Awkward / embarrassing question !

[Kitz]

hi there,

I've heard so many stories about people that are pushing during labour and end up doing a poo! So I'm wondering if there's any tried and tested way of avoiding this! Is it safe to take laxatives and ensure that you're "cleared out" every day for the last few days before due date?

Sorry if this is a silly question.....and I know the midwifes/docs have seen it all before but it would be nicer to avoid it if possible!

[*Efjay*]

You will find that as labour nears your body will naturally empty out. No need to take anything to make it happen believe me LOL.
You should be ok.

[Alan]

I agree. I don't think taking anything is really going to help. Many years ago they used to give you an enema and even that did not do much to help

[*Efjay*]

Its funny actually I remember my MIL kept asking if they had given me an enema yet when I was in labour with my first. I was thinking NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT!! But I just said I don't need one, trust me!

[~Raven~]

I emptied out in early labor with the first two but the third came along so quick it didn't happen.
A bit of poo came out when Caleb was crowning (I heard it hit the bed) but in all honesty I didn't care and I get a bit of a chuckle when I think that my very well paid OB wiped up my poo

[LuluHB]

I didn't have the "emptying" process and yep, gave my OB a lovely pressie. I had been offered an enema when I first went to hospital and had actually said I wanted one when the time came (I was having an induction so it wasn't the right time there and then) because I thought I would be mortified otherwise, but then labour took so long that it was never raised again. I had a very vague realisation at the time of what was happening but nobody said a thing and it really wasn't embarrassing at all - I figured by that time my OB and the midwife had seen absolutely everything I would normally keep to myself anyway so what the hell!

[Epacris]

Kitz, yes it happens and it happened to me big time. But like the others have said, it's all part of it and I honestly didn't find it embarrassing at all at the time. There are just so many other more important things going on. I do remember that my dear ob very gently and tactfully suggested that I might like to put my socks in with the bag of stuff that was going to be chucked out. They weren't my favourite socks so it sounded like a good idea to me

[stillhoping]

My midwife was really happy when I did a 'poo' on the bed as it was a sign that things were close. You are so over it by then you just don't care. It is normal so don't worry about it.

[myboysmumma]

To be honest I was worried about this too, but I don't even know if I did or not. If I did they were very discreet. I was in too much pain to tell LOL.

[mrsmac]

I was so paranoid about it during my second DDs birth that I actually held up the process LOL The Obs (a woman) whispered to me "are you scared you are going to poo?" and I said yes, she then reassured me that it was very normal and not to worry!! Everything went really quickly after that!!

[alioops]

I did the Tiniest bit of poo when Sarah was born, but it was so thin from being compressed by her head that i was not worried. as I was in the water, the MW just scooped it up with a sick bowl and flushed it down the toilet, no mess. it really is not that bad unless your MIL is there. That is why i refuse to have my MIL present for one of my births.

[Taurusa]

my friends have told me they did during their births. One didn't even know she did till she was recounting her birth story and proudly told us she didn't and her husband corrected her (she was horrified) and the other knew she had done it, and said it was cleaned up so quickly. So i am just taking it as inevitable and if it doesn't happen then i will be pleasantly surprised

[beepbop03]

The midwives see it all the time!! I did with my son and didnt even realise til after when i asked my partner, We just laughed about it, There is all sorts of gunk coming out anyway, least it makes a funny story