Enema or Laxatives?

Tsurrel · October 2010

I'm getting induced Friday around 10 am.. Should I do an enema Thursday night or Friday morning? Or just opt for laxatives? I really don't want to poop on myself and i think that cleaned out feeling will be refreshing for Friday mornings events.. Any suggestions? Previous experiences?

cndmexbaby · October 2010

I'd say an enema because laxatives can dehydrate you. I'm planning on it myself although I haven't purchased one yet. I dont want to poop on the table and yes I will care! I also won't be naked even though I'm told I won't care about that either.

~Flossie~ · October 2010

I've heard that you aren't suppose to use laxatives while pregnant (but stool softeners are ok), and I've also heard that they don't recommend enemas anymore either. I guess they used to be common but not so much anymore.

qme09 · October 2010

BAH! Enemas are icky, take some laxatives. There is absolutely no freaking way I would give myself an enema.

That sounds hellaciously tickly. Like think about how weird it will feel. Go with laxatives.

altarrose · October 2010

cndmexbaby:
I'd say an enema because laxatives can dehydrate you. I'm planning on it myself although I haven't purchased one yet. I dont want to poop on the table and yes I will care! I also won't be naked even though I'm told I won't care about that either.

This. Exactly

cndmexbaby · October 2010

I just read up on enemas and I change my vote to laxatives! Drink lots of water after!

duncanpowers · October 2010

Honestly, I wouldn't do either. I asked my midwife about that the other day and she said that people think they're going to prevent it by doing an enema or laxatives before and just end up loosening things up and pooing themselves anyway. I mean, do what you're comfortable with, but that's what she had to say about it.

MichelleL1118 · October 2010

IF I take anything, I'd take Miralax, one dose a day starting now. Miralax is approved (by my OB at least), and when I've taken it before for a couple of days in a row, it has done a REALLY good job of cleaning things out. That said, I probably won't take anything, because honestly I don't think I'll care what happens during delivery as long as LO & I are both healthy at the end of it.

themissizz · October 2010

I would never take laxatives the night before induction - they can take 8-12 hrs to kick in in most cases and will cause you to be shitting like crazy for like 4 hours or so. They're also going to dehydrate you most likely, and I'm not sure going into labor dehydrated is really the best idea.

Mrs.Johns · October 2010

qme09:

BAH! Enemas are icky, take some laxatives. There is absolutely no freaking way I would give myself an enema.

That sounds hellaciously tickly. Like think about how weird it will feel. Go with laxatives.

Meh, I've done it before and actually it wasn't that bad. Granted, I had been constipated for something like 10 days. I would have done anything to poo at that point. It's just embarassing when you have to go buy it!

DaniGirl0517 · October 2010

Mrs.Johns:
qme09:

BAH! Enemas are icky, take some laxatives. There is absolutely no freaking way I would give myself an enema.

That sounds hellaciously tickly. Like think about how weird it will feel. Go with laxatives.

Meh, I've done it before and actually it wasn't that bad. Granted, I had been constipated for something like 10 days. I would have done anything to poo at that point. It's just embarassing when you have to go buy it!

This, not that bad. I've read that laxatives can cause your baby to "go" too so there is an issue with Meconium, but I honestly don't remember the source and don't feel like looking it up so take it with a grain of salt. If I was in your shoes, I'd do an enema, it works fairly fast, and the effects are over fairly quickly, maybe some lingering effects a few hours later, but not the next day. I'm not sure how any specific laxative would work, whether it kicks in right away and how long it lasts.

DaniGirl0517 · October 2010

WTEWYE says, "Don't use any laxative (including herbal remedies or castor oil) unless your practitioner specifically recommends it." So if you do go that route ask your dr. first.

Also forgot to say that I have heard as well that it used to be common practice to do a "quick shave and enema" for women in labor but it didn't seem to help much and was more uncomfortable. Either method can potentially increase the intensity of contractions so keep that in mind too (even though you will be induced, I say it because I don't know how your body will react, just want you to have the info).