Updated: December 17, 2020
Originally Published: September 23, 2015
It’s a typical morning. You’ve just prepared breakfast for the little ones, and the youngest is making her way to the bathroom for her usual morning routine. Everything seems normal until suddenly…
- You hear a series of distressing screams from the bathroom—something primal and unsettling. It’s followed by soft whimpers and groans.
- As you cautiously turn the doorknob, you can’t help but feel reassured, yet those sounds are alarming.
- You step inside and find your child hunched over, straining. She looks pale and distressed. “Mommy, the poop won’t come out,” she cries.
- Panic sets in. Could she really be constipated? This has never been a problem before. You quickly grab a glass of water, convinced that hydration will solve everything.
- The grunting continues, and it triggers a memory—those same sounds echoing back to the births of your children. The thought seems almost absurd, but in her own way, this struggle might feel equally torturous to her.
- You offer comfort, wrapping her in hugs and kisses. Sure, it’s a bit odd to show affection while she’s on the toilet, but as a mother, what’s normal anyway?
- You hit the internet, mind racing at the plethora of advice on how to coax a stubborn poop from a child’s system.
- You reflect on your good fortune; after raising several kids, this is the first encounter with such a dilemma. Your family has always valued regularity.
- Memories flood back of the C-section constipation saga of 2011 and again in 2013. You silently pray that her situation isn’t anything like that.
- “What does the internet say?” your child asks from her throne. You wish you had the answers.
- You reassure her that everything will be okay and that you’ll find a solution, even if you suspect this might be one of your more significant parenting challenges.
- She begins to cry again, this time articulating, “Mommy, the poop is stuck.” “Stuck?” you question, wondering if this is worse than mere constipation while hoping it isn’t. “In my butt.” Oh no, you realize you need to curb your language around her. A more disturbing thought crosses your mind: will you have to intervene as you did for the dog once, using a stick? The memory makes you gag.
- Please, don’t let this be the case! I promise to be better. I’ll go to church. I’ll donate to charity…anything!
- You come to terms with the fact that you may need to check her backside. No big deal; you’ve endured worse.
- Panic rises again when her sobs continue. You reach out for comfort once more.
- Encourage her to take a break; both of you could use a moment.
- Realizing you need to use the toilet, you sit down only to hear her scream that she also needs to go. Isn’t this always how it plays out? You leap up, and another child bursts in to show you their latest Lego masterpiece while the constipated one sits on her throne, hoping for relief. She requests privacy, and you step outside.
- After a few minutes, you re-enter the bathroom, contemplating whether you should advise her to push. You decide against it, fearing the possibility of childhood hemorrhoids—does that even happen? You vow to research it later. Just as you think this, she exclaims, “Mommy, good news! The poop that wouldn’t come out, finally did!”
- She calls for you to come see her accomplishment. You find yourself back in the bathroom again, examining poop for the second time that day.
- A wave of relief washes over you knowing her body managed what it needed to without any extra interventions (no need for more online research, home remedies, or doctor visits). Your child wipes, washes her hands, and flushes. All is well. Just eight more hours until your husband comes home, and you can share this saga with him.
For more parenting insights and advice, check out our other blog posts. One great resource on pregnancy and home insemination can be found at Make A Mom. If you’re interested in more authoritative information, visit UCSF Center for Reproductive Health and for general pregnancy information, the World Health Organization offers excellent resources.
Summary
This humorous tale recounts a morning filled with the chaos of childhood constipation, exploring the emotions and challenges parents face when their little ones experience bathroom troubles. Through a series of relatable events, the narrative captures the blend of panic and relief that comes with resolving such a common, yet distressing, parenting moment.