Are you planning on doing anything about your hemorrhoids before L&D?

DEBBIE33CASEY

I have one that's small and he's changed size since he showed up a few months ago. But for the past few weeks he's been pretty consistent in size and not shrinking down any.  I looked in the store today but didn't see any "anusol"? (sp?) that my OB recommended.  I don't really want to do a suppository since I'm already kinda sore down there and I'm now taking a stool softener to avoid any other pressure that isn't related to baby in that area. 

It's just that vain part of me that doesn't want DH to get freaked out when he sees it when we're at L&D or just having sex.  And I don't want the L&D staff seeing it like last time.  Nobody mentioned it but it just made ME feel weird. And not to mention the thing pretty much grew right infront of our eyes as DD was coming out.

I know theres no way to avoid it completely but I just want it to get shrunken down as much as possible so he has less of a chance of being noticeable or painful then the 'gettin' goes'.

Any advice?

erineileen317

First off, sorry about the hemorroids, they suck!

Second, I've been using prep h pretty religiously (both wipes and ointment), and it has definitely calmed things down.  However, I have never gotten my OB's opinion on it, so you should probably ask him/her first.  Also, my bff had her baby 2 weeks ago and developed some from labor and said the witch hazel pads they gave her at the hospital have been nice. 

Third (may be TMI), I don't know about your relationship with your DH, but if it makes you feel better if he sees it during labor or sex... a few years back I developed a hemorroid after/during what we'll call a "misled sexy time adventure" and it scared the crap out of me.  I didn't know what it was and was too ashamed to ask anyone about it.  It hurt so bad though and I was crying so I begged DH to "check it out."  He definitely wasn't excited about it and I was mortified, but he knew I was desperate and peaked.  So we googled and webmd'd it and figured out what it was and got some prep h.  Let's just say he's not allowed to adventure there any more...

Good luck!

kerischrader

Good question!! I JUST got one a couple days ago and cried ALL day long because of it!! I know it is so common, just sucks, didn't even want to tell DH.. but obviously he knew something was up so I told...It doesn't bother me right now, but I am worried it will get worse during labor. Wonder if Dr. can take it off right after delivery while everything is all sore anyway down under??!

DEBBIE33CASEY

erineileen317:

Third (may be TMI), I don't know about your relationship with your DH, but if it makes you feel better if he sees it during labor or sex... a few years back I developed a hemorroid after/during what we'll call a "misled sexy time adventure" and it scared the crap out of me.  I didn't know what it was and was too ashamed to ask anyone about it.  It hurt so bad though and I was crying so I begged DH to "check it out."  He definitely wasn't excited about it and I was mortified, but he knew I was desperate and peaked.  So we googled and webmd'd it and figured out what it was and got some prep h.  Let's just say he's not allowed to adventure there any more...

I made DH 'diagnos" the one from my preg with DD.  I freaked out in the shower one day and made him come in to look.  Then proceded to google the heck out of what I saw (which was by far the worst google search I've ever been on) before realizing what it was.  Luckily mine shrunk down by itself and by hydrocortisone cream by D-Day but I don't know if hydrocortisone cream is even safe- I was just  too proud to talk to my dr about it.

Huahine

First off, I think it is hilarious that you've given your rhoid a gender, and that it is male.  What a riot.  

Okay, so I've got em.  I've had them for a month or so now.  They get worse when I'm on my feet a lot.  They seem to contract when I'm taking it easy.  

I was so disgusted and freaked out when the first appeared.  But I've gotten used to them being there.   I asked my midwife if there was any chance they would go away before labor and she said, "well, if they did, you'd be the first in 20 years." 

I've found these things make them less painful (they hurt when they are growing and for a few days afterwards) - tucks wipes (every time I go - keeping the area clean helps keep it from getting inflamed), baths (especially with witch hazel added to the water) and Preparation H (didn't clear this one with my midwife, but I was desperate after hosting family over Thanksgiving). 

I've also been drinking (at my midwife's instruction) Nettle Leaf tea.  She says it is a great healing agent.  I don't know that it is doing anything to shrink them up, but they haven't gotten any worse since I started drinking the tea. 

To my diet I've added Benefiber and Colace (stool softener).  As a result, a happy byproduct of the rhoids is that for the first time this whole pregnancy I'm regular and not constipated.  The idea behind these two is that the less I have to strain to poo, the less pressure there is on the bowels, and hopefully less chance of developing further or bigger rhoids. 

laceyann2008

I've been using witch hazel pads for mine (basically tucks) like PPs have said to cool, clean, and keep it from being irritated for the time being. If it gets worse, I may ask about what I can do further but it really hasn't even given me any real problems yet

...I do know that after L&D I will be asking for a steroid cream to shrink and possibly resolve the one I have and the others I am sure to gain!