Bathing with a stoma can be a bit tricky, especially if you're using a one-piece pouch that tends to get soaked. If you're looking for ways to make your bath or shower time more comfortable and less stressful, here are some helpful tips and insights:

- Before you bathe, try emptying your pouch. This can help reduce any ballooning or mess while you're in the water. Just keep in mind that hot tubs or long, hot baths might mean you'll need to change your flange sooner than usual.

- Consider using a two-piece system for showers. With brands like Convatec or Coloplast, you can detach just the pouch and leave the baseplate on. This way, any small output can rinse away, and you can cover the stoma with a paper towel before reattaching the pouch.

- Mini-caps from Coloplast are small caps that snap onto a two-piece baseplate. They're great for short baths or swimming. You can contact Coloplast for free samples to try them out.

- If you're thinking about cutting off the outer plastic layer of your pouch to prevent water from getting trapped, know that some users have done this safely with blunt-nose scissors. It doesn't affect the pouch's function.

- To dry a wet pouch after bathing, you can use a hair-dryer on low for about 30 seconds or pat it dry. Some people also dust a little powder under the pouch to prevent skin irritation.

- Some people use rubber or latex protective pants over their appliance to keep it dry during showers. While they can be uncomfortable, they are effective. You might need to ask around for where to buy them.

- If you have a colostomy, you might consider irrigation. This can leave your bowel empty for up to 24 hours, allowing for a pouch-free soak the next morning.

- Many long-term users have found that accepting a wet pouch is easier than avoiding water altogether. They simply towel-dry the pouch like any other part of their body after swimming or bathing.

- Typically, flanges from brands like Convatec last 4–7 days for those who bathe regularly. However, hot weather or long soaks might reduce this time. Changing your appliance in the morning when stoma activity is lower can help reduce leaks.

- If you're unsure about your stoma type, note that a more liquid output and a stoma on the right side usually indicate an ileostomy. Thicker output on the left suggests a colostomy. If your entire large bowel is removed, it's likely an ileostomy.