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Stoma Care: Changing the Pouch

Step-by-Step

Person sitting at back of toilet with legs spread and one hand lifting shirt up, with bag tail open over toilet bowl and other hand sliding down bag to empty contents.

1. Empty the pouch into the toilet.

Person peeling ostomy bag down and away from stoma on belly.

2. Peel the pouch down, away from your skin.

Ostomy bag tied in plastic bag being placed in trash.

3. Put the old pouch in the trash.

Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

4. Wash your hands.

Person holding shirt up with one hand and other hand wiping skin around stoma with wet cloth.

5. Wipe your skin around the stoma with water.

Person holding shirt up with one hand and other hand patting skin around stoma dry with folded cloth.

6. Pat your skin and stoma dry.

Wipes in package with corner of package peeled back.

7. If needed, use a skin barrier wipe.

Person holding shirt up with one hand and other hand using wipe on skin around stoma.

8. Wipe your skin around the stoma.

New ostomy bag.

9. Get a new pouch.

Person peeling back adhesive layer from front of ostomy bag.

10. Peel the center backing from the barrier.

Person putting ostomy bag around stoma.

11. Place the barrier over the stoma.

Person peeling back adhesive layer of outer ring of barrier.

12. Peel the backing's outer ring from the barrier.

Person placing hand over barrier on front of ostomy bag with stopwatch showing time passing.

13. Press the barrier on your skin for 45 seconds.

Ostomy bag on stoma with person closing end of ostomy bag.

14. Close the pouch as directed.

Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

15. Wash your hands.

Online Medical Reviewer: Daphne Pierce-Smith RN MSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Robyn Zercher FNP
Date Last Reviewed: 6/1/2025
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