IF AFTER having your baby your hemorrhoids still persist, don't panic. You're not the only unlucky woman who is suffering from this pain in the ass (pardon the pun) condition.
According to American studies, 25 percent of women suffer hemorrhoids even six months after delivering their baby. The discomfort, however, like rectal pain, itching, bleeding after having a bowel movement, or a swollen area around the anus may come and go.
Here's the good news, though. Usually, hemorrhoids that accompany pregnancy are not that serious. They don't usually have an underlying serious illness, like colon cancer. And with this, it means they just go away with proper home treatment.
If you're wondering why you still have the condition even after delivering, remember that your hemorrhoids are a result of stress on the perineum (the area between the rectum and the female genitalia) in the months before, during, and even after delivery. Just imagine pushing a baby out during vaginal delivery that your eyes can even pop out, how much more your lower veins!
There are two types of hemorrhoids, though: the internal and external. The more painful one is the internal hemorrhoid, especially during bowel movement. It's one of the reasons why your stool has blood on it.
But don't panic; you can minimize or shrink the symptoms easily by following these simple ways.
1. Avoid being constipated. Constipation is one of the triggering factors of hemorrhoids. If your stool is hard then chances are greater that you would have a painful bowel movement and this would be accompanied with blood if you have hemorrhoids.
To prevent constipation, drink lots of water, at least 8 to 10 glasses a day.
Eat green, leafy vegetables and fresh high-fiber fruits, like papaya, lakatan and avocado.
2. Avoid carrying heavy load. If you need to carry your baby every now and then, seek help. Let somebody carry your baby for a while for you.
3. Move around. Don't just stand or sit or sleep in one position or in a longer period. Just move around to spread the weight of your body.
Might as well, exercise. A light exercise can do a lot in getting rid of the hemorrhoid itself and not just its symptoms.
4. If all things fail, seek your physician's help. Don't experiment, especially that you are still taking care of your newborn. And more especially if you're breastfeeding. Remember that what you intake will be what your baby will intake as well.
(Next issue, we'll get to know some of the myths and superstition relating to pregnancy.)
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Mamatalk is devoted to mothers, soon-to-be mothers and mothers-wannabe out there. If there's babytalk for the babies, sure as heaven there's also mamatalk for the mommies.