The postpartum period is about getting to know your little one and navigating a new world of reduced sleep and hemorrhoids. While you may think that your body can't endure another change after delivering your baby, the uncomfortable reality is that many women find themselves dealing with hemorrhoids in those early days postpartum. But fear not - those pesky lumps can be easily treated using sitz baths in no time. But why are hemorrhoids so common after childbirth, and how can sitz baths help? Keep reading on to find out more.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are small lumps inside and outside your anus. While hemorrhoids can sometimes go away on their own without treatment, other times, treatment is needed to help speed up the healing process and provide some relief. While these small lumps can sometimes go undetected, they tend to be uncomfortable during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Telltale signs of hemorrhoids include:
- The appearance of red blood after you poop
- An itchy bottom
- Feeling like you need to poop even though you just went
- Pain in and around your anus
- Lumps in and around your anus
Postpartum or not, no one wants to be dealing with hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids can be uncomfortable, and If there's anything a new mama should be doing after delivering her baby, it's getting as much rest as possible. That's why prevention and treatment are so important in getting you and your bottom back to feeling good.
How can you prevent hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids can be prevalent after childbirth. Sometimes no matter what you do, they appear out of nowhere and seem incredibly stubborn during the postpartum period. Good ways of preventing hemorrhoids include:
- Wipe with damp toilet paper
- Drink lots of water
- Eat lots of fibre
- Make sure your bottom is clean and dry
- Cut back on caffeine and alcohol
- Don't wipe too hard after having a bowel movement
- Don't push too much when pooping
But let's be honest. You can do everything to prevent hemorrhoids from popping up, but sometimes they happen. And despite what you may think, they're super common and nothing to be embarrassed about - especially after having a baby. One study reported that up to 43% of women would develop hemorrhoids after childbirth, so if you struggle with these pesky lumps, know you're in good company.
Why are hemorrhoids so common during the postpartum period?
If you find yourself doing everything you can to prevent hemorrhoids, you may be wondering why they seem so relentless after childbirth. Shouldn't all the hard work have ceased during delivery!?
The truth is, your body is still undergoing incredible changes to heal from childbirth. With all of the pushing going on when delivering your baby, this can create a perfect breeding ground for hemorrhoids to appear. That's why they're much more common in vaginal deliveries than C-sections. Another big reason for hemorrhoids during the postpartum period is constipation - yet another glorious thing many women deal with when trying to heal and care for a newborn. The strain caused by constipation is a common culprit for hemorrhoids, which is why it's so important to make sure you're getting enough fibre and drinking plenty of fluids.
How long do postpartum hemorrhoids last?
New mamas dealing with hemorrhoids, you may be desperate to know when they will go away. Unfortunately, the bad news is that hemorrhoids can sometimes stick around for weeks - even months. However, there are plenty of things to speed up the healing process and reduce the pain and discomfort that come with these painful lumps—notably - sitz baths. Sitz baths are one of the best things you can do if you find yourself struggling from hemorrhoids during the postpartum stage. They not only provide relief from the pain and swelling caused by hemorrhoids, but they also help you heal.
Sitz baths for hemorrhoids
One of the first things many health practitioners recommend for people dealing with hemorrhoids is sitz baths. But don't worry - these baths don't involve filling up a bathtub that you'll soak in for hours (though that sounds great!). Instead, Sitz baths are portable baths that sit directly on top of a toilet seat. Fill with a small amount of warm water, so only your perineum and bottom are submerged, instead of your entire body like with regular baths.
Sitz baths - 2-3 times daily, 10-15 minutes at a time. While you can use water to yield great results, you can also add asitz bath soak to ramp up the healing process. Make sure you use a sitz bath soak specifically designed for mamas going through the postpartum period, made up of natural ingredients targeting postpartum issues like tearing and hemorrhoids.
Benefits of sitz baths for hemorrhoids
Sitz baths work wonders for the perineum and anus after childbirth. The warm water in the tub promotes blood flow which helps the area heal. Especially helpful for painful and swollen hemorrhoids as the bath will help relax the anal sphincter and calm down an angry and irritated bottom.
In addition to the relief experienced by a warm sitz bath, you can get even better results with an excellent sitz bath soak. Our best-selling Soothic sitz bath soak is perfect for hemorrhoid relief. Made from all-natural ingredients like Epsom salt, rosehip oil, lemongrass, essential oils and TGA-approved Tasmanian Ducane kunzea, this sitz bath soak was created for women during the postpartum period to provide relief from soreness and hemorrhoids. Even better, our sitz bath soak is free from phthalates, parabens, caking agents and palm oil, so you can rest assured that your bottom is only coming in contact with pure and quality products that will have you feeling better in no time.
How can a sitz bath help with postpartum hemorrhoids
If you are dealing with hemorrhoids during the postpartum stage, know that you're not alone. While uncomfortable, there are steps you can take for relief and help speed up the healing process. So do yourself a favour and invest in a portable sitz bath and sitz bath soak, and you'll be on your way to having a healthy bottom in no time. So hang in there, mama - self-care relief is on the way!