Hemorrhoids are one of the most common ailments during pregnancy and postpartum. Hemorrhoids occur during pregnancy because your overall blood volume increases by up to 50%. This additional blood is essential for a developing baby, healthy placenta, and healthy pregnancy. But the expansion of our veins coupled with other pregnancy symptoms like indigestion, bloating, gas, and constipation, is what ultimately causes hemorrhoids to form.

Hemorrhoids also occur postpartum during the pushing phase of labor. The pushing phase is like straining during a bowel movement (although, let’s be honest, much more intense). The straining from pushing during labor causes hemorrhoids to form after giving birth to your baby.

The good news is that there are several easy, self-care treatments you can do to manage hemorrhoids and prevent their return. Many of these healing techniques provide numerous other benefits during your pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

What Is a Hemorrhoid?

A hemorrhoid occurs from enlarged veins in the rectum that are pushed outside of the anal sphincter and then get pinched, creating small blood-filled sacks. You may notice discomfort during bowel movements or when sitting. You may also see small amounts of blood when you wipe, or experience itchiness, burning, or swelling around your anus.

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy and postpartum can be very uncomfortable, and only add to the health challenges you’re likely already experiencing.

Why Hemorrhoids Occur During Pregnancy

When you become pregnant your blood volume increases by 30-50% as your veins, arteries, capillaries, and vessels expand their capacity to circulate blood for you and your baby.

As a result, your veins will expand and stretch, thinning the walls and making them more susceptible to inflammation with constipation or hard stools. The result is the dreaded hemorrhoid. Constipation at the beginning of pregnancy resulting from hormone changes, and not hydrating enough due to nausea or morning sickness are other factors that create the perfect storm for the hemorrhoid to develop.

Why Hemorrhoids Occur Postpartum

In a vaginal birth your whole pelvic floor is engaged and contracted during the pushing phase of labor and the stress can cause a hemorrhoid can develop. You may not know at the time because everything is sore on the pelvic floor after birth. You will notice with your first bowl movement that something has changed. Treating it as soon as you feel it is important. Keeping the pain, itching, and swelling down, gives your body time to heal. Your blood volume will go back to normal, and the veins will have less pressure on them in around six to eight weeks.

Women who experience hemorrhoids during one pregnancy or postpartum experience are more likely to have them in subsequent ones.

How to Heal Hemorrhoids

“…this is absolute heaven. Who knew that hemorrhoid salve could be such a delight??!!” – Shanna ★★★★★

Booty Bliss Hemorrhoid Salve

Our Booty Bliss Hemorrhoid Salve is made with entirely organic and plant-based ingredients. It provides instant pain relief and heals hemorrhoids fast through a unique combination of herbs and oils. Learn more.

To get the greatest benefits from Booty Bliss, with clean hands, apply a small amount of the salve directly on to your hemorrhoid(s), pushing the hemorrhoid(s) back up into the anal sphincter. This may not sound fun, but it will give you the fastest recovery and make future bowel movements less painful. Applying before a bowel movement can help too.

The salve will go to work internally and externally to heal the hemorrhoids. Apply a few times throughout the day, but especially before bed as laying down decreases pressure and rubbing compared to sitting, walking, etc., making this an ideal time for healing.

Fiber

Adding fiber to your diet is beneficial during pregnancy when constipation can be common. It’s also very helpful after giving birth when bowel movements can be scary. Fiber helps to soften stool and make bowel movement more tolerable while easing the pressure on any hemorrhoids. More fiber will make a noticeable difference in 24-48 hours. Here’s a list of high fiber foods. If you find that increasing fiber causes bloating or gas, increase your intake more slowly. Your body will adjust.

Magnesium Supplement

Magnesium has a ton of health benefits. You can read about them in our blog post, The Importance of Magnesium During Pregnancy and Postpartum. It’s also helpful for healing hemorrhoids because it softens the stool, creating smoother bowel movements. There are a lot of ways to take magnesium. We prefer a powdered product you add to water, called Calm. It’s great to take before bed because it also helps to induce restful sleep.

Hydration

Adequate hydration will also help to prevent future hemorrhoid occurrences. A good goal is 90oz of water per day. More if you live in a dry climate or at altitude. Very few people reach the required amounts of water per day. While it may not sound like an exciting tip, hydration during pregnancy and postpartum can have a ton of benefits including easing constipation and making bowel movements more tolerable if you’re dealing with hemorrhoids.

Summary

Around 50% of adults deal with hemorrhoids by the time they’re 50 years old and it’s usually due to constipation and straining during bowel movements. However, hemorrhoids are also common throughout pregnancy and during postpartum.

Regardless of why hemorrhoids occur, the solutions are the same: first, use Booty Bliss to ease your discomfort, heal the hemorrhoids, and keep the area around it clean and free of infection.

Then, use a combination of high fiber foods, increased water consumption and a magnesium supplement to make bowel movements healthy and easy to pass thereby reducing the likelihood that hemorrhoids return.

Got any other tips? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Heal Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy and Postpartum