Afraid to Poop - The Truth About Bowel Movements Postpartum
It’s inevitable that you’ll have to take that first bathroom visit after you have your baby. For many, the muscle memory of pushing out baby, combined with the knowledge of a sore perineum and possible stitches from a repair can inhibit the natural bearing down necessary to go easily. Hormones from the birth process also slow down the digestive and colon tract for a period of time after baby comes, so that first time is a bit more sluggish than normal. How do you efficiently and smoothly get the process complete? Here are some tips to help with your first postpartum poop:
Give it time
Don’t try to force the job. Give yourself plenty of time on the toilet to sit and let your body and pelvic floor relax. Forcing will lead to swelling and could aggravate any postpartum hemorrhoids you developed during pregnancy and birth.
Use a stool softener
Senna S or a prescription from your health care provider can really improve the consistency of your first bowel movement. After the sluggishness of your digestive system clears, you’ll probably have had many meals as well as supplements and prescriptions - iron being a big one postpartum - that can slow down and constipate your system. It’s important to add in a stool softener but steer far clear of laxatives, as those can dehydrate you during a time where you need to be nourishing your body!
Get Moving
While you should be taking it easy after baby, getting your system moving can be as simple as getting up and walking around the room a few times prior to trying and have a bowel movement. Similar to labor, lunges and some squats can help to move the system and make going a bit easier!
Take sitz baths
The soreness of your bottom and perineum can distract you from your duty. Taking a sitz bath can not only soften your tissue down below, it can also relax your muscles, helping to move stool through your system.
Sit in a position that encourages proper positioning
Heard of a squatty potty? They’re actually wonderful for putting the pelvic floor in a great position for going to the bathroom. If you can’t get a stool, try elevating each of your feet on a surface to make a more natural squat, which will make going easier.
Don’t stress
Worried about baby beginning to cry right as you sit down to try and accomplish your task? Don’t worry too much about when the event happens; everyone eventually will go to the bathroom postpartum, so if it’s been a few days, give it time! Have your partner or someone at home- a postpartum doula, perhaps - care for baby while you take some much needed alone time in the bathroom, and all will be well!
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