Chronic Constipation Treatment

When To Seek Pelvic Floor Therapy For Constipation

Many women, regardless of whether they've given birth, find themselves battling constipation that lingers for weeks, months, or even years. If your symptoms are persistent, frustrating, and getting in the way of your daily routine, it’s a clear signal that your body needs extra support. At Blair Mauri Pelvic Health, Blair has met with many clients who have spent a lot of time trying to manage symptoms on their own. You don’t need to wait until things feel unmanageable. Blair is here for you if you need pelvic floor therapy in NYC.

Signs It’s Time To Reach Out

Consider contacting Blair if:

• You Strain Regularly During Bowel Movements: Chronic straining places excessive stress on the pelvic floor, which may lead to muscle dysfunction or injury over time.

• You Often Feel Incomplete Emptying: That lingering sensation after a bowel movement can signal incoordination in the pelvic floor muscles or rectal outlet.

• You Experience Ongoing Bloating Or Abdominal Pain: Can constipation cause pelvic pain? The answer is yes, sometimes it can. When dietary and medication adjustments aren’t helping, muscle tension or impaired motor control may be contributing factors.

• You Have Additional Urinary Symptoms: Difficulty with bowel movements often overlaps with bladder urgency or leakage. When combined, these are common signs of underlying pelvic floor dysfunction.

• You Are Not Emptying Regularly: If you are not having a bowel movement every 24-48 hours, you may be experiencing chronic constipation. 

• Chronic Diarrhea: often, those with chronic diarrhea may also be experiencing constipation as well. Often, the diarrhea can seep around the constipation, creating and illusion that you are emptying when in fact you are not. 

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help

Pelvic floor therapy addresses the root causes behind constipation, especially when they stem from muscle tightness or poor coordination. This form of therapy provides guided strategies to retrain the muscles involved in bowel movements, helping your body return to a more natural rhythm.

Blair is a licensed occupational therapist, which means her approach centers on the whole person. Unlike physical therapy, which often emphasizes biomechanics alone, occupational therapy takes a broader, holistic view. With Blair, you’ll receive care that acknowledges how constipation impacts your routines, relationships, mood, and overall well-being.

You won’t be given a generic exercise plan and sent on your way. Instead, Blair offers tailored, one-on-one pelvic floor therapy in Brooklyn rooted in curiosity, clinical expertise, and deep listening. She will always encourage you to ask questions or raise any concerns, and she takes the time to explain the “why” behind each of her recommendations. Through this individualized care, Blair is a pelvic floor specialist in NYC who makes you feel seen, supported, and informed every step of the way.

Why Choose In-Home Pelvic Floor Therapy For Constipation

Constipation can feel isolating, but you don’t have to manage it alone or in a cold clinic environment. Blair offers at-home pelvic floor therapy across Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, providing private, individualized care that fits into your life. She primarily works with clients in Brooklyn Heights (11201), Park Slope (11215 & 11217), Cobble Hill (11201 & 11231), Dumbo, and Tribeca, bringing expert care to the comfort of your own space.

What Treatment May Include

Blair’s pelvic floor therapy in NYC for constipation is always tailored to your needs. The goal is to help improve coordination, reduce muscle tension, and support healthy, more complete bowel movements. Your treatment plan may involve:

• Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: Learn to locate and relax the right muscles to reduce straining and make elimination feel more natural.

• Breathwork And Pressure Strategies: Learn how breathing patterns, core engagement, and posture impact pressure in your pelvic region.

• Bowel Routine Coaching: Small shifts in timing, position, and response to urges can make a meaningful difference. Blair helps you build habits that support regularity.

• Manual Therapy (When Appropriate): Gentle, hands-on techniques may be used to reduce tightness or improve tissue mobility, always with consent and clear communication.

• Lifestyle Pattern Review: Blair can help you identify hydration, fiber intake, movement, or bathroom behaviors that may be contributing to symptoms (please note: this is not nutritional counseling).

Many clients begin to notice relief in just a few sessions and feel more confident managing symptoms on their own. With the right education and guidance, pelvic floor therapy may even help reduce reliance on laxatives or rigid routines.

