To ask how you deal with nappies and potty training etc if you're squeamish?!

[7upluck]

I know I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I promise I'm not being goady!

Pregnant with my first and I'm already worried about how I'll cope with changing nappies, potty training, wiping bums etc. I am honestly the most squeamish person, I can't abide my own bodily fluids let alone someone else's.

It's something that no one talks about because it seems everyone else doesn't mind. I was out for lunch with a friend yesterday and there was a little girl on the table next to us with her mum and dad. She announced very loudly 'Mummy, I need a poo.' (which when I was eating and am suffering from nausea anyway left me feeling a bit

@Fraternaltwin

Your learning curve is going to be very steep if this is what you’re bothered about.

Also, this is how men get out of nappy changing, by claiming they feel squeamish.

Yup

It’s either feeling squeamish or you leave them sitting in it, with it breaking down their skin and causing them agony.

So I guess you have to weigh up what’s more important.

You just do it. I have OCD. particularly surrounding bodily fluids. When I lived with my parents i had separate eating stuff because even washed I didn't want rheir spit. I have caught DSs poo. Your baby needs something. You do it, whether you want to, whether you're too tired, too ill, you do what your child needs without really weighing it up.

You just get on with it because it HAS to be done. That's it really.

I do think it’s because you want them comfortable and clean and happy so you just get on with it.

I worried about this too but tbh you do just get on with it. It's not the most fun but the thought of it is worse than actually doing it iyswim

I’ve gagged a few times over my baby’s nappy... no advice but what’s the alternative? Don’t change him? But we’ve also laughed a lot at the poonamis and at my overreactions! I can deal with sick, but other people’s poo is the worst. Not pleasant but manageable!

My husband is very squeamish with poo (but not bothered at all by sick, weirdly), but it's smell that sets him off so he would come up (often tether hilarious) with ways to shield his face from the smell while changing DD

I thought I would be horribly squeamish about sick as I always have been funny about it but DD had a sickness bug recently and the first puke got all over me and I honestly didn't really care, it was weird! Was more concerned about her and washing her off and DH had to tell me I had puke all down my side and in my hair

I thought I’d struggle too. Managed fine. These things make me boak now.

Oh and I'm pregnant which has given me the gags over poops in the potty (still working on her transitioning to big potty) so I have to just not look at it while I'm emptying it. Occasionally I get the heaves but can't really be helped.

@DeepaBeesKit

Has anyone told you about poonami? These are baby poos that explode and cover everything, their backs, their clothes.

Ds had these in disposables, DD we used washable and it genuinely never happened.i was amazed.

Resuables are amazing for containing poo. We didn't use them for first few weeks with DD and had almost daily poonamis. Not a single one when we switched to reusables! Def using them from day 1 this time!

within a few weeks you'll be lifting the baby's butt up to your face to sniff test.

It’s just part of it, so toughen up and crack on!
You can give your phobias and anxiety to kids by the way, so if you act revolted by their bodily functions then they will almost certainly be which isn’t what you want.
Don’t pass on your squeamishness!
My DNiece and Dnephew are squeamish, germ paranoid and quite frankly a pain in the arse but they got that from their dad who is the same and he spent their entire childhood wiping them down with wet wipes every five seconds and bathing them constantly.
They’re both completely wet when it comes to bodily functions, blood, any kind of injury, dirt,
mud, germs, perceived germs etc

Put a scented nappy bag over your nose with the handles over your ears

I don't love it but it's definitely different dealing with your own child's poo and wee than with anyone else's. When changing nappies, I find it's normally possible to wipe the majority of poo off their bottom with the nappy itself, then fold up the nappy and pop it into a bag (you can get scented ones) and just tidy everything up with a wipe or two. That way you don't have to see the poo much and smell is minimised as well.

I find bogeys worse to be honest especially when he has a really snotty nose not envy

Doing the old LFTs with the throat swab was worse than any nappy I ever encountered.

By the time your child declares publicly that they need a poo, you would have most likely all ready dealt with the post birth black poo, korma poo, poo explosions, been sick on, had thick snot wiped onto you, been weed on, and probably pooed on that you will be so used to it.

I have always had a strong gag reflex. I once vomited because my sister farted. Vomit makes me vomit. But I've managed to deal with it all. Because it is my baby... an adults... nope. But for my child? You just block it out and get on with it. You'll be ok.

Poo rarely makes me gags but the vomit often makes me gag

Couldn't care less about wee

@I0NA

Well it’s a bit late now as she’s already PG.

Yes, agreed.

I meant more in terms of if the baby was planned.

But I meant no disrespect if the baby was unplanned so will admit I posted that a bit hastily.

Apologies to you, OP.

But honestly, if you're squeamish then I would strongly suggest doing your best to work on that from now as you'll be having to clean up poo, urine, vomit etc etc.

You have left it a bit late to be worrying about this
Roll your sleeves up and get on with it is the only way I'm afraid you will up to your ears in shit, piss and vom in no time. You will get desensitised.

I was diagnosed with coprophobia some years ago and I've really struggled with the poo but I found some ways of dealing with it with my twins. They are older now, but one is disabled and doubly incontinent. I always have my nose blocked up and I wear gloves to change. And I've learned to be super quick.
I definitely recommend removing as many sensory aspects as you can.
There is something to be said about it not being so bad when it's your own child.
I'm fine with wee, bogies and sick though.

For me the worst was snot... ugh. Some ppl are impervious and would leave it to run down the face go hard & crusty (for hours...) snow & toothpaste (in a mouth) both still make me want to heave. I learnt to deal with all of the body stuff as quick as possible.

i was lucky that DH wasn't squeamish about any bodily effluent, just dealt with it all calmly.

I guess I got used to it all -- good thing. Being squeamish is so inconvenient.

Your child is a part of you, just like you wouldn’t leave yourself covered in shit you won’t leave them covered in it either. That takes precedence in my mind at least

I worried about this too! But you just crack on with it. As others have said, it’s not too bad with a tiny baby and then you just become inured to it.