Because a good night’s sleep is so vital for physical and emotional health, you might be worried about how living with a stoma will impact your loved one’s night-time routine. Some simple tips can help by putting your mind at ease about the risk of overnight leakage.

Sleeping well with a stoma

Try these popular steps to make positive night-time preparations a norm for yourself and the person you care for:

• Pouch check: Always perform a pouch change, or ensure the pouch is empty, before bedtime. Double check that the pouch is on properly.
• Meal times: Don’t serve the last meal too close to bedtime to give the stoma time to do its work beforehand. It’s also a good idea to avoid fibrous food late in the day, as well as fizzy drinks.
• Comfort: Your loved one will get a better night’s sleep if they are comfortable. Try to support their body with pillows, with one in between their legs or under their back.

Questions? To support you as much as possible we have created a leaflet dedicated to carers, for friends and family caring for ostomates. It aims to help you to understand what happens during and after stoma surgery and give practical tips on how you can help your loved one. You can download it here.

For more support simply speak to your stoma care nurse or our care team.