Thank you for your question! We are so glad to hear that you found our guide on constipation to be helpful! Poop amount, color, frequency, really depends on the person. However, there are two opposites of constipation, diarrhea and a person’s normal bowel movements. Figuring out what is normal or not, really depends on the person. Diarrhea may occur when someone experiences a change in their daily bowel movements – and usually is 3 or more loose/watery stools per day, including less formed stool and more frequent bathroom trips. It’s important to note, you can stool multiple times a day and still be constipated if they are hard (like hard pellets).
Normal bowel movements, really depend on you and what your bowel movements look like (literally). There isn’t a magic number of recommended bowel movements per day or per week. Some people may poop anywhere from three times per day or three times per week, both is normal, but it depends on the person. If you aren’t sure, try keeping track of your poops for a week or two. Write down when you go, how much you go, and what the poops look like.
However, it is important to mention that frequent constipation and diarrhea is not normal. A lot of different things can affect your poops, including diet and exercise. If you experience pain, bloating, fullness before, during, or after a bowel movement, or if there’s blood in the stool, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and remember, don’t be embarrassed because everybody poops!
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.