Statistics show that many newly minted mothers face a problem such as hemorrhoids after childbirth. How to treat a similar pathology? After all, as you know, during lactation, women can not use all medicines.
Many mothers are interested in additional information about this disease. Why did hemorrhoids come out after childbirth? What drugs are allowed to be used by nursing mothers? Can folk remedies be used? Answers to these questions are important for many women.
What is a disease?
Before considering questions about why hemorrhoids develop after childbirth, how to treat the disease and what symptoms it is associated with, it is worthwhile to understand general information.
Hemorrhoids - a pathology that is associated with inflammation, thrombosis and further expansion of the veins that form nodes (hemorrhoidal) around the rectum. In fact, this is varicose veins in the anus. This is a very common and extremely delicate problem.
The disease develops gradually. In the initial stages, patients report only severity, itching and discomfort. Symptoms of the disease include periodically occurring pain, constipation. As the vessels expand, small bleeding appears, and in advanced cases, hemorrhoidal nodes fall out.
According to statistics, hemorrhoids often develop in women after childbirth. This significantly affects the quality of life of the newly minted mother. Such a problem cannot be ignored - you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
The main causes of pathology
There is an opinion that hemorrhoids appear as a result of labor pains. But in fact, the pathology develops even before or during pregnancy. Childbirth only exacerbates the situation. The list of reasons is pretty impressive.
- During pregnancy, progesterone levels increase dramatically. This hormone leads to a weakening of the tone of the vascular walls, including the veins in the anus.
- As the baby grows, the uterus grows in size and squeezes the vessels of the pelvis. Blood circulation is difficult, which leads to expansion of the veins. If you had hemorrhoids of the first degree before pregnancy, then it is likely that before the time of birth the situation will become much more complicated.
- The causes include frequent constipation. It is worth noting that this problem is only partially related to malnutrition. The same progesterone inhibits intestinal motility, which leads to the formation of very dense feces.
- Do not forget that during childbirth, abdominal pressure rises sharply. This leads to the expansion of veins and the further formation of hemorrhoidal nodes.
- Hemorrhoids are often diagnosed in women after cesarean section. The fact is that physical activity after surgery is contraindicated, and the scars formed after the procedure interfere with normal bowel movement.
Are there any risk factors?
Today, the important questions are why it develops and what symptoms are accompanied by hemorrhoids after childbirth, how to treat such diseases and whether there are effective means of prevention. We have already figured out the causes of the pathology. But it is worth noting that doctors identify some risk factors, the influence of which increases the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids.
- Sedentary work, lack of physical activity, lack of exercise.
- Improper nutrition, chronic constipation.
- Risk factors include the age of the expectant mother. It is proved that the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids is much higher if a woman is more than 30 years old.
- The number of births also matters. The birth of each subsequent child increases the chances of an increase and loss of hemorrhoids.
- Adverse factors include the presence of complications during the bearing of the child, multiple pregnancy.
Postpartum hemorrhoids: symptoms, clinical features
Many new mothers face a similar problem. Signs of hemorrhoids after childbirth are very characteristic. Features of the clinical picture directly depends on the stage of development of the pathology.
- In the initial stages, the only symptoms are itching, and sometimes severe burning in the anus, which intensifies during bowel movements. Some patients complain of very tangible pain that occurs during the passage of dense feces in the rectum.
- Some women complain of an irritating foreign body sensation in the intestines.
- Hemorrhoids are often accompanied by perineal edema, which leads to delayed urination and spasm of the walls of the bladder.
- The walls of the dilated veins are often injured during bowel movements, which leads to slight bleeding. The presence of scarlet blood on toilet paper is a serious reason to consult a specialist.
- At the last stages of the development of pathology, hemorrhoids fall out, which leads to their infringement, the appearance of severe pain and periodic bleeding. It is difficult for the patient to move and it is almost impossible to sit.
The disease has an extremely negative effect on the quality of life of a newly minted mother.
Hemorrhoids after childbirth: what to do?
If you notice disturbing symptoms, then you should immediately consult a doctor. Of course, therapy during lactation is fraught with difficulties, because lactating mothers are contraindicated in potent drugs.
But wait until the moment of termination of breastfeeding is also not worth it. The disease will constantly progress, which can lead to the development of dangerous complications, including inflammatory processes in the tissues of the rectum, tissue infection, anemia and some other disorders.
Candles for the treatment of the disease
In modern proctological practice, patients are often prescribed special suppositories from hemorrhoids. After childbirth, of course, far from any drugs can be used.
- The most popular are candles with sea buckthorn oil. They quickly relieve inflammation, accelerate the healing processes of wounds and sores, and relieve burning sensation in the anus. It is worth noting that these are the safest suppositories from hemorrhoids after childbirth, since there are no potentially dangerous substances in their composition.
- Posterisan rectal suppositories contain inactivated E. coli strains. Once in the body, these beneficial bacteria activate local immunity. In addition, the drug strengthens blood vessels, and its active components do not penetrate the blood.
- Calendula suppositories are another medicine with a natural and safe composition. The extract of this plant has pronounced regenerative properties. The drug is widely used to treat anal fissures and other injuries.
Of course, in no case should you self-medicate, especially when it comes to breast-feeding patients. Only a doctor can tell you what helps with hemorrhoids after childbirth, which drugs can be used and with what frequency.
