IBS & Labour = Disaster?

[kylieeee]

Hi everyone,

So I'm sure this is TMI but I can't stop worrying so I'm just gonna throw this out there.

I'm not even scared of going into labour for the pain, I know it'll all be worth it and I'll just push through it. My worry is my severe IBS which is almost a daily occurrence. I'm genuinely worried that I'll push and there will be a literal shit storm... to put it nicely lol.

Basically looking for any advice from someone who has been through labour being a fellow IBS sufferer and managed to not explode haha, or those who have had IBS attacks and soldiered on through. How is it managed?

Thank you x

I have mild IBS.
I had a fairly quick 7.5hr labour and spent the first 4/5hrs going from the pregnancy ball to the loo.
So by the pushing stage I only had baby left to push out, ha ha!
I don’t think it’s unusual for your body to ‘have a clear out’ in early labour. I was like you and worried before hand but it worked out fine. The loo is actually a comfy place to labour, lol!

@HAB86 thanks to my sensitive gut, the toilet is actually one of my most visited places, so glad to hear it's comfortable lol! Hoping IBS cramps can prepare me for labour pains the way they are sometimes!! It's such a silly thing to worry about but I've even debated taking some immodiums during labour just to avoid an embarrassing show! Xx

Midwives genuinely don’t care about poo. It’s just another bodily fluid, once you’ve got blood, amniotic fluid, bit of wee etc.

Most of the time it’s just cleared away with so much of a raised eyebrow and more important things are attended to.

Please don’t worry lovely. I promise, it will be ok.

As others have said, it's not an issue, and midwives will be more than used to it! But talk to them. Tell them (when they arrive to attend to you) what your worries are. They are there to help you and I'm sure will be more than sympathetic!

@BlueCookieMonster @BIWI thank you for the reassurance ladies, it's a bit of an embarrassing topic for me so it's nice to know that if I'm not scaring you off then the midwives won't bat an eye. Slightly worried about my other half too if I'm honest, don't get me wrong we've seen eachother at our best and worse and the odd poo with the door open, farts and burps are a regular in our house haha, but this feels a little bit different don't want my birthing experience to be ruined by my explosive tummy!! I also think it'd hold me back from pushing properly because I wouldn't want to give it my everything in case I let out more than the baby's head!!

Trust me, he will be more worried about you, and also about staying away from the 'business' end of things! Plus, midwives are very good at discreet wiping