Enema or castor oil to avoid pooping?

Colgate1 · April 2013

Okay, uncomfortable post, I know, Sorry! I have been reading up on different ways of helping to prevent pooping during delivery. It seems the two big successful suggestions have been castor oil or an enema right before or in very early labor. Has anyone read anything about this or done this with prior pregnancies? This is my first and I am terrified about pooping on the table!

FirstBaby87 · April 2013

Omg.. me too! I know I probably wont care in the situation & that it happens so often, BUT I still would rather not lol.

That.Just.Happened · April 2013

A) I totally would NOT worry about it. Seriously. There is way too much other gross stuff going on, it makes no difference.

Definitely do NOT do the castor oil. You will feel sooooooo terrible, on top of already feeling like a$$ since you are in labor. Trust me.

Colgate1 · April 2013

Why no on the castor oil? I've heard good things about using it like in the few days before your due date. Supposedly it cleans you out enough that by the time you're pushing there's nothing to poop haha. What is making you say it makes you feel terrible? What about an emema? They did that like 30-40 years ago for women in labor, and I've heard doing it in the days leading up to the due date can be really helpful. I know everyone says it's not a big deal but honestly, with my husband and my mother in the room with me, I would rather not have it happen haha. I'm already self conscious enough about looking and feeling gross and unattractive. God knows if I poop during delivery my husband will never want to have sex with me again haha.

lkobriant · April 2013

I'm not worried about it much, it happens so frequently. We were actually told that the people who are most concerned about it turn out to not push as well and a lot wind up with c sections

LnR70707 · April 2013

Since you have no way of really knowing how long your labor will be, I wouldn't go that route. An enema is immediate, but won't do much of anything for what is higher up in your intestines (which could have more than a day to work itself out in time for pooping on the table) or you could have a really fast labor, in which you'd still have diarrhea from the castor oil at the time of delivery.

MommyAmes2 · April 2013

You might as well get over it. It happens, often. You won't even know if you did... You will be busy with other things and won't notice.

Seriously, talk to your OB, they will tell you NO to both the enema and the caster oil to prevent pooping during labor.

crogers19 · April 2013

Colgate1:
God knows if I poop during delivery my husband will never want to have sex with me again haha.

This is such a naive thing to say. If anything your placenta is more gross than a quick poop during labor. Castor oil can cause agonizing stomach pain and diarrhea. Most doctors and midwives say it is not worth it and dangerous if you take too much. An enema seems like an unnecessary and uncomfortable "pain in the ". You will have so much going on in your head why add that extra stress and discomfort. Most women don't even know if the poo while they are pushing or not. While you are in the moment about to meet your baby... its the furthest thing from your mind.

AprilRaine · April 2013

I pooped on the table. I'm pretty sure it's what made enough room for DS to finally come out. :-) It happens, no big deal. I'd rather poop a quick turd for the Dr to sweep away than have castor oil runs spritzing out every time you push.

When the time comes, you likely won't give a sh*t what happens anyway.

plunderb · April 2013

Honestly, if anyone in your life is going to hold what happens during delivery against you in any way, that person does not belong in the delivery room.

KMck27 · April 2013

AprilRaine:
I pooped on the table. I'm pretty sure it's what made enough room for DS to finally come out. : It happens, no big deal. I'd rather poop a quick turd for the Dr to sweep away than have castor oil runs spritzing out every time you push.When the time comes, you likely won't give a sht what happens anyway.nbsp;

Hahaha I am dying. I love the way you phrased this. Hahaha

himymlover · April 2013

Haha as I'm reading this thread I'm watching Grey's Anatomy. All of the sudden they start talking about pooping on the table during this episode.

Also, I'm a ftm and I am not really concerned about pooping on the table at all. It's normal, natural, and if your husband doesn't want sex because of that, then he's kind of an a$$. I would just concentrate on pushing correctly and not worry too much about it. Most likely, even if you do poop you won't know about it. A lot don't know that they did unless they ask their doctor or their husband/so.

SarahinMD · April 2013

I hadn't thought much about it before delivery of DD. later I asked DH and he said I had (I didn't know, the pushing all feels the same) but that he'd hardly noticed as the MW cleaned it up (along with a lot of other stuff that she was busy cleaning up throughout) and he hardly noticed. It really was probably the least graphic part of the whole thing, and none of it impacted my relationship with DH in a negative way. The experience as whole, in fact, was a great thing for us. I agree with PP that I wouldn't have anyone in the room I wasn't comfortable being there for, well, all of it. Fr that reason, my DH is the only one other than MW and nurses that will be there.