What ointments can be used after childbirth?
Many mothers are faced with a problem such as hemorrhoids after childbirth. Treatment for breastfeeding is known to be difficult. An ointment that will be used to eliminate the symptoms of the disease should have the following properties:
- quickly relieve soreness;
- inhibit the development of the inflammatory process;
- eliminate itching and irritation;
- strengthen the tone of the venous walls;
- prevent the appearance of bleeding from hemorrhoids;
- the active components of the ointment should not penetrate into internal fluids, including breast milk and blood.
Fortunately, the modern pharmaceutical market offers a fairly wide range of such drugs - it will not be difficult to find a remedy for hemorrhoids after childbirth (if it is a lactation period).
- Troxevasin is available in the form of ointment and cream. It is intended for external treatment. The tool strengthens the walls of small vessels, eliminates itching and inflammation, relieves swelling.
- “Hepatrombin G” is a commonly used ointment for hemorrhoids after childbirth. It contains heparin (ensures the resorption of existing blood clots and prevents the appearance of new blood clots), as well as allantoin (has anti-inflammatory properties). The drug accelerates the regeneration process.
- Also, such drugs as Relif Ultra and Relif Advance, which are available in the form of gels, ointments, and creams, are sometimes included in the treatment regimen. They contain oil from shark liver, which copes with inflammation and activates regenerative processes, as well as benzocaine, which almost instantly relieves pain.
Folk remedies
What to do to a woman who is diagnosed with hemorrhoids after childbirth? Treatment with breastfeeding should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor. Traditional medicine, of course, offers a lot of recipes.
- For example, many healers recommend daily sitting baths. Decoctions of chamomile, string, sage flowers should be added to the water, as these plants have anti-inflammatory properties, help relieve pain and speed up the healing process.
- You can also prepare a medicine for internal use. To do this, pour 150 g of fresh aloe leaves with 300 ml of natural honey (you can preheat it slightly in a water bath, but to a temperature of no higher than 60 degrees). Allow the medicine to brew for several days. You need to take a small spoon three times a day, preferably before meals. This remedy helps with constipation and, therefore, prevents a further increase in hemorrhagic nodes. But do not forget that honey can cause an allergy in a child - carefully monitor the condition of the baby.
- If there is an external node, then it is recommended to lubricate it several times a day with cocoa butter or candied honey - these funds will help relieve discomfort and inflammation.
Of course, such home activities can not replace a full-fledged drug therapy. In no case should you refuse to see a doctor. Any recipes of traditional medicine can be entered into the treatment regimen only with the permission of the attending doctor.
Surgical intervention
Unfortunately, in some cases, hemorrhoids cannot be eliminated through medications. If we are talking about the third or fourth stage of the development of the disease, then the doctor may decide on the surgical removal of hemorrhoidal nodes. Today, there are many safe and easy procedures.
- Ligation. The doctor inserts a special latex ring on the base of the hemorrhoidal node. Such a device completely blocks the blood supply to the tissues of the node, which leads to their death and self-rejection.
- Cryodestruction. This procedure involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze an enlarged blood vessel and affected mucous membranes. The technique is used to remove both external and internal nodes.
- Sclerotherapy. A special substance, sclerosant, is introduced into the affected area of the vein, which causes “sticking” of the walls of the vessel and, accordingly, the cessation of blood circulation in the affected area.
- Infrared coagulation. The affected areas of the rectal membranes are cauterized using infrared rays.
Such procedures are safe, do not take much time, do not require hospitalization.
Nutrition for hemorrhoids
We have already dealt with questions about why hemorrhoids occur after childbirth, how to treat such an ailment, what complications it can lead to. But it is worth remembering that nutrition is an integral part of therapy. A properly composed diet will help to establish the intestines and strengthen the body.
During pregnancy, as well as after childbirth, many women are faced with the phenomenon of constipation. And with such violations, the correct drinking regimen is extremely important. A person should consume at least 1.5-2 liters of fluid per day. Newly made mothers are recommended to drink tea (it is possible with milk), mineral water (still), compotes, juices.
It is important to include fiber-containing foods in the diet, as this complex carbohydrate is a mechanical stimulator of intestinal motility and, therefore, prevents the development of constipation. The regular use of fruit and vegetable salads will positively affect the digestive system. It should include in the menu low-fat varieties of meat (in boiled or baked form), dairy products (also help to cope with constipation), soups on low-fat broths.
Of course, one should not lose sight of the fact that some fruits (citrus fruits, strawberries) can cause allergies in a child - they must be abandoned. It is also not recommended to eat cabbage, radishes, legumes, corn, radish, as these products are slowly digested and contribute to excessive gas formation.
Other recommendations
Mothers who are faced with a similar problem are advised to reconsider their lifestyle. For example, experts recommend moving more often, taking long walks in the fresh air. Regular performance of the Kegel complex of exercises will be useful - they eliminate stagnant processes in the small pelvis, strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation.
It is imperative to observe personal hygiene. You need to wash yourself after each bowel movement, using warm water (it is possible with decoctions of medicinal plants). It is better to use soft toilet paper. Women with a similar diagnosis are contraindicated in hot baths and sauna visits.