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!

[JugglingIntoANewYear]

Yes, I kind of agree there Meryl - more a case that neither I nor DP nor MW cared about it, apart from some mild amusement at DP wielding his little sieve - but again I'm sure they only gave it to him as something to do because they could see both he and I were reasonably cool about it all.

Some people obviously feel a little differently, and do care a bit, which I guess is fair enough too.

[sheeplikessleep]

I pooed, but I couldn't stop pooing!

In hindsight, I had chicken casserole the day before, which stank to high heaven ... Go for non smelling foods if you have a show and xpecting it to be imminent.

[AnythingNotEverything]

I just popped back to check this thread and remembered the thread from a month or so ago about the finger up the bum surprise. I promise you won't even care about that if/when it happens.

That's how weird labour is.

Congratulations by the way.

[BEEwitched]

They do what? At this rate I'll have to tape my bum cheeks together...

[emmajbxxx]

Finger up the bum?!!!! Oh god!
None of you seem to be too mortified about pooing, which I suppose is a good thing! Heard the internal examinations are very painful too?

[BEEwitched]

emma Try and think of the squishy baby we'll have at the end of it!

I'll just suppress all the bad things people tell me until I give birth, thanks, adrenaline and hormones will see me through in the end!

[misshoohaa]

I cleared everything out in early labour so didn't poo. It is common though, I know a few who have (and one of them then stepped in it!)
You won't care though, sounds ridiculous but labour is such a surreal and animalistic experience you'll be oblivious to any poo!

[robotnikchair]

I was in the pool and at one point I thought I'd pooed but it was actually my large haemorrhoids coming out. Nice. To be honest, I didn't think I would poo as I'd had diarrhoea for about the two weeks after my due date - my body was definitely clearing out ready for labour.

To reiterate what others have said, you won't care even if you do poo as your head is elsewhere in labour. And I didn't find the internal examinations painful. Good luck, you'll be fine, and the end result is so worth it :)

[Aquelven]

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.

A lot less than 50 years ago.
Mine are in their thirties & we had enemas & wet shaved by a nurse with an ordinary disposable razor. A lot more embarrassing & uncomfortable than a bit of quickly disposed of poo!

[kazza446]

I did with my dc1. Made the mistake of having a curry the night before to get things mortified. The nurses didn't flinch. It must be more normal than you imagine. Had sections with my following children so never had to repeat experience!

[Tomkat79]

I remember shouting I've poo'd I've poo'd...mw said no you haven't. I said 'I have I have' and then she said 'yes you have now'!! Think I was mortified for a nano second. It's so hard not too as you push almost through your bum. Try not to stress it. You really wont care as others have said.

[FruitSaladIsNotPudding]

Why don't they offer enemas any more? I'd have rather had one!

[ThursdayLast]

Twice.
The smell gave it away

[unlucky83]

meryl - that was me I think - it should be lose all sense of dignity maybe...
With DD1 (whole labour in hospital, most on the ward rather than labour suite -thankfully with curtains closed) ...on the bed on my hands and knees waiting for them to find gas & air - the midwife said just going to check on how are doing, pulled my pants down at the back to check my pad...I really didn't feel dignified - I remember I felt like a animal - a dog or something ...maybe it was/is just me...
(DD2 though actually much less intrusive ...dignified I guess - but did poo!)

[mixi82]

When I first found out I was expecting, I had been watching lots of One Born(obviously!) and some ladies pooed in that. I was straight to my mum and said to her if I poo then she's on clean up duty! She said she doesn't remember pooing but if she had, all the MW's are prepared for it so they won't care. The way I see it now is that I'll be too busy concentrating on getting baby out, so I guess pooling is the least of my problems!

[emmajbxxx]

Mixi82 I can't bring myself to watch any One Born. Used to watch it before pregnancy but don't know how I'll feel watching it now! I'm dreaming about labour, I'm that nervous!

[IHaveSeenMyHat]

Yep.

Clumps left in the birthing pool after it was drained. Grim. But there you go.

DH and I have never spoken of it

[Doinmummy]

I pooed and my stupid (ex) partner announced it loudly. The lovely midwife told him off. She whipped it away with no fuss.

[Feelingfatty]

Op I didn't poo in labour but tbh I had a very easy labour didn't push for very long which I think contributed to it! But as many others have said don't think I'd have cared if I did!!

[pumpkinsweetie]

Just having gone through my fifth birth, i wouldn't know whether i had or hadn't & tbh at the time i couldn't have given a shit
I trust the midwifes see this everyday & clean it away promptly as apparently most people do this ehilst pushing!

[Mikkii]

With DS I have no idea if I pooed or not. I suspect I may gave, but DH has never mentioned it, which I would have expected. He did tell me I was pushing my insides out with every contraction though

I had CS with number 2 then 3.

[superram]

First time I have no idea whether I did or not. Second time my contractions came with the most horrendous diarrhoea that I couldn't possibly have needed a poo-had emcs so never found out!

[MrsRV]

oh god I remember being SO petrified of pooing, making a scene, being sick, swearing etc etc.

I remember thinking "I'll care" when people said I wouldn't.

I can honestly honestly say I really didn't give a flying fuck and I did all of the above & didn't feel in the slightest embarrassed. I'm 22 wks preggers again & this time I feel loads more relaxed purely as I don't have the fear of the unknown.

your birthing partner will be so totally overwhelmed and feel so useless they won't care what you do. My hubby pandered to my every need and I know (he'd never say this) he loved me more during my labour than ever before. I had been sick all over me & his hands (he held the bowl), pooed, and was being a complete princessey horrible cow (literally... mooing n all :-)). I'm doing it all again less than 2 years later so it can't have been that bad!?! xx

[ThursdayLast]

My twice was with only an hour of pushing, at which point we gave up.
The second one was in the theatre - possibly between attempted forceps and EMCS???
I was also sick twice, and didn't wee for god knows how long.