I'm scared of doing my first poo after giving birth. When will it happen and will it hurt?

You're not alone in feeling worried about your first poo after giving birth, especially if you had stitches or a tear. It's understandable to feel vulnerable about this part of your body after everything it’s been through.

Will having a poo make my tear worse or rip my stitches?

The most important thing to know is that doing a poo should not make the tear any bigger, or make your stitches come away (NCT 2021, NHS 2024).

You may not need a poo for a day or so after giving birth, even if you usually go daily (NHS 2024). When you are ready to do a poo, it shouldn't hurt.

The area between your vagina and anus (perineum) may feel quite numb at first. This is because the nerves inside and around your vagina are stretched from your baby's birth. The feeling will normally come back in a few days, but it can sometimes take longer (St George's University Hospitals 2022).

Why am I constipated after my baby’s birth?

One of the most common postpartum challenges is constipation (UHCW NHS 2023). It’s usually due to a combination of factors such as the pain relief you had during labour, reduced physical activity, and changes in your sleep and eating habits (Cleveland Clinic 2022, NHS 2023, Selvi et al 2024). Breastfeeding can also affect your hydration levels.

How can I relieve or prevent constipation?

If you had a severe tear or an episiotomy during your baby’s birth, your midwife may have prescribed a laxative already, to make having a poo easier and more comfortable (UHS NHS 2021).

If you haven’t been prescribed a laxative, ask your midwife for one, or try a non-laxative stool softener, and drink plenty of water. Eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, such as fruit and vegetables, wholemeal bread and brown rice (UHCW NHS 2023). This will help to soften your poo.

A little gentle exercise can also help to get things moving, so have a walk around as soon as you’re able to (NHS 2023).

What’s the best way to have a first poo after childbirth?

When you feel the urge to poo, don't put it off. Waiting can make you constipated (NHS 2023). Try supporting your perineum by holding a sanitary towel or a pad of clean tissue against it, from the front. This may make you feel more secure while you try to poo. Once feeling returns to the area, this support may also help to ease any soreness (NHS 2024).

When you're sitting on the loo, go on your tiptoes, so your knees are slightly higher than your hips, or rest your feet on a low stool (NHS 2023). This is better than the usual sitting position. See the image below for the best position.


Try not to hold your breath to push, bear down or hurry it along – take your time and relax (HSE 2023). Read a book or magazine if it helps. If you're at home, make it clear that you don't want to be disturbed! If you're in hospital, everyone else will probably be too busy to notice how long you're in the toilet.

If the urge to poo has completely gone away, it’s a good idea to try again later as sitting on the toilet for a long time can increase pressure around the area.

Your community midwife should check whether you've had a poo three days after the birth. If you haven't, they can give you a type of laxative called a stool softener. Laxatives are safe if used for short-term relief (NHS 2023).

Apart from constipation, what other poo problems can happen after having a baby?

Pregnancy, labour, and birth can all have an impact on your bowel movements. During pregnancy, your body undergoes many changes, and so does your digestive system. Labour and delivery can bring further shifts due to physical trauma from pushing. Hormonal changes, adjustments to medication, and the demands of breastfeeding, which can affect your hydration levels and eating patterns, can also impact your bowel movements (HSE 2023, NHS 2024, Richter et al 2015).

Here are some of the most common poo problems after having a baby, and tips on how to deal with them.

Pain

Sometimes, the fear of pain from piles or perineal tears (if you had stitches) can make your constipation worse. If you had a vaginal birth, you might already experience pain and swelling in your perineum (the area between your vagina and anus) due to tearing or an episiotomy (NHS 2023b). Even with an unplanned C-section, labouring before surgery can lead to discomfort, swelling, and piles.

To manage this, try holding an ice pack wrapped in a wet towel to your perineum as and when you need it during the first two to four weeks (NHS 2023b).

Incontinence and wind

Some new parents might struggle with controlling wind or even experience bowel leakage after giving birth (HSE 2023). This is known as bowel incontinence and can last from a few weeks to a few months. It’s estimated that up to one in ten women experience this (POGP nd, Richter et al 2015). Bowel incontinence is often caused by damage to the pelvic floor muscles or nerves during delivery (Richter et al 2015).

The good news is that it’s usually mild and often resolves within a few months after a vaginal birth without complications. It’s really important not to be embarrassed or ashamed about your symptoms, because there is help available. Talk to your midwife or GP about a referral to a pelvic floor physiotherapist who can assess your pelvic floor and suggest exercises, such as Kegels, to help strengthen those muscles (NHS 2024). These exercises can also help with urinary incontinence (POGP nd).

Piles

If you had piles during pregnancy – which many people do – you might find they get worse after birth, especially if you strained during labour (NHS 2024). You might even develop piles for the first time after giving birth, particularly if you’re struggling with constipation. To soothe piles, you can ask your doctor to prescribe gentle creams, ointments or suppositories to soothe your bottom or buy over-the-counter preparations that can help (NHS 2024). When you go to the toilet, try blotting instead of wiping to reduce irritation or using a moist toilet tissue wipe.

Hormonal changes

Hormones play a big part in your digestive system during and after pregnancy. An increase in progesterone, in particular, causes your digestive system to slow down (Alqudah et al 2022). This can lead to discomfort such as stomach aches, abdominal cramps, and constipation. While this slowdown allows your body to absorb more nutrients from your food, it also means your bowel has more time to draw moisture from it, leading to drier, sometimes pellet-like stools that are harder to pass. Keep drinking plenty of water and eating fibre-rich foods. If you’re still constipated after a couple of days, talk to your midwife or GP.

More advice and information on your post-baby body:

• Watch our video to discover how other mums recovered from tearing after labour.
• Check out these real-life post-baby belly pics.
• See Sarah Cawood's brutally honest diastasis recti journey.
• Learn more about exercising after having a baby.