The labor/delivery nurse is caring for a 33-year-old who is in labor with her first child.The patient complained to the nurse about the hemorrhoids that she has experienced during the last month of her pregnancy.She asks,"what can I do to prevent future problems with hemorrhoids?" What is the nurse's best response?

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Hemorrhoids are dilated,engorged veins in the lining of the rectum.Increased venous pressure resulting from straining at defecation,pregnancy,and chronic illnesses,such as congestive heart failure and chronic liver disease,are causative factors.A hemorrhoid forms either within the anal canal (internal)or through the opening of the anus (external).Passage of hard stool causes hemorrhoid tissue to stretch and bleed.Hemorrhoid tissue becomes inflamed and tender,and patients complain of itching and burning.Because pain worsens during defecation,the patient sometimes ignores the urge to defecate,resulting in constipation.

The Labor/delivery Nurse Is Caring for a 33-Year-Old Who Is