2nd+ Time Mom's...Labor Question For You

MissMheMhe

DH and I have been reading about what to expect during all stages of labor. I have a question....did you poop while delivering?? For some reason, I am less afraid of the pain I expect to experience and the fact that several people will have their heads in the business area during labor than I am of actually having a BM while pushing. Is this something that is just going to happen, but is not really talked about much? If so, I'm guessing the nurses will be prepared, right?? Not horrified?? Share your stories, please!

shaunahf

I did not poop during either delivery.

Knottie1452445632

No I did not poop during any of my 3 previous deliveries - although I did have the midwife hold a pad against my but hole during one of the labours to prevent my pooping (lol) but that was probably as he was back to back and so was putting more pressure on that area!

kmo8986

I pooped. No one said anything about it, I smelled it lol and asked my husband about it, the nurses just cleaned it up and went about coaching me to push. Really don't worry about it!

Monilee1017

I had a c-section so I did not poop. However, I watched my SIL deliver twice and she did both times. The nurse that was down there would just wipe it as it was coming out. Remember these doctors and nurses deal with this stuff all day. So I doubt they really care.

Mommyduclos

I pooped with my first- I knew I would because I needed to poo in early labor and couldn't lol. It was no big deal- the nurse swept it away so quick that my husband didn't even know- and he was watching lol. I'm not sure if I did with my second- she came much faster and since I didn't have the epidural with my second I did a much more effective job of pushing. They are so good about it that I would bet a lot of women poo and don't even know it.

saraawlbr

My friend and I - were both pregnant- this has so far been our biggest and funniest discussion. Both of us are FTMs and just can't deal with the thought of pooping while in labour. She can't deal with the embarrassment and I can't deal with the hilarity. I will laugh for sure if this happens to me and knowing me...it's bound to happen. Not much you can do about it. As long as baby is happy and healthy who cares about some poop?

laurenmichaels

I had to have an emergency C-section but trust me, doctors and nurses have seen it all. They see women poo during labor everyday. No big!

alandaim

I did. I went into labor right after eating Mexican for dinner :-S For this one I will not be eating Mexican for the last couple weeks. It was very obvious as I pushed for 2 hours. At one point the nurse left and my DH and sister were holding my legs and DH was counting. He said "just relax" and then I could tell I was pooping and he said " maybe don't relax that much" Hahaha! We all laughed because honestly there is not much you can do. The nurses get rid of it and it really isn't that big of a deal. I wouldn't stress, honestly all modesty goes out the window when you are in labor.

MissMheMhe

Thank you everyone! I know this is something that I'll have no control over. I appreciate your stories!

daninikicoli

I did! No one said anything and the nurse cleaned it up right away... I only know because I asked the nurse afterwards. I worried about it while I was pregnant, but couldn't have cared less while in labor or after.

danasphillips

If I did it was only a little bit. After he was out the nurse said "did you have a bowel movement earlier because you didn't really go while you were pushing," like she was surprised. They wipe the whole time as stuff is coming out so it's not like there's ever a big turd laying there. And before I got my epidural I was in so much pain that I could have probably had explosive diarrhea all over everyone in the room and not cared.

satindawl83

I'm dying laughing about the Mexican food and the "big turd"/diarrhea comments!

I keep picturing SNL skits (for moms, of course). )

cameronreed

I hope y'all don't mind, but I just let my SO read these stories. He's freaking out and I can't stop laughing at his reaction. He has no sisters, so he's one of those guys that thinks girls are magical unicorns that don't fart or poop. )

MeghaJake

I'm pretty sure I pooped because I smelled something. My husband said I didn't but I think he just didn't notice. He was somewhat scarred from watching my daughter be born. I'm guessing seeing me poop would not have been the most traumatic thing for him.

excited2bmom

Oh, man, I'm also dying laughing reading these comments. I agree that even if I cared about it now (which I don't), I know too much will be going on in the moment for me to care then.

blue**eyes

I don't know if I did or not. You won't care and neither will nurses or doctors.

ariasbabyblog

I did, multiple times in fact, and the nurses just dealt with it and said nothing. I don't think my DH noticed, mainly because he was at my head reminding me to breath.

BabyRut2015

Most people I've heard talk about it say the nurses won't even let you know.

Is it bad that I'm hoping for pre labor symptomatic diarrhea?? Haha to clean me out before hand....

mnspringbride

Yup, totally pooped! It's VERY normal. In fact, they tell you to "push like you're pooping"! Don't stress about it. The nurses never told me I did it, but my husband's face said it all! (So those of you who said you didn't, you might have!!) Luckily, we had talked about it beforehand, so he was expecting it. It's not that embarrassing, trust me, you won't care  

mg137

I didn't but I kept asking throughout pushing. "Did I poop?!" "Now! I pooped! I did!" And DH kept insisting that I didn't. I did use the restroom late in labor so maybe that was why. A friend who had a water birth said her DH was instructed to come armed with one of those fish tank nets with a handle to fish out any poop.

Achae

The muscles you use to push are linked so most likely you will poop. It's no big deal. I had no idea I did and asked my husband. He wouldn't tell me until a year later that I did a little.

DaphneMoon1

My DH and I had a talk before labor. I didn't want to know if I pooped. There is nothing you can do to control it, so why tell me? I was afraid I would be super embarrassed, but during labor your really don't care. You just want the baby out.

Now that I'm pregnant with #2, my mom and I were discussing labor and she said, "yeah, you pooped. It was disgusting."

Oh well! I had no idea.

jeanbug12

I did with both my labors, no one said anything. The nurses are so used to it, they wiped it away so fast my husband didn't even know it happened.

