Poo in childbirth

[Georgyporky]

"My midwife says most women poo during childbirth, "

Didn't want to derail the thread that contained this quote, but I was horrified.
I was given an enema. When I asked why, I was told it was for hygiene purposes & I would not want my baby covered in shit (or words to that effect).

Seems very sensible to me. Is it not usual practice in UK now ?

What year did you give birth?

Surely if you shit whilst you're in Labour, at any point at all, it doesn't go on the baby does it, given they're not out. Once the baby is out, theyre held by midwife and immediately taken away from area, so how on earth would anyone shit on their baby?

As PP said, why on earth would it go on the baby? And honestly why does it matter that you might poo in labour. Think “horrified” is a pretty ridiculous reaction to a normal bodily function 🙄

No way I’d want an enema, and never heard of that. Of course poo won’t get on baby as they won’t be out yet! Pooing is totally normal and shows things are moving along.

Poo is pressed out as the baby’s head descends down the birth canal. It’s making space for the baby’s head to come out. You are likely to poo during labour but not necessarily as you are pushing the baby out. If you do poo while pushing the baby out, the midwife is going to be waiting to hold the baby so it won’t get covered. It’s also not like the baby comes out by itself, it comes out with a bunch of other bodily fluids - blood, amniotic fluid. It all makes one big mess which the midwives will clear away without any fuss while you cuddle your baby.

It happens frequently, in the early stages of my labour I was on the loo / vomiting everything up in the first couple of hours. So there wasn’t much left when I got to hospital anyway. The midwives just discreetly wipe it away when it does happen. I have no idea whether it happened to me or not but I reckon probably yeah! Perhaps before baby I might have been more squeamish about it but now I don’t see it as a big deal at all.

Never had an enema , first baby born in 1990, last in 2016 I'm not sure it's ever been standard practice

The pooing happens well before the baby comes out IME. And once the baby comes out they're not just left lying there while you potentially shit on them. I'd have ben horrified to be made to have an enema.

Yep, son cleaned me out on the way down. I was embarrassed but the obstetrician (it was in the USA) was very blasé about it.

Horrified really? I’d be more horrified having an enema.

It's totally normal, happens more often than not, and midwives and nurses know how to swiftly and hygienically deal with it.

It happened to me with both labours. Midwife discreetly cleared it away. It can't be helped. I certainly wasn't offered an enema. It happens during labour and your baby is still inside so it can't be "covered in shit". I am pretty certain that doesn't happen. Baby is covered with all sorts of other shit though 🤷🏻‍♀️

It was standard in 1980 when I had mine. Tbh it was the worst part of the labour for me.

I did poo with my first labour but barely knew it happened. Midwife swiftly dealt with it. I was in so much pain I didn’t even care. Came out well before baby was born. I wasn’t offered an enema, afaik that isn’t offered in the uk anymore

didn’t Poo with my second.

With my first I had the need to go loo and felt I let it all out, and with my second it was around 3pm and I had not eaten so didn't feel the need to. However, in all that pain during labour that would be the last thing on my mind! I was so shy and nervous when I first got pregnant but now waiting for the baby no.3 & only hope all is well. I have also heard the midwife usually wipe along and you never notice it

According to DH, I pooed several times during labour. I have no recollection and didn't realise it was happening so have felt no embarrassment. I'm sure all.the midwives are used to it.

This reminds me . I was in labour at home . On my own with one of mine I was crawling round the living room . Making labour sounds. Like a wale . And I kept shitting I was picking it up with tissue and putting it in a bag . I was embarrassed 🤣

I didn’t with dc1 as I had a big poo in very early labour (on the toilet) which cleared it all out.

DC2 I knew I was going to because I needed to go but couldn’t get it out (sorry!) and I did poo in the water not long before I started pushing. The midwife got rid of it and DH and I have never discussed it!

My understanding was that it’s actually beneficial to the baby’s microbiome to pick up bacteria on the way out anyway - I had 2 water births and I’ve wondered whether that actually had negative impacts from that perspective.

Midwife here…no-one is pooing on their baby. I’d also rather deal with any poo as it happens than be giving everyone enemas, personally.

I didn't think they gave enemas anymore.
I had my first in 1982 and was given an enema and shaved down below. The enema was absolutely horrific, I was sat on the toilet for about 1.5 hours crying in horrendous pain, mixed with the labour pain.
Second baby came 1987 and no enema or shaving. I had 3 further births and no enemas (thank god)
Never had a full bowel evacuation in the labours but leaked a bit I think. The midwife just discreetly cleaned me up with a wipe.
They are pretty much used to it, I would think. It's when baby passes meconium in the womb that can be dangerous, not mum pooping in labour

2 births, no enema. 2021 and 2023.

1st birth no poop.

2nd birth, Sod’s Law had an upset tummy in the day or two leading up to labour. Poo everywhere. Partner and midwives say there wasn’t but I’m a nurse myself. I know I was pooping. 🙈🙈🙈😂😂😂. To add insult to injury baby was an undiagnosed breech! The first anyone knew of it was when his buttcheeks and balls emerged first. The position of legs above head pushed babies first poop out just was he was coming out. Luckily not in me! There was a lot of poop in my second birth! Everyone was so professional about it though! X

I hope the op isn't a poo troll.

Retired nurse here. I did midwifery training 1966-67.It was common practice then to give an enema to every woman in labour, as it was believed to ''clear the way''. I can remember a few but not many pooing on the labour bed in the pushing stage but they're completely unaware of it as we cleared it away.
My own two children were both born by EMCS I was given an enema in labour both times.As both sections were under GA I would be completely unaware if I pooed on the theatre table, it was by then the least of my worries.

My midwife cleaned my poo for me, and it happened way before the baby was born. Midwives are saints, there is a special place in heaven for these wonderful people.

not sure why you’d want an enema beforehand… surely that would give you cramps and not ideal for labour.

They havent done enemas in the UK for years Didn't poo with either of my births. Midway thru birth no2 (no pun intended hahaha!!!) I did go to the toilet to empty my bowels but there was no urgency about it.