Maintaining healthy bowel movements is crucial for supporting your overall health and well-being and is closely linked to the integrity of your pelvic floor. For those who are not regular and are experiencing constipation, this is like having a cinder block stuck in your rectum – OUCH! This is uncomfortable for you and is putting a ton of pressure on your pelvic floor as well as your bladder and uterus that sit so close together in your pelvic bowl. Although suffering from constipation can be related to a restriction in the muscles in your pelvic floor, here are some ways that could improve the quality and quantity of your bowel movements:

• Hydrate – drink plenty of water throughout your day to help keep your stools soft so they are easier to pass. The most ideal shape and color of your stool should be similar to the look of a Tootsie roll, dark brown and cylindrical.
• Use a squatty potty – this puts your pelvis in a more optimal alignment and can help reduce straining and pressure on the pelvic floor while going to the bathroom. It can also facilitate a more complete evacuation of the bowels.
• Do some diaphragmatic breathing – The diaphragm and pelvic floor move together like a piston – when the diaphragm inflates it moves down and applies pressure to the pelvic floor allowing the muscles to stretch and relax making it easier to pass your bowel movement.

If you fall under the category of having to strain to pass a bowel movement or your bowel movements look like little rabbit pellets, you may be in need of pelvic floor therapy! To find out more information on how to promote healthy and happy poops, call us today for your free consultation!

Bristol Stool Chart: Checking if Your Poop is Healthy (verywellhealth.com)