A common sign of haemorrhoids is usually blood on the toilet paper when you do a poo (but this is not the only thing blood can mean – always see your doctor). When you are washing, you may also feel a little lump or lumps of sticking out of your anus.
Haemorrhoids often make their first appearance during pregnancy. The hormonal softening of soft tissue extends to blood vessels, and this combined with the increasing weight into the pelvis are two major factors.
The biggest factor, both in and out of pregnancy, is the habit of straining or pushing when you do a poo. This is really one to avoid! If you already have haemorrhoids, it is almost guaranteed to make them worse. If you don’t have them yet and you strain, you probably soon will!