If you’re reading this, it is likely that your child is constipated and that can be causing their bladder problems such as bedwetting, recurrent UTIs or daytime leaking. Essentially the intestines surround the bladder and if they’re full of poop, then that is putting a lot of pressure on the bladder. This doesn’t allow the bladder to work well, and prevents things like incomplete bladder emptying, urinary frequency or urgency and incontinence.
But my kid is pooping every day. This does not mean they are not constipated. They should be pooping soft, easy to pass, good volumes of stool daily. They should be pooping as much as they are eating daily. Ideally, they should be thin like a sausage or softer and lots of it! If they’re not pooping well, then there is an accumulation of stool and the intestines stretch out making it hard for the muscles to push out the poop. Long standing constipation can lead to problems with leakage of stool as well!
So you think your kid is constipated, now what? Depending on the extent of the constipation there are a lot of treatment options. But I always try to work on the diet first. Water, water, water! Drinking at least ½ of your body weight in ounces is minimum. Eating plenty of fruits and veggies and fiber rich foods. Avoiding dairy and white starches like bread, pasta, rice, crackers, chips, etc. Medication can also be helpful. Stool softeners like Miralax or stimulants like Senna or Exlax can also be helpful. You should work with your medical provider to find out what medications are right for your child. But when I work with patients, I am pretty aggressive when it comes to treating their constipation. And doing it for at least 6 months but often longer is necessary to allow gradual shrinking of the intestines back down to a normal size.
There are so many other types of supplements available and tips that can be helpful for constipation as well. You can find out more info on other posts and videos on our website.