Postpartum hemorrhoids typically improve on their own within a few days to a few weeks, but you don’t have to just wait it out. A combination of simple home treatments can significantly reduce pain, swelling, and itching while your body heals from delivery. Most new mothers find relief without needing any medical procedures.
Why Hemorrhoids Happen After Delivery
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins around your anus and rectum, and pregnancy creates the perfect conditions for them. The added weight of pregnancy puts constant pressure on your pelvic veins, making it harder for blood to flow freely. That pooling blood causes the veins to stretch and swell. On top of that, your blood volume increases significantly during pregnancy, putting even more strain on those veins.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy also slow your digestion, making constipation common. The extra waste sitting in your bowel squeezes surrounding veins and makes swelling worse. Then there’s the pushing stage of labor, which can intensify existing hemorrhoids or create new ones. So even if you made it through pregnancy without them, you might notice them for the first time after giving birth.
Sitz Baths: Your Best Immediate Relief
A sitz bath is the single most effective home remedy for postpartum hemorrhoids, and it’s free. Fill your bathtub or a sitz bath basin (a shallow plastic tub that fits over your toilet seat) with a few inches of warm water, around 104°F (40°C). Sit and soak for 15 to 20 minutes, letting the warm water increase blood flow to the area and ease swelling.
For the best results, aim for three to four sitz baths per day. That sounds like a lot when you’re caring for a newborn, but even fitting in two or three can make a noticeable difference. Pat the area dry gently with a soft cloth afterward rather than rubbing. Many postpartum recovery kits include a portable sitz bath basin, which makes this easier to do frequently.
Topical Treatments Safe for Breastfeeding
If you’re nursing, you may worry about what’s safe to put on your body. Topical hemorrhoid creams containing hydrocortisone, lidocaine, or zinc oxide are all compatible with breastfeeding. The medication dose is low, the application area is small, and very little gets absorbed into your bloodstream, so the risk to your baby is minimal.
Witch hazel pads are another effective option. Witch hazel is a plant-based astringent that shrinks swollen tissue and relieves itching, burning, and irritation. You can use the pads up to six times per day, applying them directly to the affected area. Many mothers keep a container of pre-soaked witch hazel pads (like Tucks) in the bathroom or even tuck one against the hemorrhoid inside their underwear for ongoing relief. Don’t combine multiple topical products on the same area without checking with your care team first.
Preventing Straining With Diet and Stool Softeners
Straining on the toilet is one of the fastest ways to make hemorrhoids worse or keep them from healing. Your two main tools here are fiber and fluids. Aim for 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily through foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils. Pair that with 6 to 8 cups of fluid per day (water is ideal, and you’ll need even more if you’re breastfeeding) to keep stool soft and easy to pass.
Stool softeners are also safe during the postpartum period and are commonly recommended. Products containing docusate sodium work by adding moisture to your stool so it passes without straining. The active ingredient is only minimally absorbed by your body, making it a low-risk option for new mothers. Many hospitals actually send postpartum patients home with stool softeners for this exact reason. If you’re still having hard or infrequent bowel movements despite these measures, let your provider know.
Other Strategies That Help
Cold packs wrapped in a cloth and applied to the area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time can reduce swelling, especially in the first few days after delivery. Some mothers alternate between cold packs and sitz baths throughout the day. Avoid sitting on hard surfaces for long stretches. A donut-shaped cushion or pillow can take pressure off the swollen veins when you need to sit for feeding sessions.
When you do need to use the bathroom, go as soon as you feel the urge. Waiting causes stool to harden and makes straining more likely. Don’t spend extra time sitting on the toilet scrolling your phone, either. The position itself puts pressure on your rectal veins.
When Home Treatments Aren’t Enough
Most postpartum hemorrhoids respond well to the measures above and clear up within a few weeks. If your symptoms haven’t improved after consistent home treatment, your provider may recommend a procedure called rubber band ligation. This involves placing a small band around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply, causing it to shrink and fall off. It’s a quick outpatient procedure and one of the most common treatments for persistent hemorrhoids that don’t respond to conservative care.
Signs That Need Prompt Attention
Some rectal bleeding is normal with hemorrhoids, usually small amounts of bright red blood on toilet paper or in the bowl. But certain symptoms need urgent evaluation. Seek immediate medical care if rectal bleeding is continuous or heavy, or if it’s accompanied by severe abdominal pain or cramping.
Call emergency services if you experience rectal bleeding along with any signs of significant blood loss: rapid or shallow breathing, dizziness when standing, blurred vision, fainting, confusion, nausea, cold or clammy skin, or very low urine output. These symptoms are rare with hemorrhoids alone, but the postpartum period involves multiple sources of potential bleeding, and it’s important to get checked quickly if something feels wrong.