Ideas to ensure that you have the best chance of passing a stool...
- Try to go to the toilet at a regular time or times every day. This may follow
breakfast or a coffee.
Take your time. Try to ensure that you will have about 10 minutes without interruption.
- Firstly make sure you are comfortable on the toilet. It is most natural for humans to squat to pass a stool. You may find that having your feet on a footstool about 20-30 cm (8-10 inches) high helps by improving the angle of the rectum within the pelvis, making it easier to pass stools. Keep your feet about 1.5 - 2 feet apart.
- Relax and breathe normally. Do not hold your breath as this will encourage you to strain.
- Using your abdominal muscles effectively is best done with one hand on your lower abdomen, and one on your waist. As your abdominal muscles tighten you should feel your hands being pushed out forwards and sideways. This is called ‘brace’ or ‘brace and bulge’.
- Concentrate on relaxing the anus to allow the stool to pass. Do not push from above without relaxing the anus below.
- Do not adopt any “weird and wonderful” positions – this will not help you in the long-term.
- Do not spend endless time on the toilet straining. If the bowels do not open - do not panic - try again at the same time the next day. It may not be normal for you to pass a stool every day.
http://www.stmarkshospital.org.uk/uploads/docs/patientinformationleaflets/SM07-15%20Constipation.pdf

Good tips, Tabby--especially the first one. When I worked and was stressed and hurried in the mornings, it was difficult to take time to relax at toilet time.

good tips! i've definitely tried "weird and wonderful" positions to try and get it to come out painfree. i had to retrain myself to sit normally on the toilet after my last surgery. so I definitely LOL'ed when i read that! thanks tabby :)

I think that smoking a bong while on the toilet would solve all pooping problems and some more

Tabby wrote: Take your time. Try to ensure that you will have about 10 minutes without interruption.-
- Do not adopt any “weird and wonderful” positions

I too laughed when reading weird and wonderful...been there done that I'm in week 4 squatting now! 10 minutes?? I'd rather say less than a minute for me
Good one Tabby

Corsi,
I take it you prefer squatting to the regular way?
Cheryl

Smoking a what Fissy !! :paddysmiley1:
Thanks girls
I found the whole article really interesting , explains the rectocoele too, Cheryl !
I like the breathing tip that is working for me - I am intune

cherylk wrote: I take it you prefer squatting to the regular way?

Yes I do now, I don't know if it's the best thing to do (I have no medical training), but if anything on this website is correct - it should make sense
http://www.naturesplatform.com/health_benefits.html?sid=NP332518-24061-1237387944&a=&p=health_benefits.html&s=&c=&x=1

Corsi,
I'll check out the website. I think one has to go with what feels best!
Thanks,
Cheryl

Tubby - baby , now you disappoint me I thought we had such a grand time during our "flower girl" phase LOL !!!
Bong is a marijuana glass pipe