Labor fear... do you really poop?

Kendall13 · February 2009

So I'm as mentally prepared for the pain of labor as one could be without actually having gone through the process, but I have to admit that I'm paranoid about one thing....

I heard that some women poop when they are pushing during labor. My SIL is a MD and she said that it's normal and that's how they know that you are pushing correctly.

AHHH! I Do NOT want to poop! My DH laughs at me and says that it's not a big deal... we're married... he loves me... blah blah. But I still don't want to poop in front of an audience. The idea terrifies me.

Anyone else have the same worries? Or am I alone on this one?

*KC*luvs*RJ* · February 2009

Not everyone poops, but it's definitely something to be prepared for. However, I don't think you'll even realize that you're pooping...if you do.

UrbanHippieMama · February 2009

I've always been afraid of this... haha. But, most women don't even know whether they pooped or not, so try not to worry about it. And I've read being really afraid of pooping can slow down your progress because you won't be pushing like you should. Just tell DH not to look!

alli&pat · February 2009

i've been told you won't even realized you've pooped unless someone tells you. the medical staff will no better than to tell you so you will only know if dh lets you know. although the thought of pooping on the table kinda grosses me out, i realize that it will most likely happen and will be just one of those things that leads to my little boy being in the world. it will be worth it

sara1104 · February 2009

while not everyone does, it is very common and honestly you probably won't even care at that point

Purrrfect433 · February 2009

I pushed for 2 hours before my emergency c-section and didn't poop once. But, some do. Honestly, you just want that baby out of you. You won't notice or care. All modesty goes out the window once you go through the transition stage of labor! After that point, you really just want.that.baby.OUUUUUT.

mrsbhk22 · February 2009

I was in labor 23 hrs so the poop was long gone by the time I was pushing. However, I will tell you, I wouldn't have given a damn if poop was coming out when it came to that point. All that mattered was getting the baby out. I just asked my DH the other day if I even had the gown on still (I did). Amazing question since I am a super modest person!

JARbaby · February 2009

Most of you will never know if you do unless you ask.

Please don't waste your time worrying about something the nurses see many times a day. Your poop nor your lady bits are not special to them.

Califragilistic · February 2009

yea like everyone else said, you dont realize you did it and they take it away faster than you can imagine. (from what im told)

*Caress* · February 2009

Not everyone poops but if you are one of the lucky ones you probably won't even notice you just pooped, and like PP said.... you won't even care by that point. I was induced since i went a week past my due date so I was told not to eat to heavy, I'm guessing for that reason? IDK

roseinbloom · February 2009

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. I didn't go with my first two deliveries. And if you do, you probably won't even notice because there is so much else going on at that point -- extreme pain (pushing really hurts!), the babies head crowning, labor almost being over, meeting your baby soon -- that pooping will not even be in your mind. The nurses, midwives, doctors see it all the time and certainly won't think any less of you. All will be forgotten when you finally meet your new little one!

Ekstasis · February 2009

I did with my second birth. The only reason why I knew was because the Dr asked the nurse to hurry and clean that up before the baby comes out. And I didn't give a crap what I had happened at that time. The pain was very unbearable. At that time they were performing an episiotomy with no local. My first two births were natural with no pain medication. My third was an emergency c-section.

So the answer yes some women do if there's still feces in the lower intestines and enough pushing it can happen and no trust me you will not care one bit!

AlwysAwsm · February 2009

I had the same worry. I talked to a few moms today and said that with everything else that is coming out of you, pooping isn't the worst thing in the world.

They did tell me that the grossest part was every so many hours the nurse would come in and push on your belly and you can hear and feel a gush of stuff come out of you.

And if they cut you or you tear when you pee you have to dab... then spray some kind of iodine stuff on you... and dap again. It's like a whole process.

JamRy · February 2009

I am flipped out about this too. I hope that when the time comes I really don't care if it happens.?

theduck808 · February 2009

Conversation in the car with another expecting couple:

My pregnant friend: "So one of the things that scares the crap outta me is...well, shitting the bed during labor."

Her DH: "AHAHAHAHAH."

My DH: "BWAHAHAHA."

Me: "Oh god, that's going to be embarrassing..."

Pregnant friend: "Yes. I hear some women *** so hard, they *** the wall."

For the rest of the day, this becomes a catchphrase...

"You ate the last cupcake?"...

"You didn't tell me about the shoe in my size on sale??"...

"You took DH's side?"...

...

"I HOPE YOU *** THE WALL!"?

Tinkermeg · February 2009

I haven't been through labor yet...but my mom told me that by the time you're pushing, the doctor could say they have to cut your head off to get the baby out and you'd think nothing of it.

Kandie35 · February 2009

I've had four children and I can honestly tell you that i have no idea if I had a bowel movement whilst pushing with any of them. If I did, no one was rude enough to tell me...so i like to think I didn't (though the likelihood of having four and not having it happen is pretty slim). It was not even something that i thought about during the labor/delivery, but now it's freaking me out. lol.

thatgirlang · February 2009

Of course you do NOT care while you are in labor. But afterwards I thought about it and was really worried. It took me MONTHS to work up the nerve to ask DH if I had or not. He says I didn't. But that enough other "gross stuff" came out so it wasn't like labor was pretty even without pooping. LOL

Fluffy · February 2009

My DS is 2 years old and I only found out that I pooped this week, because DH told me. The only reason I brought it up is that I find it odd that so many women are worried about it on here.

LoveEeyore · February 2009

I didn't. But I was so afraid of it that before they gave me the epidural I kicked the nurse and DH out of the room, and told them to give me 10 minutes to try in peace by myself. I was determined that the poop made it to where it properly belonged- haha. I'm glad I did.

No it's not a big deal, and you probably wouldn't notice or care, but I did care, so that worked for me. But my labor was only 6 hours and pushing less than 30 minutes- so I got lucky; I imagine a longer labor you just will, b/c once you get the epidural You don't get to move!

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