Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Difficulties with bowel control after pregnancy can feel incredibly stressful to deal with. Symptoms associated with this intestinal disorder include bowel urgency and fecal incontinence , which describes the inability to control bowel movements.

This article discusses the symptoms associated with postpartum bowel urgency and fecal incontinence. It also covers possible causes, treatment options, and prevention tips.

Following pregnancy and childbirth, some individuals may experience the following symptoms:

Bowel urgency and fecal incontinence are common the first few months after a vaginal delivery. While less frequently, those who deliver via C-section can also experience these symptoms. In some individuals symptoms go away after months, but for others, symptoms may worsen, and/or return with later pregnancies.

Research suggests that sphincter injuries due to birthing significantly increase the risk of fecal incontinence. About 12% of individuals experience fecal incontinence without having a sphincter injury, while 24% experience this symptom after one injury. The prevalence jumps to 36% if the individual has had two sphincter injuries due to childbirth.

The sphincter is a ring of muscle that helps control the opening and closing of the anus.

Childbirth can cause bowel problems for a variety of reasons. Factors that increase your risk of experiencing urgency and incontinence issues postpartum include:

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you are experiencing bowel urgency and fecal incontinence. Remember, your healthcare provider is there to help you manage your condition.

Treatment will vary depending on your specific needs. Options may include:

To help manage and cope with fecal incontinence, there are some tips to keep in mind:

Unfortunately, fecal incontinence problems stemming from pregnancy and childbirth can show up years afterward. However, there are steps that you can take to reduce your chance of long-term problems:

While common within the first few months after delivery, some individuals may continue to experience bowel urgency and fecal incontinence.

There are many factors that may increase your risk of experiencing urgency and incontinence issues.

Treatment may include therapies administered by your healthcare provider, as well as pelvic floor exercises, diet changes, and bowel training. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.

It's common for bowel habits to change after pregnancy. Trauma to pelvic floor muscles from childbirth can lead to urinary or bowel incontinence.

Yes, digestive issues, including constipation and incontinence, are common after pregnancy. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you are experiencing these.

You can develop irritable bowel syndrome at any time. There is no evidence that it is more likely to develop or worsen after giving birth, but it does commonly begin before age 35.

Drink plenty of fluids and avoid foods that may speed up intestinal contractions, such as greasy or fatty foods. If you also have a fever, seek urgent medical care since this can be a sign of infection.

In general, bowel movements can go back to normal around four days after delivery.

Advancing Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Bowel control.

International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. Childbirth and delivery.

Nilsson IEK, Åkervall S, Molin M, Milsom I, Gyhagen M. Symptoms of fecal incontinence two decades after no, one, or two obstetrical anal sphincter injuries. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021;224(3):276.e1-276.e23. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2020.08.051

Cattani L, Neefs L, Verbakel JY, Bosteels J, Deprest J. Obstetric risk factors for anorectal dysfunction after delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2021;32(9):2325-2336. doi:10.1007/s00192-021-04723-z

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment of fecal incontinence.

Johnson KT, Williams PG, Hill AJ. The importance of information: prenatal education surrounding birth-related pelvic floor trauma mitigates symptom-related distress. Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy. 2022;46(2):62-72. doi:10.1097/JWH.0000000000000229

Shin GH, Toto EL, Schey R. Pregnancy and postpartum bowel changes: constipation and fecal incontinence. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2015;110(4):521-529. doi:10.1038/ajg.2015.76

Office on Women's Health. Irritable bowel syndrome.

Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health. Urgent maternal warning signs.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Postpartum discharge instructions.

By Barbara Bolen, PhD Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome.

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