Expert / 25 March, 2019 / My Baba
With the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, expecting her first child with Prince Harry very soon, we are sure she has the best medical team on call leading up to the arrival of the royal baby.
It’s seldom spoken about, but hormonal changes and increased intra-abdominal pressure mean that one third of pregnant women are susceptible to getting haemorrhoids. So, what signs should Meghan (and other mums-to-be) be aware of when it comes to haemorrhoids, and how can they be treated?
When you are pregnant, the volume of blood circulating around your body increases and the walls of your blood vessels relax from high levels of the progesterone hormone. At the same time, the veins below your womb become stretched and swollen from the weight of your growing baby – and this combination of elements can lead to piles.
Despite the discomfort they cause the mother, pregnancy haemorrhoids are generally painless, and they won’t affect the baby.
Some of the main symptoms Ms Markle and other mums should look out for:
Meghan should be aware of the main tactic used by anyone trying to avoid piles which is to prevent straining the bowel area. And one way to manage this is to ensure you do not get constipated.
If the Duchess of Sussex already has pregnancy haemorrhoids, there are various ways she could treat the issue to ease the symptoms and avoid them getting worse.
Most pregnancy associated haemorrhoids recede in the first three months after delivery. But if this is not the case, there are procedures that will eradicate your haemorrhoidal symptoms, such as surgery or banding.
Dr Mark Hudson-Peacock, Chair of eXroid