Evacuating bowels in labour (TMI!)

[BillBrysonsRucksack]

Ummmm, so basically last time I did a poo when I was pushing .

So my questions are: how common is this and how likely is it to happen again? Anything I can do to prevent it?

I very much pooed in labour.

DH saw that and much more during both labours, but still fancies me now - don't start worrying about DH getting put off after Sucarol's post.

I don't really know how to respond to your post sucarol. I feel sorry for you - you must have no redeeming qualities if that was all it took for your ex to leave.

I spoke to DH about this (finally!) and he just said 'but you couldn't help it'. I remember not wanting him to see me in such a state but he obviously wasn't bothered!

Thanks to everyone else for being so supportive.

I did during bot, the first time they were very discrete and whipped away the inco pad. Second time it was only me and DH and he said nothing as he wiped me . But it's a good sign because the head is then very nearly out!

An decent DH will realise it's only a bit of poo.

Yep, and at the time it seemed like the most important thing. I had to get this poo out, DD was a secondary concern.

I think DH was amused by it - we'd been in that room for two days, so me shitting on the bed served as a little light relief.

MIL is a midwife - she says it's really common.

It's very common. There's nothing you can do to stop it. The MW won't be at all so don't waste your time being yourself!

I've had 3 and never done it. Having #4 in July so there's time yet!

Which just goes to show that Suracol's ex is in the minority not majority. After all, he's been there for all of them so far. And I can guarantee you that #2,3,&4 were not immaculate conceptions

I normally have to beat him off with a stick...

I did with dd1 and dd3, not with dd2, was induced with her and everything happened really quickly. Everybody does it and those that don't - fib

Think I pooed about 4 times, they kept saying push through your bottom, so I did, and that was the result, and a baby too eventually! Do feel embarrassed but really couldn't do much about it. TTC no 2 now, think it will probably happen again as it seems to be the same muscles you use for both. Its really not a dignified process!

I was on all fours and nearly poo'd on Dd's head! Luckily the MW was super speedy and saved Dd from a rather unpleasant christening.

I did all three times, third time there was am explosion of water, blood, poo etc as DD 3s head emerged oh And dh still wants sex ;)

They told us in our NCT class that it was really very common, so I told DH then that if I did poo, I didn't want to know about it.

I'm pretty sure I did (I remember the MW carefully wrapping up the protective mat on the bed & putting a new one down), but I really didn't care.

#2 is due next week (so it can't have put DH off that badly), so no doubt I'll be pooing on a bed again soon!

Bill not all men will be put off.

My friend did it quite a few times and once while the doctor was trying to 'have a look'!

6 months later she met said doctor at a party and they have now been together for 7 years and have 2 more children.

Funnily enough she does'nt like to mention how they met but he does :o

I shat loads when pushing my DS out. He had a massive head so I was pushing like a woman possessed.

It will happen, but christ - having your legs wide apart with every doctor under the sun having a peep at my foo sort of cancelled it out for me!

See, I agree with that last comment. What's so embarrassing about it when you're on display for the world and his wife anyway?! I've never done it so perhaps I'm underestimating the factor but I reckon telling my consultant to fuck off when she said it was too late for an epidural remains my most shameful moment.

Let's face it, once you've had a baby, practically anyone in vaguely medical looking garb can walk in the room and you're either lifting your top or dropping your kegs.

I did have a laugh at your mate's experience though upyourdiva!

It happened in my second labour - I only knew when the midwife wiped my bum! I wasn't bothered about it in the least, much more concerned with getting the baby out and finally meeting him.

DH found seeing the placenta coming out much more disturbing - he had a dizzy spell and had to sit down.

Actually I asked him and he said he was at the head end and didn't see the poo.

I had a poo when I was pushing DD, the poor student midwife caught it in her hand (with large amounts of tissue paper, obviously). I apologised profusely but to be honest I really couldn't have cared less. It was one of the things I was quite worried about prior to the birth, when it actually happened I was more concerned that they had cleaned it away properly.

Didn't in the pool with DS1 (only know as we still have the sieve!) though may have done at the pushing (on the sofa) stage but no-one ever told me.

With DS2's emc-s there is a horrid morphine-blurry memory of them lifting the sheet to look at the scar or something and someone saying 'she's soiled herself' even in the haze i was
In my more optimistic moments i think maybe i imagined it

So not all clean & perfect with a c-s.

I pooed with just one of my five. Gas and air and pain took away any worries or shame for me. Never gave it a thought afterwards because you know the midwives have seen it a hundred times before.

I was lucky then and didn't poo with either of mine. Too quick I think. ! hour and 4 hours. Thank the lord

If I pooed, I'm not aware of it.

DD was covered in poo when she was handed over but the MW swore blind it was baby poo

DP has never mentioned it so I'm guessing he didn't notice if I did. He did keep well away from the business end though.

I was aware of the MW discreetly scooping and sieving while I was in pool...could NOT have cared less!! Don't worry, it is very small potatoes in the scheme of things at the time!