Q: Hello Dr, how can I treat hemorrhoids after giving birth?

A: Thanks for writing in and congratulations on your baby! Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal. They can be internal, external or both internal and external can co-exist. Internal haemorrhoids occur when veins swell within the rectum and external haemorrhoids are found under the skin around the anus.

These haemorrhoids develop when there is undue pressure in the pelvic and anal area as can occur when people strain to pass faeces (if they have diarrhoea or are constipated), in pregnancy (especially the last 6 months), in obese people, people who eat diets low in fibre and people who practice anal intercourse. When women strain in labour, haemorrhoids can also be made worse.

It is important to consult your doctor to make a proper diagnosis.

In the meantime, limit the discomfort you have by keeping the anal area clean, using wet wipes (non-perfumed) or washing with unscented soap when cleaning up after using the loo, sitting on a bowl of plain warm water for about 15 minutes about twice or three times per day, applying cold compress and not standing or sitting for too long. Some believe sprinkling some powder there helps…it doesn’t! Avoid it J

To prevent this, ensure that your diet has sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables. Remember that if you take a regular flat plate, half of this should be filled with fruits and vegetables, half of the plate with complex carbohydrates and the last half with proteins.

Limit the time you spend sitting on the toilet seat (read your newspapers elsewhere :D), use the toilet as soon as you feel pressed (that way the fluid in the stool is not absorbed making the stool hard) and then don’t strain when you do go. Drink sufficient quantities of water daily, exercise (to keep everything moving along nicely :D). Use pain relief only under the supervision of your doctor, especially if you’re breastfeeding.

I hope this helps you.

Have a fab weekend, everyone 😀