How To Poop After Baby
I have treated many pregnant women who have been more concerned with their first postpartum poop than they are their vaginal birth. I am here to ease your concerns and reduce any fears you have about going to the bathroom after birth. Give these tips a try to help ease your worries:
1. Be proactive with use of stool softeners!
Even if you don’t feel like you will need them, I always recommend my patients start taking a stool softener immediately after birth. This will help keep your stool nice and soft, making it easier to eliminate. You can even try something like Calm or a magnesium supplement to help keep your stools soft.
2. Drink lots & lots of water.
After delivery, you may be extra dehydrated. You will typically lose a lot of blood volume during child birth which will contribute to this. Aim to be drinking ½ your body weight in fluid ounces to stay hydrated and keep your stool soft! My favorite water bottle is the Hydroflask with a straw.
3. Prop your feet so that your knees are above your hips.
You may have a squatty potty at home, but if you don’t have a portable one to take with you to the hospital, you can improvise. Use a stool, turn a trashcan on its side or pack two yoga blocks to set your feet on. Make sure your knees are wide apart and you lean forward to rest your elbows on your thighs. Squatty potty also sells a portable one that you could easily pack into your hospital bag if you wanted!
4. Breathe
When you have the urge to have a bowel movement. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Then exhale as if you are blowing out birthday candles. Make sure you exhale while you have a bowel movement. Exhaling will reduce any strain on your pelvic floor.
5. Support
It may be helpful to roll up some toilet paper around your hand and give your perineum a little more support during your first bowel movement.
Struggling with your bowel movements or want to learn more about how pelvic floor physical therapy may help you? Schedule your discovery call today, we’d love to work with you.
