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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

How do nhs staff deal with this

115 replies

StressedButBlessedx · 25/08/2021 10:12

Hi, just a curious question to ladies in the uk. I'm pregnant with my second child and I was wondering how the midwives deal with pooping during labour? My labour with DD was so traumatic that I have no idea if I did or didn't. But during a normal labour, do they make a fuss or even mention it if you poo whilst pushing?

This is actually the thing I'm most stressed about lol.

OP posts:
Emmelina · 25/08/2021 20:58

I did in 2/3 of my labours. It wasn’t even mentioned, they just folded one of the many pads that were on the bed over it and moved it aside. They basically share a wall, it happens.

Kanaloa · 25/08/2021 20:58

Of course they won’t point it out/make a fuss of it. They’re professionals who’ve seen it all, it’s just another day in the office to them and they’re very quick and efficient in clearing away.

Also, nobody is ‘defecating on their newborns.’ It’s not a victory squat, it’s accidental.

banoffeee · 25/08/2021 21:00

I don’t know, I kind of wish an enema or suppository was at least offered if you’re still in early labour or having an induction as I felt really stressed about this and was running backwards and forwards to the loo in early labour trying to go as much as possible!

I wasn’t so much worried about the midwives but concerned about DH (as I found I was very exposed during pushing and DH very encouraged to be at the business end and watch everything so I don’t know how it can ‘whipped away’ with nobody realising!) and also concerned about potentially having to give birth in stirrups in front of a huge crowd of people which suddenly makes the situation very different to being with 1 or 2 nice midwives.

Mommabear20 · 25/08/2021 21:04

I did with both DC! Midwife didn't mention it, DH on the other hand took great pleasure in informing me afterwards 😂

BrizzleMaverick · 25/08/2021 21:04

I caught a glimpse of the student midwife scooping/pushing it to the drain while in the birthing pool.
I was embarrassed until the next contraction then forgot all about it/didn't care 🙈

OatyLatte · 25/08/2021 21:10

Yup I did. Midwife discreetly wiped my bum and whisked it away. I then started clenching my bum and they told me not to, its counterproductive. I was off my tits on pethidine and apologised to the midwife after the birth, said I was sorry she'd had to clean up my poo Grin

EarringsandLipstick · 25/08/2021 21:12

@iamtheoneandonlyyy

I can comment however I like, Thankyou
🙄🙄🙄 except ours pointless. Report if you've concerns.
EarringsandLipstick · 25/08/2021 21:13
  • it's not ours
Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 25/08/2021 21:13

I've had 3 and they have never mentioned it. DP did though. I couldn't care less. I'm more concerned about the person that I'm trying to squeeze out my body 🤣 don't give it another though OP. All completely natural and the midwifes don't care there's nothing you can do to stop it anyway.

HappyDaysToCome · 25/08/2021 21:16

I did with DC2. DH still thinks it’s reallllly funny 10 years later Hmm

NauseousNancy · 25/08/2021 21:19

I had an incredibly slow induction, nothing happened for 3 days. They put me on the drip, and I was fully dilated within 3 hours. I had awful diarrhoea when it came time to push.

The midwife cleaned me up each time, changed the pad underneath me and kept me nice and calm and reassured me it was absolutely normal and not to try hold anything in. She was an absolute angel.

You will be absolutely fine.

Justwingingit13 · 25/08/2021 21:21

I definitely did with my first. Not sure about the 2nd but I know I farted in the obstetricians face when she was stitching me up Blush. She was very nice about it. I was mortified.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 25/08/2021 21:22

@Babdoc

I’m a retired doctor, and when I did my obstetric attachment as a medical student, we were taught to apply pressure with a pad over the anus to prevent any faecal soiling during delivery of the baby. Women were often also given an enema in early labour to empty the bowel in advance. It sounds like neither practice is still performed, if so many women are apparently defecating on their newborns! Rather glad I had my own two babies over thirty years ago. Without any… accompaniments!
Yup they had some crazy idea back then didn't they. I'll bet that wasn't the stupidest thing you were taught either.
Peanutsandchilli · 25/08/2021 21:24

I've got a midwifery degree (although not working as a midwife) and this is obviously something that a lot of women worry about. Firstly, if you do open your bowels, it'll only be a tiny bit so don't imagine that you'll do a huge log on the bed; it doesn't happen! I've heard it described as a tube of toothpaste. Imagine the baby's head is pressing on the tube and sliding down. You can't stop whatever is in there from coming out, so don't try to fight it. Secondly, it's seen as a good indication that labour is progressing as it should be, and that the baby's head is descending nicely. Thirdly, the midwife won't say a word to you and will clean it up before you even know it's happened. Please don't worry!

Disneycharacter · 25/08/2021 21:25

There's a lot to be said for the old fashioned way of giving an enema before labour really sets in 😀. I've seen a mum do he most enormous poo ever as she was pushing. No one batted an eyelid.

Handsoffstrikesagain · 25/08/2021 21:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 25/08/2021 21:26

@Babdoc

I’m a retired doctor, and when I did my obstetric attachment as a medical student, we were taught to apply pressure with a pad over the anus to prevent any faecal soiling during delivery of the baby. Women were often also given an enema in early labour to empty the bowel in advance. It sounds like neither practice is still performed, if so many women are apparently defecating on their newborns! Rather glad I had my own two babies over thirty years ago. Without any… accompaniments!
Back when you used egg whites on pressure sores and mercury thermometers?
iamtheoneandonlyyy · 25/08/2021 21:26

@EarringsandLipstick I think of the two of us I'm the one that's offered advice to the op so not pointless. Shall we end this chat here? Thankyou

Passthecake30 · 25/08/2021 21:29

My mw had a trainee in with her for dc2. She gave her 2 bits of tissue and said “left hand for the front and right hand for the back”.
So they must be prepared. No idea if it was used (but I had the shits the day before so possibly not!)

PermanentTemporary · 25/08/2021 21:33

I spent the first 6 hours of labour moving seamlessly between rocking/walking and sitting on the loo, I don't think there was anything left by the time things got real.

Peanutsandchilli · 25/08/2021 21:33

@Handsoffstrikesagain

peanuts mine was a log 🤦🏽‍♀️😂 but in My defence id been quite ill!
You know that feeling when you're trying to reassure someone and someone else puts their foot in it? 😁
Crimblecrumble1990 · 25/08/2021 21:34

I definitely did with mine as I recall a smell (sorry TMI) in the room but when I asked my midwife she told me I hadn't. She was definitely being polite. I asked my husband and he was very vague and acted like he didn't understand the question. He obviously read the room that you don't mention the woman in labour pooping herself in front of everyone. I honestly didn't care, it's so odd how pain/the want to meet your baby makes everything else seem so insignificant.

Summerfun54321 · 25/08/2021 21:36

If your bowels want to empty to make some more space for baby to come out then let them! Midwives just want mum and baby to be safe, well and happy and if that means dealing with a little poo in the process then it’s really no big deal 🤷‍♀️

BrilliantBetty · 25/08/2021 21:41

I was convinced I was needing an enormous poo for a large proportion of my labour.

I was over the toilet, pushing away for a very long time. It wasn't till I thought 'right enough is enough' and tried to grab the poo out that I realised it was hairy and a head.

Poo had come out in the loo though what with hours of straining so had I been on a bed or in a pool there would have been poop.

Justgettingbye · 25/08/2021 21:43

I 'went to the toilet' and had a clear out during the early stages and apparently didn't according to DP (which I do believe as I think I would have said) so you may not. But like others have said it's messy anyway and you just don't care