Blair’s Treatment Packages

Blair offers two discounted package options designed to meet you where you are in your journey:

• Pelvic Floor Package 1: This package includes six treatment sessions at $215 each, bundled at a 10% discount for returning clients who have already had an evaluation.

• Pelvic Floor Package 2: This is Ideal for new clients and includes a comprehensive evaluation ($299) followed by five sessions ($215 each), also at 10% off.

Start Feeling Better On Your Terms

Whether constipation has been part of your story for years or has recently shown up postpartum, you don’t have to face it alone. Blair’s approach is grounded in education, collaboration, and deep respect for your body’s signals.

Book a free discovery call with Blair today to discuss whether in-home pelvic floor therapy is the right next step for you.

Dietary Fiber: How Much Is Enough?

Alongside pelvic floor therapy, it can be helpful to take a closer look at how your daily habits, especially around food, may be contributing to constipation. One key piece? Dietary fiber. It plays a valuable role in bulking and softening stool, supporting easier, more complete bowel movements. If “getting more fiber” feels vague or confusing, this section will help you understand what that looks like in real life.

How Much Fiber Do You Really Need?

According to current dietary recommendations, most adults benefit from 25–35 grams of fiber per day. That’s often twice as much as what the average person currently consumes. Increasing fiber intake can help support overall bowel health, but there’s a right way to go about it.

Rather than making a big change all at once, try adding fiber gradually. Sudden increases may lead to gas or bloating, which typically ease up over time as your body adjusts. But if discomfort persists, it’s always a good idea to talk to your medical provider.

Everyday Foods That Support Regularity

You don’t have to overhaul your entire diet to start seeing benefits. Fiber comes from a wide range of whole foods, and small changes can go a long way. Here are some delicious ideas to gently increase your fiber intake throughout the day:

• Breakfast: Try eating a bowl of oatmeal topped with berries or a spoonful of flaxseed.

• Snack Ideas: Throughout the day, you can snack on raw fruits (like apples or pears with the skin), roasted chickpeas, or popcorn. Chia seeds, oat bran, and dried fruits like prunes are also great options.

• Lunch And Dinner: Brown rice, whole grain bread, lentils, steamed broccoli, or a side salad are always great options for lunch and dinner.

Aim for a mix of soluble fiber (found in oats, beans, and fruit) and insoluble fiber (whole grains, vegetables, seeds) to keep things moving with less strain.

Finding What Works For You

If you like numbers, reading nutrition labels can give you a sense of how much fiber you're getting. But listening to your body matters just as much. Everyone’s digestive system is different, and finding the right fiber balance often takes a little trial and error.

What Are Some Hydration Strategies That Work?

Water is an essential partner to dietary fiber. It helps fiber move smoothly through the digestive tract, keeping stool soft and easier to pass. For many people, adequate hydration is a simple but effective way to support relief from chronic constipation. However, “drink more water” can feel like unhelpful advice when you’re already juggling a full schedule. That’s why it helps to focus on practical, realistic strategies that fit your lifestyle. Here are a few simple habits to consider:

• Drinking With Intention: Try starting your day with a glass of water before coffee or breakfast. This small step can stimulate digestion and encourage natural elimination. Pairing water with meals or snacks also builds consistent hydration into your routine.

• Infuse For Motivation: If plain water isn’t appealing, try infusing it with slices of lemon, cucumber, or herbs. Light flavor can make it easier (and more enjoyable) to sip throughout the day.

• Track Progress, Not Perfection: Use a reusable bottle with fill markers or phone reminders if you find this helpful. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s small, steady steps that support your body’s needs.

• Mind The Timing: Large amounts of water right before bed may interrupt your sleep. Instead, aim for steady hydration earlier in the day, with sips between meals to support digestion.

• Listen To Your Body: Signs of dehydration like fatigue, headaches, or dry skin can be subtle, especially postpartum. It’s okay to adjust your habits based on how you’re feeling.

• Balance Matters: Water is important, but other fluids count, too. Herbal teas, broths, and water-rich foods like melon, celery, or cucumber can boost hydration. Electrolyte-rich choices like bananas or coconut water can also support balanced fluid levels.

Even small adjustments to your hydration habits can help your body maintain regularity and improve how you feel each day. If you’re already working on your pelvic floor health, hydration can be a powerful addition to your care.