BlueJewelM · April 2013

LR70707:
Since you have no way of really knowing how long your labor will be, I wouldn't go that route.nbsp; An enema is immediate, but won't do much of anything for what is higher up in your intestines which could have more than a day to work itself out in time for pooping on the table or you could have a really fast labor, in which you'd still have diarrhea from the castor oil at the time of delivery.

OMG. Thank you. ALL THIS. If your husband won't think you are sexy after some moderately formed poops that they will whisk away in no time, I'd imagine this will be your last child after you loose stool ALL OVER THE BED.

That won't be a "whisk away" affair.

I would never do it personally. DH says I didn't poo last time. He's either telling the truth or lying. Either way, he's a very smart man.

WildRumpus · April 2013

Honestly, I'm not worried about it. Poop happens, ya know? It's not like someone's going to be sitting there pointing and laughing. Someone will clean it up, and likely not even say a word. You run the risk of dehydrating yourself if you take castor oil, either by puking, or pooping your brains out. I would much rather poop than have to deal with dehydration on top of pushing something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of a grapefruit, but that's just me.

Fitzkitten · April 2013

AprilRaine:
I pooped on the table. I'm pretty sure it's what made enough room for DS to finally come out. :-) It happens, no big deal. I'd rather poop a quick turd for the Dr to sweep away than have castor oil runs spritzing out every time you push.
When the time comes, you likely won't give a sh*t what happens anyway.

hahaha hysterical! Thanks for sharing I totally lol'd and it makes me feel ok about pooping too!

amarissa85 · April 2013

I didn't worry about that with either and I didn't poop on the table with either. I am not going to worry about it this time.

That.Just.Happened · April 2013

Colgate1:
Why no on the castor oil? I've heard good things about using it like in the few days before your due date. Supposedly it cleans you out enough that by the time you're pushing there's nothing to poop haha. What is making you say it makes you feel terrible? What about an emema? They did that like 30-40 years ago for women in labor, and I've heard doing it in the days leading up to the due date can be really helpful. I know everyone says it's not a big deal but honestly, with my husband and my mother in the room with me, I would rather not have it happen haha. I'm already self conscious enough about looking and feeling gross and unattractive. God knows if I poop during delivery my husband will never want to have sex with me again haha.

A friend of mine used castor oil to try to induce labor. She said it was awful, terrible cramping and diarrhea. No thanks.

caramia582 · April 2013

I just wanted to add that I had really bad diarrhea during early labor, before I left for the hospital. By the time I had to push nothing was left. This is also a possibility and I think it happens often.

PrimRoseMama · April 2013

You won't care and you can't prevent it lol.

PrimRoseMama · April 2013

Colgate1:
Why no on the castor oil? I've heard good things about using it like in the few days before your due date. Supposedly it cleans you out enough that by the time you're pushing there's nothing to poop haha. What is making you say it makes you feel terrible? What about an emema? They did that like 30-40 years ago for women in labor, and I've heard doing it in the days leading up to the due date can be really helpful. I know everyone says it's not a big deal but honestly, with my husband and my mother in the room with me, I would rather not have it happen haha. I'm already self conscious enough about looking and feeling gross and unattractive. God knows if I poop during delivery my husband will never want to have sex with me again haha.

Get the eff over it. Seriously? I pooped the table. You use the same muscles to push. My husband still had sex with me (obviously). Really, you are worrying about something beyond your control and that no one ends up caring about.

Marvel1013 · April 2013

I pooped. I asked the nurse about it before hand. She said there's nothing to be embarrassed about, it's not a first for them. Pretty sure no one WANTS to poop, but It's the last thing your worried about when your pushin your child out your who ha. Just make sure you don't have corn on the cob the night before lol

kmichln · April 2013

I was worried a little with DS, but seriously.....once you are in labor pooping will be the last thing on your mind. There will be so much going on you won't have time to think about it.

TurtleMomma · April 2013

AprilRaine:
I pooped on the table. I'm pretty sure it's what made enough room for DS to finally come out. :-) It happens, no big deal. I'd rather poop a quick turd for the Dr to sweep away than have castor oil runs spritzing out every time you push.
When the time comes, you likely won't give a sh*t what happens anyway.

I am literally crying with laughter over that!

