Constipation is one of the most common children’s conditions that we treat at Empower Pelvic Clinic. Constipation can significantly impact a child’s comfort, mood, and even bladder control. When constipation occurs, stools may become hard, dry, and difficult to pass, often leading to infrequent bowel movements, pain, and or withholding (avoiding opening their bowels). Some children may also experience overflow soiling (encopresis), which can be mistaken for diarrhea.

At our clinic, we take a holistic approach to managing constipation. We assess your child’s pelvic floor function, toileting habits, posture on the toilet and lifestyle factors such as diet, hydration, and activity levels. We provide child-friendly education to help them understand what’s happening in their body, and we support families with practical strategies to encourage healthy and regular bowel movements. This may include toilet positioning, routines, kid friendly exercise, abdominal massage, pelvic floor muscle retraining and coordination with GPs, teachers and other health professionals where needed.