Bleeding, especially spotting during pregnancy, is a cause of concern for the future mother and her near and dear ones. Is rectal bleeding during pregnancy also harmful? Let’s find out more in this article.
Any kind of discomfort and pain during pregnancy is the last thing a woman wants, in fact she would never want complications and trouble during her pregnancy. But sometimes even after taking proper care and precautions, complications occur. Vaginal blood flow during pregnancy is a warning sign of something abnormal, and demands immediate medical attention. Rectal bleeding during pregnancy is a different thing altogether, but often pregnant women confuse it with vaginal bleeding. Even if you notice the minutest of signs of bleeding, see the doctor, because it is quite difficult to determine from where the blood is flowing exactly.
Causes & Signs
Blood passing with the stool is called rectal bleeding, and this bleeding, though accompanied by pain does not pose any risk to the fetus. Plenty of factors can lead to rectal bleeding, the common ones being anal fissure, which means the skin at the anus opening is torn, food poisoning and diarrhea. Constipation, which is common during pregnancy, results in the formation of hard stool which can harm the skin around the anus leading to cracks and eventually bleeding. Hemorrhoids are basically veins at the rectum region of the anus and swelling and harm to these veins can result in bleeding.
The most obvious symptom of rectal bleeding is accompaniment of blood with the stool. Blood marks on the undergarment or on the tissue while cleaning is also a sign. The sight of blood during pregnancy is the scariest thing for a woman, but she should not panic and conclude that it is vaginal bleeding. Careful examination of the anal and vaginal area should be carried out, and if you are not sure about the source of bleeding, help of a medical expert should be sought.
Treatment
Once the doctor determines the cause for rectal bleeding, the treatment begins. If it is less severe, the doctor might recommend the use of certain ointments and creams. These creams are also available over the counter, and help relieve the pain and swelling to some extent. But, make sure you use the cream under doctor’s prescription only. If the cause is constipation and other undesirable habits, diet and lifestyle modifications given below would help. Note that given below are the measures to prevent the bleeding and some home remedies. In severe cases, where there is a considerable loss of blood, immediate medical attention is demanded
- Pregnancy is accompanied by food cravings, but the cravings should be kept under check for a smooth and trouble free pregnancy. For a smooth passing of stool, a diet rich in fiber helps. Oats and raw fruits and vegetable are the best sources of fiber.
- Drink at least two liters of water daily, as it helps flush out the harmful and unwanted chemicals.
- Light exercise under the supervision of someone responsible is also essential to keep constipation problems at bay. Also avoid sitting in the same position for long hours, as it puts pressure on the anal region.
- Cleaning of the anal region, preferably with water, is also an effective remedy to relieve the pain and swelling to some extent. Also, use a tissue made from a soft material, as use of rough material causes more harm than good.
- Application of ice pack on the anal region is also an effective remedy to heal rectal bleeding.
- Application of castor oil on the affected region is another effective home remedy to heal the pain and swelling.
Rectal bleeding poses no harm to the fetus, but is accompanied by pain which causes discomfort. So, following the above listed precautionary measures along with a proper diet under the doctor’s guidance is important. Have a happy and safe pregnancy!
