3 Tips for Taking Your First Postpartum Poop

If you’re in the 4th trimester and are getting ready for L&D – you may have heard some horror stories from other Mama friends about the dreaded 1st postpartum poop that comes after baby arrives – and for some, this is a very real fear. If you’ve had a tear or there are some sutures down there, it can feel even more tender and sore.

So, to think about taking a poop and pushing something else down there, when you’ve just birthed a baby, it can be pretty easy to get in our own heads about it. If you are nervous about that first PP poop – read on because today we are sharing 3 tips from Aliya Dhalla, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist at Box Wellness Co., to make that first one as easy on you, and your body, as possible. 

Stay Hydrated & Take a Stool Softener!

Everybody poops!

Post delivery, you’re going to be swollen and you might have some sort of tear – whether its an episiotomy or not, she’s tender down there.

Again, YOU JUST PUSHED A TINY HUMAN OUT OF YOUR BODY... so be kind to it! Aliya recommends bringing a stool softener with you in your hospital bag and suggests drinking a lot of water especially in those last few weeks of pregnancy and after delivery.

You want to pass a cloud, not a brick!

Discuss with your doctor obviously which one might be good for you but there’s lots you can get at the pharmacy…we’re not talking a laxative. We don’t want to have the runs. We just want to have the poo come out and it be soft and smooth and really easy to pass, right? We don’t want to have a really hard poo that we’re straining and putting a lot of pressure on an already vulnerable pelvic floor right after delivering a baby. So keeping the poop soft is step number one.

Aliya Dhalla, Pelvic Floor Therapist

Don’t forget a water bottle when you are Packing Up Your Hospital Bag either – that way you can chug-a-lug as much as you need. 

Get Into Proper Pooping Position

Getting your knees up higher than your hips and leaning forward a little will help change the angle of your rectum; which will allow your poop to slide right on out that exit door. In a couple years you’re going to be Potty Training Pro, so now would be a great time to invest in a step stool and get those knees up over your hips.

Here’s some really cute ones to add to your bathroom that are great for you and your little:

FOR MAMA + BABE

Breathe!

You brought a baby here, you champion! You can get through your first PP poop, we promise.

Relax your body and breathe! Deep breath in, and feel your body relax down there then slowly exhale while generating just enough pressure to do the deed. You do not want to hold your breath as it creates way too much pressure on your pelvic floor.

Your pelvic floor has had enough work, take it easy on her.  Just breathe!

…When we hold our breath, that is a lot of force that is being generated down on our pelvic floor and you know, coming right out of a vaginal delivery, your pelvic floor has had enough. It just needs a little break.

Aliya Dhalla, Pelvic Floor Therapist

For those of you who had a Caesarean, bring a small cushion with you into the bathroom. Gently push it into your incision area to give it the support it needs from the outside while you take these same steps. 

Move Forward Fearlessly

You may be a little coy about talking about poop pre-baby – but once you’ve given birth and changed your little ones diapers, you’ll soon realize that “number 2” is what makes all of us human. Soon enough, you’ll be tracking the colour, texture, and size of your little ones bowel movements.

Most importantly – don’t forget to take care of yourself, Mama.

We share some great tips and products in our article on 6 Must Have Postpartum Recovery Essentials – and the new FridaMom products by FridaBaby that we carry can totally help to make your recovery comfortable.

If you want to learn more about your Pelvic Floor as your learn to Love Your Postpartum Body, check Episode 3 of our podcast, 40 Weeks to Forever, where Aliya shared even more about what happens “down there” during the pushing process, and how to regain your quality of life post-baby.

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