Question about 'mess' (TMI?)

[LaTristesse]

Sorry, this might lead to TMI, but at my yoga class last night the topic of 'mess' came up (in the context of it putting DPs off homebirths mainly...)
But I was wondering whether someone could shed some light on what kind of 'mess' I should expect. Obv, there'll be water (if my waters go), and maybe some poo if my pelvic floor lets me down, but what else comes out? Is there a lot of blood? And if so, when does this happen? As soon as contractions start or just as the baby comes out?
Sorry for sounding either dim or naive, but I really have no idea what to expect, and want to be prepared!
Thanks! x

It depends really. You can have blood with the waters, or meconium (baby's poo) in the waters. Also your waters could just dribble rather than gush. The amount of blood after will depend on whether you tear, but otherwise you will bleed a lot after, but you will be able to put pads on to deal with that.

I had a HB and it was fab. My waters trickled out and so I just kept changing pads. There wasn't much blood at all (until after the placenta had been delivered) and that was a case of big maternity pads changed regularly. So there wasn't much "mess" at all, but we took the precaution of putting a tarpaulin down covered with a futon mattress we were happy to see the back of.

It's one of those thing you worry about before you give birth, but once you are giving birth and then cuddling your baby, you couldn't care less. And anyway the MW's clean up .

I think it varies quite a lot LaTristesse. Are you having a homebirth?

My waters went at home but I gave birth in hospital. I was aware of a lot of gushing, mainly when pushing and I know that there was poo at one point but it was just an awareness really. I was too out of it to notice (G&A) and DH says he was too busy to notice any mess.

One of my friends said there was a lot of blood for her from the point of having her show following a sweep and throughout the birth.

Teh mucus plug can also be quite messy. And you might wee or the other (not a weakness of pelvic floor - simply squashed out by the baby's head!). And as you said the waters, some blood too. I didn't notice any mess AT ALL. That doesn't mean there wasn't any. They're equiped to deal with it, don't worry about it!

It depends on the birth. In hospital with DS1 I had a traumatic, intervenion-y birth and there was a LOT of blood and gore. It was not a pretty sight. There was poo too.

With DS2, who I had at home in a pool, there was no poo and virtually no blood. MW estimated less than 100ml. The pool water was virtually clean. My waters didn't break as DS2 was born in the caul, which obviously went into the pool water.

Getting out of the pool I dripped a tiny bit whilst getting into my dressing gown only onto an old towel (sorry if TMI).

So there you go - it depends. Like so much in childbirth

In my experience , there is quite a bit of blood after the placenta is delivered. There is a bit of lubricating gunk (not a technical term) with the baby.

The poo is less to do with your pelvic floor failing, more the fact that those pooing muscles are your pushing muscles. If there is something in your rectum, it will - almost certainly - come out. But a lot of people are cleaned out by that stage anyway. And you won't care!

The midwife will deal with all of this stuff - whether at home or in hospital. It is all par for the course.

The way I look at it is.....its very messy, more so than others but still messy with bodily fluids coming out. The good thing is, I didn't see the first thing b/c I was on my back giving birth and so it didn't phase me at all. Plus I remember what my midwife told me......the midwives who are helping you in the room are trained to keep your dignity and if you do poo or do something that could be embarrassing, you wouldn't know b/c its their job to clean it up quickly and get on with the rest .

I dont think there was any blood when I gave birth...I don't think. My waters were broken with DC2 so that will have been mess. I gave birth on my back, lying on pads, and they just kept taking them away and putting a new one underneath, I barely noticed. Afterwards they just bundle up all the sheets and put new ones on. I know it sounds awful but you really do barely notice.

I had a natural birth and didn't tear but there was still a lot of blood throughout my labour.
The midwives put sheets underneath me wherever I was though so you don't have to worry! They really are excellent at keeping everything clean and maintaining your dignity.

Thanks for all your replies. So it's mainly water, blood and poo - cool! Good to hear the midwives are on-side with keeping things clean. Can't quite imagine keeping dignity intact, or not noticing, but as a newbie to all this I'll take your collective word for it! Thanks again ladies... x

Feel strange launching into this, especially as thread's a few days old, but... I had contractions for several days and from the second day or so I weed with every one, couldn't help it. I went through almost all my maternity pads by the time I got to hospital (they gave me more for the blood after delivery, so no problem). Just wanted to say in case that happens to you as well as I found it really embarrassing, more so than anything else I think, and the midwife seemed quite puzzled by it which didn't help!

Good luck, hope it all goes well!