Bowel Management Week Daily Checklist
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During Bowel Management Week it is important that you:
Leave your child with only trained care providers
If possible, do not send your child to school or daycare during bowel management week so that you are able to observe your child all day.
If your child does need to be cared for during the day, ask the care provider to attend a parent lecture so that they are trained for how to take care of your child and what to look for during bowel management week. The parent lecture may be available online, ask your Reconstructive Pelvic Medicine (RPM) team for a schedule.
Get an X-ray for your child every day
Get an X-ray for your child every day before 9 a.m. (except Saturday and Sunday).
Our schedulers will help you make appointments for X-rays at Seattle Children’s Hospital. If you would like your child to get daily X-rays outside of Seattle Children’s Hospital or at a Seattle Children’s Hospital clinic, you must pre-arrange this with your child’s RPM team so that the X-ray images can be available for review every day during bowel management week.
The RPM team will review the X-ray each day to help make the best plan for your child.
Be available by phone
Your child’s RPM nurse will call you at least 2 times a day during bowel management week. It is important that they can reach you; let them know what the best way to reach you is during the day.
They will call you to ask about how your child is doing and review your child’s X-rays and plan with you. They may ask you questions like:
If your child is on enemas:
- Did your child soil between enemas? If so, how many hours after the enema? How many accidents? Amount? Consistency and color?
- Did you have a hard time giving the enema (was there leaking, or was your child not able to hold the fluid for 5 to 10 minutes)?
If your child is on laxatives or stopping enemas:
- Did your child have a bowel movement in the last 24 hours?
- How many bowel movements in the last 24 hours?
- Did your child know they had to have a bowel movement?
- Did your child make it to the bathroom or have an accident?
- Any problems or instructions that were not followed?
Check MyChart for full reports
The best way to connect with your child’s RPM nurses during bowel management week is by phone. If they cannot reach you by phone, your child’s nurse will leave you a message in MyChart.
To create a MyChart account, go to our website at seattlechildrens.org and click on “MyChart” on the blue navigation bar near the top of the homepage. Based on your or your child’s age and medical status, choose from one of the options under the heading “Need an Account?” After you submit the form, a member of our Registration team will send you an email with further instructions.
If you have questions or need help signing up for a MyChart account, please call the MyChart Help Desk at 206-987-4444 or send an email to [email protected].
Attend mid-week parent support group
Plan to attend the parent support group on Wednesday of bowel management week. The parent support group can either be a virtual meeting or in person.
Check with your healthcare provider first before giving any type of medicine to your child
During bowel management week your child’s doctor will prescribe medicines that may not be covered by insurance. We will provide over-the-counter medicine options, if needed. Make sure that you follow the instructions for how much to give your child.
To Learn More
- Reconstructive Pelvic Medicine
206-987-1240, option 4 - Ask your child’s healthcare provider
- seattlechildrens.org/patient-education
Free Interpreter Services
- In the hospital, ask your nurse.
- From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.
