Bowel Clear out pre-labour

[EdithGrantham]

Has anyone NOT had this? I'm due in the next week or so and have heard it's a common early sign but I've been having to take lactulose which (TMI warning) has been making my bowel movements both regular but also rather bulky. I have got over my worry about pooing in labour as it's so common but I'm worried I won't have that early clear out then any bowel movement in childbirth is going to be huge, don't want to put DH or midwives through having to see that lol

Thanks @Chanel05 it is good to hear it's not a universal thing!

Lol @tiredmama2020 that does sound like an experience!!

@Soubriquet and @ineedaholidaynow thanks, I know the midwives will be discreet however they have to remove it, judging by how large my movements have been though I hope the fishing net isn't too little why on earth do people say childbirth is a beautiful thing lol!?
I have made DH promise that he won't bring it up, at least for a few years if it does happen!

They used to give an enema when you started labour. Why don't they do that anymore?

@eddiemairswife

They used to give an enema when you started labour. Why don't they do that anymore?

Because it's undignified and doesn't offer any benefits.

Save your energy for birth.

I knew I had to do a big poo mid labour & I just couldn’t do it with an audience. The midwives tried to convince me it was just the baby but I knew it wasn’t.
I made everyone leave the room, did a giant poo then they all came back - felt much better afterwards.

I look back and think I must have been crazy insisting everyone left but I just couldn’t poo with them there 🤣🤣

@suziedoozy oh my goodness that will so be me lol, I've only just started being able to go for a wee at the same time as DH being in the bathroom (been together over 15years!), toileting is private time!!

I had a huge clear out in early labour, I probably spent 1-4cms glued to the toilet

Still felt the midwife wipe my bum at one point though so maybe it wasn’t as effective as intended

I was more worried about poking myself in the car than my waters going. I had horrific diarrhoea and sat on the loo when I got to hospital-gas and air has a really long lead!

Oh no @maneandfeathers and @superram I was hoping it would at least be a one and done thing if a clear out did happen!! Well we shall see in the next couple of weeks I suppose!

Definitely had a "clear out" in the very early stages of labour and then again on and off throughout labour. TMI but the pain and pressure of the contractions made me need to go, surprised no one else felt this way!

I have no idea about poop as midwives just kept changing the pads but I saw my own placenta as there were clots on it which were of great interest to the midwife - she pointed them out quite merrily. It was like a clear plastic bag full of mince or maybe haggis.

Newborns get lots of benefits from a vaginal birth because of the contact with mothers stools.

In all honesty it doesn't matter

I had to have an emergency C-section but haemorrhaged after so was in the intensive bit. I shit myself at least six times. I couldn't help it, it just came out its apparently often caused by the meds they use.

What I am saying is will you care at the time, probably, will the hc professionals care, no, will you care a few weeks after, no.

I did a small one during labour, which got whisked away at super speed and no one mentioned it. Like you I'd be suffering so much with constipation in pregnancy, and definitely didn't have a clear out pre labour. I did however have a clear after I had DD, happened that night

Clear out I meant

I had a 'clear out' in early stages of labour. I couldn't get off the toilet! I didn't eat as was in pain so wondered where it was all coming from. I also had a poo whilst pushing. They get rid of it so fast you don't even realise.

Forgot to add I was induced and this lady's husband kept using the ward toilet which told him not to for about 30 minutes at a time. I thought I was going to shit myself there and then.

Glad to hear that everyone has had such different experiences, makes me feel much better knowing that whatever happens it's likely the midwives have seen it all before (DH on the other hand!!)

Honestly I don't know if I pooed or not. Probably. It may even have been big as I tend to get a bit constipated and even more so during pregnancy. You might think it's going to be the biggest poo ever but the midwives will have seen a lot more.