Bowel Routine

The goal of a bowel routine is to:

• Improve frequency of bowel movements

• Improve emptying of bowels

• Prevent leakage and urgency by emptying bowels

Recommendations

1. Sit at the same time every day (with in a 1-2 hour span) .

2. Sit for 10 minutes doing deep breathing.

   • Try to leave phone outside of restroom

   • Only if you haven’t emptied

3. Put something under your feet so that your knees are above your hips.

   • You can use a squatty potty or trash can

4. Before you try to have a bowel movement - eat something (even if it’s small) and drink

   something hot at least 20 minutes before you want to sit down.

5. Before you have bowel movements (after you eat if possible), massage your abdomen in

   clockwise circles. Starting at right lower quadrant, going up to upper right quadrant and

   then across to you upper left quadrant and then down to your lower left quadrant.

   • Repeat this for 30 repetitions.

6. Try to move a bit before you have a bowel movement. This could be getting your kids

   ready, taking a short 5-15 minute walk, or doing your typical exercise routine.