Also referred to as “hemmies”, hemorrhoids are unfortunately a common part of pregnancy for many women. They can also appear during labor and cause trouble for women after the baby is born. What is a hemorrhoid?

A hemorrhoid is an enlarged vein that develops in and around the anal canal in both men and women. They are caused by excessive pressure to the pelvic and rectal areas. As pressure increases, blood builds up in the veins causing painful distention of the veins, leading to hemorrhoids.

The pressure that helps create a hemorrhoid is generally caused by rushing to complete a bowel movement, or from constipation. Constipation is a very common problem in pregnant women both in the first trimester, as first their organs start moving around to make space for the uterus, and in the third trimester as their intestines get cramped and crowded. Because of constipation, many women get hemorrhoids for the first time during pregnancy.

Hemorrhoids often develop during labor as a woman strains and pushes her baby out. A woman is normally told to “push like your are having a BM”, which is effective in helping the baby come down the birth canal, but it often also puts extreme pressure on the veins in the area.

Once they appear, hemorrhoids can be very painful even while you are doing the simplest things, like sitting. There are different suggestions your doctor may have to help you control and ease the henorroids. Pads soaked in witch hazel, like Tucks, can be used to wipe your hemorrhoids in an effort to help them decrease in size faster and be less painful. Some women will actually place a Tucks inside a maxi-pad in their panties so that it will sit on the hemorrhoid constantly.

Another option to help with hemorrhoids is to take a “sitz bath”. A sitz bath is a type of bath where only the woman’s hips and butt sit in warm water or a saline solution. It is used for people who have hemorrhoids or other issues like a recent surgery in the rectal area.

If your hemorrhoids do not seem to be going away, or they are increasingly painful, ask your doctor or midwife if they have any further ideas for relief.

by Kathleen Carr

The good news for all colic sufferers is that it is only temporary but the bad news, just how long is temporary.

I am not sure what kind of pain comes with dying but if ever there was a feeling of the end nearing it was in the temporary moment of my own experience where the excruciating agony was to leave me fearing for my life.

Approx 15% of children suffer from colic and the alarming thing about it is our medical world is baffled by what exactly triggers the condition. Doctors can not agree on most theories that have been raised therefore making matters more difficult when suggesting and prescribing treatment and medicines.

One of those theories to give reason why this sort of cramp flares up is said to be that a child’s intestines are working overtime (hard) another theory raised by the medical profession for colic has us to believe it can be caused by laid back bowel movements (slow) thus allowing air into the bowel causing the intestine to swell giving cause for pain.

Within 2/4 weeks after giving birth this stomach upset can start and can run for a 3 month spell.

If baby is a sufferer then he/she may cry for up to 3-4 hours very loudly. No dummy or mothers TLC can take the pain away but it will certainly help in comforting them. Spasms usually kick in about the same time twice daily, this can vary.

Bowel pains can give cause for baby to scrunch the body pulling the feet up to the chest with clenched fists. Stomach rumbles burping or passing wind can be evident also.

As a parent you know your child better than anyone so if you notice any change in your infants health giving you reason for concern, colic related or not please consult a doctor. Symptoms can be identified to other ailments so it is best to make sure.

Babies are a lot stronger than you could imagine and will outgrow spasms of colic. Any doubts you may have where it interferes with baby’s development then I suggest you put them thoughts to the back of your head.

Colic in babies can prove to be an ordeal for parents who have tried every thing possible to comfort the infant. Lack of sleep is the main cause behind the enormous amount of stress laid upon the parents at this trying time. Mum and dads have been known to lose control of their temper and intend to bawl and shout, thus frightening the baby. (Unintentional in most cases) What we have to remember, baby is also tired and is the one in pain.

PS

If ever I thought the last rights was in order was the night I suffered a bout of colic. The doctor’s theory was down to the consumption of a citrus fruit or drink on an empty stomach, and how right he was.

Granny Smith in the form of a juicy green apple was the culprit behind this vicious assault that was to leave me living in fear of the forbidden fruit. I was lucky to find the answer for my suffering but where do the answers lie for the newborn whose only connection with a granny is one who will love them till there dying day.

No dummy or mothers TLC can take the pain away but it will certainly help in comforting them. For help and advice go to www.benidormbeaches.com where you will find more information.

by Michelle Higgins

Does your baby yell and cry non-stop without any apparent reason? Excessive gas in a newborn baby could be the culprit. Gassy and colicky babies present a perpetual challenge to their parents. Welcome to the rocky world of parenting.

Gassy Babies
Accumulation of gas in baby’s tummy can make her extremely fussy. Your newborn has an immature digestive system that is prone to accumulation of gas. The kinks will eventually straighten out but until they do, they can drive both you and baby crazy.

Explosive bowel movements and passing gas are extremely common in newborns. Some babies appear to suffer more than the others. The gassiness is sometimes more severe during the night.

Was it something I ate?
Gassiness in baby could be unrelated to your diet. It was believed that if a mom ate certain foods that caused gas, the gas would be transferred to baby via breast milk. This belief is not entirely true.

But wait; this theory has not been totally disproved either. Try avoiding foods like cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, beans and any other foods that are potentially gassy. Eliminating them one at a time can help you detect the culprit.

Breastfeeding a gassy baby can be a Herculean task, but it is well worth it.

Pin the cause down
Your baby might be swallowing a lot of gas while she feeds. Suckling very vigorously makes baby gulp a lot of air.

Bottle feeding babies tend to take in more air while feeding than their breastfeeding counterparts.

Allergy to formula this could result in gassiness too. Lactose intolerant babies cannot digest cow’s milk, which makes them gassy.

Sucking pacifiers and empty bottles for a long time can lead to gas accumulation.

Prevention is better…
Time is the best healer. As your baby grows older, her gassiness will gradually reduce as her digestive system becomes more mature. In the meantime……

Burping baby between and after feeds is probably one of the best solutions.

All men might be created equal but all bottles are not. Choose a bottle with a curved neck to avoid gulping of excessive air.

If you suspect milk allergy in your baby, you could try changing formulas or switch to soymilk.

Hush baby
Even if you know the reason for your baby’s gassiness, this is of little use to you during a crying bout. Deal with your baby’s crying spells as calmly as you can.

You can also try baby bends and tummy rolls with advice from your healthcare professional. Ask your doctor about antigas medications with simethicone.

The time-tested method of rocking can often soothe a gassy baby to sleep. Make sure you take a break to soothe your frayed nerves.

Take breaks, get help, join discussion groups, blog, talk about it…do anything that helps. Rest assured that baby’s gassiness will significantly reduce by the time she is six months old.

About the Author:
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