One of the worst things that can happen to this Holiday season is for your tummy to act out. And worst if it happens to our kids. That's why at home we have all sorts of medication, both natural and over-the-counter. One of which is dulcolax. As someone who often experience constipation, I try to equip the household with Dulcolax, both syrup and tablet for my kids and myself. During my pregnancy this came in handy.

With all the heavy food and meat we'll be eating this holiday, it's important to know if you are suffering from constipation. Here are some symptoms:

1. You poop less than three times a week. While it is not true that you should move your bowels every day in order to be in the non-constipated category, less than three times a week is too much. 

2. Your poop is painful, dry and dark. According to the Bristol Stool Chart, if your stool is hard to pass, lumpy and shaped like nuts, you are constipated. You are doing okay if your stool looks like a sausage, has cracks on the surface and is soft and smooth. It is not true that your stools need to be very soft. In fact, having very soft stools that are bordering on being almost liquid is a sign that there is a problem.

3. You’re always gassy. Yes, it can be embarrassing to always be farting, especially when you’re in a public place or, heaven forbid, while out on a date! But being flatulent can be a sign of constipation. Yes, farting isn’t necessarily a sign that you’re on the verge of pooping. Having stored feces makes it difficult for a constipation to pass gas normally and this can result in flatulence. 

4. Bleeding. If you see blood in your stool, you may be constipated. Having bloody stools can be caused by anal fissures resulting from hard bowel movement. But it can also mean there is bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. It is best to have it checked by a doctor.

I know this is a sensitive subject but that I feel it needs to be addressed since I'm already a mother in charge of several tummies in the household. It's heartbreaking to see our picky-eaters suffer from this kind of illness and though eating healthy is the best thing to do, a little fast-acting and safe medication is also helpful for situations like this. I know how busy life can get this holiday and we can't control what our children eat when their out attending parties, better be prepared and have Dulcolax in your medicine kits.