I work in a hospital (not in L&D) and deal with poop every day, it is seriously no big deal to any hospital staff! I have cleaned diarrhea off patients from their waist to their toes and didn't think twice about it. Those nurses see women poop during labor everyday, several times a day, it will not be an issue if it happens to you!

ashs88

I did not. It was one thing I worried about before labor, though. I didn't really care about the doctors or nurses seeing it but I really didn't want DH to see me poop! Looking back, if it had happened I probably wouldn't have cared because all of my modesty just went out the window once labor really started, but I still hope it doesn't happen this time around!

PedsIsHardcore

I did not with my first daughter. We will see what happens with this little lady. I am high risk and last time I had low amniotic fluid but a c-section is a possibility.

SBH041815

I don't remember with DD but I know I did with DS.  I was not happy about the prospect of that happening, but during actual labor I was just so distracted by contractions and pushing that it was such a minor thing. Like all the other ladies said, the nurses are quick and efficient at dealing with that sort of thing and it's cleaned up immediately and everyone goes on business as usual. It will probably happen again and my DH is such a sweet man; he just says for me not to worry about it because what I am doing is an absolutely awesome thing...bringing our baby girl into this world. 

chineymachine

I did but it's so very normal and that was seriously the last thing I worried about while in labor. You are in so much pain and even after an epidural you are just so exhausted and focused on pushing that baby out that pooping should not be a cause for concern. Just worry about doing whatever it takes to push out your sweet little baby!

juju0592

With my first, I did poop. It wasn't a big deal though. The nurses cleaned it up within seconds and didn't make a big deal. They did say push like you have to poop lol. My second pregnancy I didn't.

UptownPearl

I think it's funny how it's so normal for pregnant women to get constipated for days but then it's also common to poop during labor, even if it's a relatively short labor. Like shouldn't the perk to pregnancy constipation be that you don't poop yourself in front of other people??

I'm curious how the whole needing to go (both types) during labor works though. Obviously for those that get an epidural you're stuck until after the baby is out, but what about up to that point or for med-free births? Do you just go to the bathroom like you normally would? Do you need assistance?

kmo8986

Before I got my epidural it was so freaking annoying to go to the bathroom and I had an IV so I had to go so offen! My husband had to unhook the fetal monitor then help me out of bed and carry my cords and wheel my IV to the bathroom and then help me back and plug me back in. I was induced (because my water broke) so I had to be on the fetal monitor constantly. Once I got the epidural I also got a catheter and it was so much better not having to get up!

trea0025

I am a doctor, and although my specialty is not in OB I did my fair share of deliveries during my training. All I can say is that it's extremely common to poop during labor and not at all a big deal. As others have mentioned, the nurses are so used to it that they clean it up before anyone even notices, and they won't mention it unless you ask. Might be a good idea to warn anyone who's going to be in the room with you that it's a real possibility and totally normal, but otherwise I wouldn't waste any time worrying about it. If that's the worst thing that happens during labor, consider yourself lucky!

Jessdub10

When we lived in Germany (dh was stationed there) all of my friends who had babies at the german hospital said that they were given enemas prior to active labor... :-? I've never heard of that being done stateside, though I've considered it.

jeanbug12

UptownPearl said:

I think it's funny how it's so normal for pregnant women to get constipated for days but then it's also common to poop during labor, even if it's a relatively short labor. Like shouldn't the perk to pregnancy constipation be that you don't poop yourself in front of other people??

I'm curious how the whole needing to go (both types) during labor works though. Obviously for those that get an epidural you're stuck until after the baby is out, but what about up to that point or for med-free births? Do you just go to the bathroom like you normally would? Do you need assistance?

When I was in labor, I felt like I had to pee constantly and kept getting unhooked, wheeling my IV pole into the bathroom and not being able to pee. I was able to walk there on my own but had to call my RN to unhook my monitors every time. It was really annoying and I felt like I was going to pee myself with every contraction. I ended up asking my RN to in & out cath me so I could get relief from that!

englishtearose

I'm an L&D RN, and it really is a crap shoot (pun kinda intended) on if you will have a BM during pushing. Some people do, and some don't. It's just part of it. No big deal. We just clean it and move on.  Hope this helps! Most of the time people don't even notice!

nickilynn0516

I went before I started pushing. I asked the nurse if i could and she said yes. so I did not poop during pushing. I was so happy. I think that was the first thing  i asked my husband after all the choas died down.

mandamoo165

I did with my first. I was mortified. Even though I had an epidural I knew it was happening and my nurse was kinda annoying about it.

apinkpelican

I did. I had an epi so the only way I knew is that I smelled it a little and the nurse said she was going to wipe my bottom. I'm not sure if DH noticed. He's never told; I've never asked. I labored at home for awhile too and tried to go at home to avoid this. However an unfortunate craving for cheese the day before made it difficult for me... :-S

CBWifey

I was fortunate that my body cleaned itself out prior to active labor. I don't know if I did during pushing it not, nobody said anything. I was also on all fours during delivery so I wouldn't have known. At one point someone asked if there was meconium, but I heard nothing else, so if that was my poop oh well, they were hushed immediately and nothing was said of it.

Knottie1452445632

Ok I didn't poop as I said earlier but my goodness I was gassy & at one point they had to open the window with all my farting! BUT by far the funniest thing was me peeing all over the floor during a contraction with my 3rd baby as I just couldn't help myself (too much coffee during labour).

Krisdee123

Is there anything wrong with giving yourself an enema before so you don't poop during labour? It can't harm the baby or the process, can it?