RoosterMemphis · April 2013

You can always practice before hand and have him watch you poop so he knows the process. But I'm sure he already knows the gist of it.

CitrusSwallowtail · April 2013

To each their own, but trust me when I say you won't give a "crap" about pooping when you are pushing that baby out. Seems a bit ridiculous you'd take castor oil just so you don't poop. You are pushing a baby out of your vagina...if you can do that, you can do anything!

m1ssl1ss · April 2013

ummm yeah I'd be way less terrified of a normal poop than a castor oil poop LOL

BlueJewelM · April 2013

RoosterMemphis:
You can always practice before hand and have him watch you poop so he knows the process. But I'm sure he already knows the gist of it. ;

LMAO

stephmarie · April 2013

caramia582:
I just wanted to add that I had really bad diarrhea during early labor, before I left for the hospital. By the time I had to push nothing was left. This is also a possibility and I think it happens often.

Yep, me too. The 4th time I ran to the bathroom with diarrhea I actually had nothing left and was inadvertently trying to push out my kid. Bodily fluids and what not are part of the process so I really wouldn't worry about it.

Mrs.Handy · April 2013

I was on and off the toilet in early labor pooping a bunch.

You think that with all that I would have not pooped on the delivery table. Well I did, a very tiny bit. NBD at all.

If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. There is not much that can be done to prevent it.

V&G101808 · April 2013

Colgate1:
Why no on the castor oil? I've heard good things about using it like in the few days before your due date. Supposedly it cleans you out enough that by the time you're pushing there's nothing to poop haha. What is making you say it makes you feel terrible? What about an emema? They did that like 30-40 years ago for women in labor, and I've heard doing it in the days leading up to the due date can be really helpful. I know everyone says it's not a big deal but honestly, with my husband and my mother in the room with me, I would rather not have it happen haha. I'm already self conscious enough about looking and feeling gross and unattractive. God knows if I poop during delivery my husband will never want to have sex with me again haha.

This exactly.

Colgate1 · April 2013

Thanks to everyone who gave comforting words or anecdotes about it, I do feel a little better about it I guess, although I wish there was a sure way to prevent it. Truthfully I told my husband (and my mom) they both have to stay up near my head through the whole thing anyway (I don't want anyone without a medical degree looking down there haha), so hopefully they won't know if I do either.

Honestly though, the nasty negative commentary from some of you really wasn't necessary! Especially when you're talking to a first timer who is totally ignorant about everything, self conscious to begin with, and very private about anything/everything bodily-function related. Saying "get over it" or "you're naive" or "your husband is an a$$" (especially when that part was just my assumption, not something he said) was totally unnecessary.

cbm3228 · April 2013

First, Relax.

Second, don't worry about such a silly thing like pooping during labor. That will be the VERY LAST thing you will be thinking about- I promise. I am looking forward to your follow-up post after delivery about how it wasn't a big deal at all. Your doctors and nurses will take care of you.

tokenhoser · April 2013

Giving myself explosive diarrhea to try to avoid pooping on the table was NOT on my to-do list.

Marvel1013 · April 2013

If you poop you might get a tad bit embarrassed but most likely youll be to caught up in getting that baby out of there. Once you deliver your little one you will realize that it didn't matter, nor will it have mattered to your DH. He won't think any different of you. My husband didn't look at that point but I know I pooped and he knows I did to. When your pushing like that you have to be prepared to poop at least a little bit.

Sascha3 · April 2013

I was given an enema during labor with my daughter 25 years ago. It was fine...I don't see that as a big deal. But castor oil?? No. Then instead of pooping you may be shooting diarrhea all over.

EmR22 · April 2013

Try to relax (which I know is impossible for a pregnant women). My advice is to go with the flow. I am very modest, shy and private. But after numerous people checking my progress, nurses, doctors, interns, Extra neo-natal doctors, their staff, etc. I lost my modesty along the way and could care less who saw what. This also applied later for breast feeding. I needed help, hence a whole new group of people got to see my boobs. Add in the staff that took care of me post delivery and the things they saw and it would be easy to be embarrassed. I hope all goes well for you and you don't poop but if you do I promise no one will make a big deal and you probably won't even realize. (My hubby pointed it out afterwards -- thanks hubby! He never told another person though! And I warned him if he watched down there he could never un-see it. He did and I think he was honestly a little freaked but trust me, six weeks later there were no bad thoughts left and he couldn't wait for me to be cleared for "activities")

Enema or castor oil to avoid pooping?

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