Did you poo during childbirth? Sorry TMI time ladies.....

[emmajbxxx]

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and am scared at the prospect of childbirth, but see it as one last challenge before I meet my baby! I've heard stories about pooing during labour? This terrifies me! How embarrassing it's making me worry about my partner being there!

[emmajbxxx]

What's an Enema?

[NigellasDealer]

yes a big fat smelly one

[fluffygal]

Yes I did. Don't remember with my first, 2nd one they held a piece of tissue on my bum and wiped very discreetly as it came out (gave birth on my side) and 3rd (also on side for birth) they were not so discreet, didn't wipe it and when I put my hand down to touch her head and see how far I was, I got it on my hand! Cheers!

[sonlypuppyfat]

I soaked my midwife to the skin and did a poo but who cares!

[MissCalamity]

Yes I did and didn't care a jot!

I was waiting for the pool to be filled & was lying on my side thankfully facing the room, so thankfully I don't think DP was aware! The midwife just reached behind me & tidied up.

There was a small stray one floating about whilst I was in the pool & strangely it helped me concentrate!

Honestly you really won't Care once the time comes!

[OneForEachHand]

With my second I did, and I did care! I was mortified. The midwife was trying to clean me and it was incredibly uncomfortable as I had piles at the time. I had a go at her.
Not to mention my DM and DP were there too.

However when I think back to it, it doesn't bother me. Most women poo during labour and midwives are used to it and if they have children, it's probably happened to them too.

I think saying that I sounded like Darth Vader while sucking on the G&A was more embarrassing.

[Showy]

I will be dressed as a clown in this particular scenario. John will be stark bollock naked. HTH.

[unlucky83]

Don't think I did for DD1 but definitely did for DD2 - remember shouting saying 'I think I'm going to poo' to midwives and they cleared it up ...
DD1 was a long time coming out ...DD2 very quickly - someone told me you aren't pushing right if you don't poo (unless of course you have just been at the start of labour!)
By that stage you really won't care - and neither will your DP ...and once little one arrives it will quickly be forgotten anyway...
You lose all dignity giving birth ...
I remember after DD1 needing to try a feeding bra on in mothercare ...they apologised that the lock was broken on the changing room door...I honestly didn't care - I had no shame left - I could have happily tried it on in the middle of the shop!

[NigellasDealer]

Obviously they do not do them in the UK
it was routine 50 years ago, my mum told me, along with compulsory shaving of the entire fanjo area.
just thought i would share that with y'all

[BEEwitched]

.... eww, itchy. But then, my mom went through labour, episiotomy and tear without any pain killers and then they stitched her up without numbing/anaesthetic and the doctor left three times during the process to attend to other things and left her with her legs up, clutching my dad's arm.

She was saying after finding birth ok as she'd expected it to be rough, having to deal with that afterwards when she thought the worst was over was the real challenge...

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Yup,Nigella, my mum said that the enema was the worst bit if child birth, and was genuinely amazed - and pleased - that doesn't happen routinely anymore.

Bearing down and delivering feels like delivering the most enormous poo ever, but I had a quick labour and didn't actually poo though the first poo after delivery is awful so maybe doing one during labour would helpfully delay that

[NigellasDealer]

ewwww your poor mum i just crossed my legs at that.....

[BlueSkySunnyDay]

Sorry showy just made me burst out laughing dressed as a clown LOL

as for "small stray one helped me concentrate"

My immediate reaction was "no I didnt" now im wondering if perhaps I just didnt know (although I suspect my H would have found it funny and told me)

I was induced though and very worried about it so was obsessively pooing in advance

[QueenThora]

I had hours of screaming agony followed by epidurals both times, and so throughout labour I had little awareness of what was going on and/or and couldn't feel anything. So I didn't think about the pooing issue until afterwards when I asked DP if I had - his awkward hesitation told me all I needed to know!

If you're really worried you can ask your partner to stay at the head end. There will be plenty of people down the other end, he doesn't need to be there!

[Xfirefly]

my biggest fear was pooing myself. I was in labour for 2 days, had very invasive examinations and I thought at the time I don't care if I poop now . I ended up with an EMCS and as they were preparing everything I was getting a bit upset so DP tries to cheer me up by saying 'well at least you didn't poop yourself'

[BEEwitched]

NigellasDealer All the babies in my family have big heads, I generally cross my legs when my female relatives start talking about childbirth. Whoops, too late now!

Enemas aren't that bad, given that I used to think I could never have a child because the thought of pooing myself made me feel horrid I might actually prefer that.

[MissMedusa]

I can't be sure as have never done it myself but I assume pooing is by fat not the worst/grossest bit about labour.

[nobutreally]

I gleefully told dh that 'at least I didn't poo all over everything' after ds's birth. He agreed, & told me again how proud he had been of me.

Unfortunately, his face clearly told me I had shat all over everything, but been blissfully unaware of the fact.

[TheCrumpetQueen]

I was too worried about tearing into two and dying of pain to care about pooing tbh.

The midwives have seen it all before and are very discreet

[Mim78]

You won't care, as everyone has said. Midwives do not mention it. There's mess everywhere. Really is not an issue!

[MerylStrop]

I poo-ed loads, but not as much as I swore.

The midwife deal with it virtually before the poo left my body in a very clinical matter of fact (German) way. Also she did say "its great that's happening, it means the baby will be here very soon" quite cheerily for a person wiping my bum. I did still care a bit. And find it a bit funny. Not as funny as DH did. But only between urges to push.

At the time, in the scheme of things, it won't be a problem.

Good luck

[chickabilla]

I have no idea whether I did or not with any of my 3 (thankfully)!

[MerylStrop]

Lol at showy.

Btw someone said "you lose all dignity when you are giving birth". I TOTALLY DISAGREE with that. Even if/when you poo.

[busyprocrastinating]

I did one nearly every contraction with dd. When I arrived at the hospital I wouldn't let them examine me because my trousers and pants were full of poo.

The mws were so not bothered. Dh still laughs about it now I wast bothered at the time but the day after that exit was really sore!