Question about pooping during childbirth...

[weeblueberry]

Right, firstly sorry for the somewhat gross question. But I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that there's a high likelyhood that I'll poo during birth. I know the midwives are really good about it and whip the offending material away pretty quickly but I wondered what happened if you need...um...cleaned up afterwards? I wasn't sure if this was something the midwife would do or if it was left to your partner? I assume if they feel you need it they'd make sure you were wiped clean in case it affected the baby etc?

I know this is the most patronising statement ever, but I promise you will really not care at all about how/who cleans its up when your in labour. Honestly, I was really quite worried about pooing in labour, I don't think I did but I just wouldn't have cared going through it.

the midwife(s) do it for you. after birth you can have a shower if you are mobile or again the midwife(s) will take care of you.
good luck!

You really don't notice it when you poo. I only noticed as I could smell something.
The MW are so quick at changing the sheet underneath you hardly notice what they are doing. They also do clean you up a bit if needed, wrap up the poo and then wipe you as they take it away, remember though that there is a lot of 'mess'down there anyway.
And you might not poo suring birth. If you stay active as much as poss that should help you go long before birth

Thanks everyone. I'm not bothered about being embarrassed or anything - sorry didn't make that clear. I've accepted what's going to happen will happen and apart from being as prepared as I can there's sweet bugger all I can do about it lol. It's more the practicality of it all. I'd personally prefer a midwife did any cleaning up rather than my partner so am just curious about the practicality of it all.

EXACTLY what flossy said.

Honestly, don't worry!

xpost!

Agree it is dealt with very much as a matter of course. I knew it had happened because the midwife told me she could see I had been on iron supplements . I asked if she had just removed a black deposit which she confirmed

I was so relieved I hadn't had a poo mid-labour when I had DS1 ....until I read my labour notes a few weeks later & saw 'bowel movement' (with the exact time no less ) scrawled just ahead of delivery. I really wouldn't worry about it.

I pooed several rabbit dropping type poos during the pushing phase! I was walking around and stopping to squat and push on each contraction. The lovely midwives just popped a pad underneath me each time as I christened just about every inch of floor space then gave me a discreet wipe! DH kept right by my side and told me to stop apologizing then afterwards told me how hard he had to try not to be sick as I also had a fan trained on me which was blowing the smell straight at him!

I managed to do a massive poo while in the first stages of labour. I was worried about pushing as it hurt, so I sat on the loo and drank a cup of tea. Came out no problems!
Then I did a tiny poo in the pool (only noticed, because I saw it sitting on the bottom of the pool!).

Midwives are very very good at clearing it all up and away before you notice.

I'm not worried about doing a normal poo but have read that a lot of women get the runs, now that would be embarrassing. Probably noisy too.

The MW will whip it all away and give you a quick wipe. They get a lot of practise and move like lightning.

Well I was going to say I didn't during my labours. Now I've read the above, I suspect I just didn't realise!

dd1 was breach, arrived bottom first and pooed all over the poor midwife before the rest of her had been delivered!

It's nothing to worry about. I think this happened quite a bit with my labour with dd3. It's sheer mechanics - pressure in that region will press out anything else around. I did a huge wee as well. Was quite a relief tbh.

There's no way that your partner will be expected to do any cleaning up at all. You will get the chance to have a bath or shower afterwards though as quite frankly, birth is messy, and the midwives will give you a wipe at the time in any case (chances are you won't notice).

DS2 came out in one hell of a rush, but my bowels emptied first! I remember this sensation of immense pressure and it all just came out. I grunted 'sorry' apologetically to the midwife (who was right there watching it emerge) and she said, very matter-of-factly 'it's the pressure, don't worry'.

DS2 came out shortly afterwards and I immediately scooped him up and put him on my chest. It was only some time afterwards that I realised he had been lying in a pooey puddle my sister and DH were both there and neither of them remembers this!

I don't feel at all embarrassed about it - it was just a thing that happened, albeit one that would be humiliating in any other situation!!

When I had ds1 I really worried about this, but I really didn't care.

You have fluids waters etc all gushing out, you can't especially tell to be honest and what the eye don't see the heart don't grieve over!

Don't worry about it!

flossy - i disagree with that.

i was so obsessed with the fact that i knew i had to poo when I gave birth (because i was resigned to the fact that i would), that i refused to let myself go and give birth until after i'd had the poo.

ie, every time I felt the pushing down into my bottom, I rushed upstairs to have a poo.
it was always the baby pushing down and not the poo, but i was convinced that there wasn't enough room for the baby to get out because the poo was in the way.

ps: i did have a poo in the morning, first thing, when my labour had begun.

I remember thinking that I had poo'd in front of my DH, my mum, my best friend (1st MW ) & a woman I'd never seen before (2nd MW)

My mum assured me my friend was so quick at cleaning me up she didn't see it.

Believe me it soon pales into nothingness once those contractions get cracking!!

weeblueberry The MW will give you a wipe as and when you poo in labour.

If you are unable to clean yourself afterwards (if you've had an epidural and can't get to the shower) then you'll be helped to have a bed bath.

With DS I was labouring in a pool. There was quite a lot of pooing. Poor DH was given the shitty sieve to empty into a bucket . I say 'poor' DH, but to be honest I still think he got the better end of the deal.

Sorry to lower the tone but I did fear a water birth and poo, would it not float to the top??! Eeeek!!

You might not! I had an almighty clearout at the start of my last labour. I didn't poo at all during delivery and I'd have been surprised if there was anything left to poo

I have to admit to a poo with DC1, with an epi and gas & air I thought it was really quite amusing and felt the need to apologise for the whif. DH, DM and MWs all completely ignored me and it hadn't been spoken of since, until I just mentioned it, with a tear in my eye, to DH who smiled wryly!

Honestly when it comes to pushing, you really wont care what you're pushing out. I don't know if I poo'ed. My OH said I didn't, but not sure if he's just being kind. I was very constipated before birth and did a huge poo the next day. Maybe it stayed put?