Hemorrhoids ... Help

water water water, kegels kegels kegels.

sorry to say, but these are super common, esp. with breasfeeding since your little one is leeching what he/she needs from you and leaving you with very little as far as hydration.

if they are painful, try to soak in a sitz or regular bath at times, wipe with witch hazel (prep H) pads after each poop, and also you can apply hydrocortisone cream 1% to the area. kegels will help a LOT with strength and with retraction. also pelvic tilt excercises - lie on your back knees up and lift your bottom off the ground so that your knees-belly-shoulders are in the same angle.

good luck and don't fret, they should eventually subside. unless they are hanging down to your knees it's not worth any proceedure to reduce them.

sorry that can't be any fun. I have never ever heard that there is a correlation between breastfeeding and hemorroids. Would a sitz bath help? Can your dr give you a safe but effective cream? Hope you get some relief.

Hi K.,

Get some vaseline and push them up into your rectum.

Next get some witch hazel and put it on a cotton pledgett and place this on your rectum and change frequently.

Good luck. D.

I would suggest these two things. Get this really great hemmoroid balm from here: http://leastlikely2breed.net/
And try using Dr. Hylands Bubble B Gone you can find it really cheap at www.vitacost.com
Stay away from sugars. Sometimes gas can mean yeast in babies which can translate into thrush later on
hth
V.

K.,

Oh, I feel for you...

I suffered horrible hemmorhoids during my pregnancy and still do at certain times. For me, it is often because I stand all day long (I am a teacher). Or, I can tell when I am not paying attention to my eating habits and eating too much pizza or not getting enough salad. I recently tried to add more fiber, and it made my hemmorhoids much worse.

I wipe frequently with prep H wipes instead of toilet paper. I also use a prescription strength cream called Anusol 2.5%. You can get it OTC but it is only 1% strength. Ask your doctor for it. My doctor advised me to use it through the pregnancy, but obviously ask your doctor if it is safe. It doesn't take them away, but it helps to ease the discomfort.

My mother had hemmorhoid surgery, and she said it was the worst pain she has ever experienced, even more than childbirth, but that she is now happy she had it done.
I have also heard that you are supposed to wait until you are finished having children to have any kind of surgery.

Take care and know that there are other people who know your pain!

I know, it's been 2 years since you posted this question. I believe that there is a connection between breastfeeding and hemorrhoids for some women, though I haven't found any reports about it. I had my third child four months ago, and with every one of my babies I've suffered from horrible hemorrhoids till I was finished with breastfeeding. I've tried everything, drinking tons of water, adding fibre (made them worse), eating fruits and vegetables, nothing makes them subside except when I've finished breastfeeding. I take colace (a stool softener) drink at least 15 glasses of water, and use a prescription steroidal ointment (that my doctor says is safe while breastfeeding) everyday till I'm finished with breastfeeding.

K.,

Yes, yes, yes. Even though you may not have had any "visible" hemorrhoids during or immediately post pardom, you might have one inside. Both my sister and my good friend both suffered horrible pain a week or two after having children. They couldn't even sit down b/c of the pain!! They were both told (by different midwives in different states) to take 3 or 4 ibuprofin - check with your doctor about how much to take! The pain was only temporary, but both likened it to giving birth or worse!!
I'm about to have my third child and am already planning on have a bottle of Advil by my side post pardom, especially b/c I already have a "hemmi"! :)

tucks pads work great, if not ask for stronger cream from doctor. clean after each movement

soft seats, cushions