your anus, and anyone can get them, they are not just limited to pregnancy.
It is common for women who are pregnant to suffer from piles, estimates suggest that between 25% and 35% of pregnant women experience it. After pregnancy, the strain of vaginal delivery can also make women more prone to developing piles.
The most important thing to know is that despite how uncomfortable they are, piles during pregnancy will not affect your baby or their health.
Symptoms of piles in pregnancy
If you have piles, according to the NHS these are the symptoms you may experience:
• Itching or pain around your anus (may also experience aching, soreness or swelling)
• Pain when going for a poo
• Mucus discharge after you’ve been for a poo
• Swelling or a lump near the anus, which may need to be pushed back in after passing a stool
• Bleeding after passing a stool – the blood is usually bright red
Why do women get piles in pregnancy?
When you’re pregnant there’s an increase in the amount of blood being pumped around your body. You’ve also got a surge of pregnancy hormones and increased pressure in the abdomen that can cause veins around the anus and rectum to swell which can develop in to piles. Another cause of piles comes from constipation during pregnancy often caused by hormones that slow down digestion, iron supplements, as well as increased pressure n the rectum and anus from the growing uterus. Women who suffer from IBS before pregnancy may also find that their IBS is impacted by pregnancy, including bouts of constipation.
How to get rid of piles in pregnancy
While you can’t instantly get rid of piles, there are lots of ways to ease the discomfort, including sticking to a healthy diet and lifestyle plan.
‘Eat plenty of food that is high in fibre, like wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables,’ advises Jane. ‘Make sure you drink plenty of water to help prevent constipation, which can make piles worse.’
You should also avoid standing for long periods and exercise regularly to improve your circulation. Don’t worry about harming your baby doing this as there are plenty of safe ways that you can exercise safely while you’re pregnant.
‘Some people find it helpful to press a cloth wrung out in ice water against the piles, to soothe the pain,’ says Jane. ‘Unfortunately, you’ll need to push back in any piles that stick out using a lubricating jelly.’
Can I avoid getting piles in pregnancy?
Your best bet is to try and avoid becoming constipated during your pregnancy in order to avoid piles. The best ways you can do this is by following Jane’s advice above - eating foods high in fibre, regularly exercising, not standing for too long and dressing a wrung out cloth against your piles.
When should a doctor be consulted?
If nothing seems to be easing your discomfort, see your GP who may prescribe medicines and ointments to help soothe the inflammation.
Your piles should resolve themselves within a couple of weeks of you giving birth but see your GP if they don’t.
About the author
Bryony Firth-Bernard graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a first in Journalism and went on to work as a reporter at Heart Radio West before becoming the lifestyle intern across Good Housekeeping, Prima and Red magazine.