A 65-year-old client who has a new colostomy is preparing for discharge from the hospital. As part of the instructions on colostomy care, the nurse explains to the client that to regulate the bowel, colostomy irrigation should be performed at the same time each day. The best time is:

Bowel movements should be regulated at a specific time each day to prevent 'accidents.' Irrigating after meals takes advantage of the gastrocolic reflex and time of increased peristalsis, so better results may be produced. After meals is the normal time that peristalsis begins in most persons and evacuation of feces occurs. Irrigating before meals may cause poor results because of decreased gastrocolic reflex and decreased peristalsis. Irrigating a colostomy every 2 hours may produce hyperactivity of the bowel, leading to irritation and diarrhea. This would not aid in regulation of the bowel. If irrigation of a colostomy were done at bedtime, there is greater chance of having an 'accident' during sleep. This would not be an advantageous practice of bowel regulation.