Tracking bowel movements

A number of people here had constipation issues as kids and say they were given an enema if their last bowel movement was too long ago. Some of them mention they suffered from encopresis or chronic constipation, and thus this was not an exceptional event.

Did your mother use some kind of notepad or similar to keep track of your bowel movements? How did she know you "went", did you have to report bowel movements? Did you have to report unsuccessful attempts at defecation? How did she know about bowel movements at school or other moment outside the home?

My mother kept trak of my rectal temp my bowel movement every day seemed obsessed with it if didn't go on my own was given help in form supos soap sticks and enemas

When I was very young I had to call out for her after I was finished going #2 so she could wipe me, so she knew when I pooped and if it was sufficient. After I started school she would ask me if I pooped or the last time I pooped and I always told her. If I was taking a while in the bathroom she would check on me and I was told to let her know when I was done and not to flush to see if I needed enemas. She babied me and I was given many enemas even when I was older!

I had encopresis and regularly soiled my underwear. My mom was totally obsessed with my BMs. Did I go and how much did I go. She was always asking me if I needed to change my pants. I was spanked a few times for going in my pants and a few times was locked in the bathroom naked and told to go on the potty.. I was given suppositories and fleet enemas which had little effect in making me go. The only way to get the mass out was use an old fashioned enema bag which did flush me out. All of this I remember was very traumatic at a young age. I believe that all the stress around going poop caused it to get worse and I held it in even more. I soiled myself and had encopresis til I was 13.

My mom was so obsessed I was so embarrassed one day I was about 10 my mom at a store with people around said Eric how is it downstairs and she felt my bottom to see if I had a messy pants. I felt like digging a hole and going in it. A few ladies looked our way and had a shocked look on their faces. I was so embarrassed...

My mom did not keep track on paper as I remember, but she would ask questions. Did you have a BM today or sometimes used the word "poop". Do you feel OK? What's a matter honey are you feeling OK? If you had farted several times, she would notice. If you were not hungry at a meal or picked at your food. Remember kids can be picky eaters. Skid marks on your underpants. These things would lead to her checking and decided if you were constipated and then off course most of the time, I got an enema. Occasionally, a suppository. Most often, the enema or suppository was preceded by a rectal temp, or so it seemed. I have three siblings, and she was consistent with us all. She seemed to that sixth sense, that you needed to have that BM.

Also, my mom was a stay at home mom, so focused on taking care of us, our home and my dad.

Growing up in the nineteen fifties, it was common to get your temperature checked rectally, especially if mom suspected you were constipated. Another common method to check for constipation was a digital recital exam an in most cases, both methods were used. A few other things that could get you a date with mom's douche/enema bag was being moody, acting sluggish, picking a fight, or not eating normally. All were thought to be a sign of constipation or not using the bathroom when you should an earned you a date with mom's enema bag.

Grandma on the other hand, handled things a little differently. On Saturday evening, at bath time, she had our two young aunts give us and themselves a couple of enemas before our shower. However, if you showed signs of being constipated during the week, it was enema time.

@greengoddess The "you're taking too long in the bathroom, don't flush so that I can have a look" is familiar. 😃

Inasmuch as grandma was next door in the apartments, we kids were under constant supervision between mom and grandma. From a very early age, I can recall having to report my BM's to one or the other. My older sister was in a similar situation. Like Greengoddess, we were wiped after a BM and the results observed. Daily BM's were an expectation and failure to have one resulted in a date with the enema bag. Mom and grandma tag teamed us both.

It was also very common for our pediatrician and his nurse to inquire about our BM's. If it was mentioned that we were at all constipated, the orders for an enema were relayed. The doctor was always telling my mom to "just give that kid an enema". She didn't need much more encouragement inasmuch as grandma was also prodding her.

No. We were questioned every day. If one day passed without BM the well known procedures were initiated.

My Mom was always asking me if I'd had a bowel movement that day and if not I'd be given a dose of laxative at bedtime. She also watched my behaviour for things like acting cranky or irritable or not eating all the food on my plate at mealtimes which she assumed were signs that I was constipated, hence a dose of laxative even if I wasn't constipated. Also if I had been stuffing myself with "junk food" like candy, popcorn, potato chips or nuts she'd give me a dose of laxative to clean them out of me before they had a chance to constipate me. If the laxative didn't make me poop first thing the next morning it was suppository time to help the laxative work and if that didn't make me have a good big poop she'd give me a large hot soapsuds enema to clear everything out of me.

@gboy said,

She also watched my behaviour for things like acting cranky or irritable or not eating all the food on my plate at mealtimes which she assumed were signs that I was constipated, hence a dose of laxative even if I wasn't constipated.

When my siblings and I were growing up, it wasn’t a dose of laxatives for that type of behavior, it was a soapy followed by a rinse enema. During the summer, when we were at our grandmothers, the job usually fell to our two teenage aunts in the evening at bath time. Grandma was a lot quicker with enemas than mom was, but she gave us plenty of enemas for the same reasons when we were at home.