Bowel movements and c-section??

tmfs · February 2012

Hi...I keep wondering and hope someone can answer.

What happens if I have to go #2 anytime between going to the OR and when my body is ready to let me go?

What did you eat/drink the day before your scheduled c-section to make sure your system was fine and you didn't have a nervous tummy from all the anticipation/nerves??

My doctor has said only that I should stop eating/drinking at 11pm the night before for an 8am c-section.

Thanks!

surprise3rd · February 2012

You are going to have the completel opposite problem, that has been my experience. The meds they give you and the spinal give you terrible constipation. I know women have a concern about this when delivering vaginally because the babies head compresses the colon thus pushing anything in it out, and I have been told during natural birth there is nothing you can do about it.

Two things, 1) I don't think you will have to go, and 2) grossly, if you do feel like you have to go it won't last long because once you are numb you won't be able to feel it anyway, nor will you be able to use your muscles to 'push' because you can't feel anything.

Others may have had different experiences, but I have had 2 c-sections and that was how it all worked for me.

stemms8810 · February 2012

Like PP said, if anything you will be constipated so I wouldn't worry about having to go. If you are really concered though eat a light dinner the night before and if you do have to go hopefully it's before your c-section.

lorahbora · February 2012

surprise3rd:
You are going to have the completel opposite problem, that has been my experience. The meds they give you and the spinal give you terrible constipation. I know women have a concern about this when delivering vaginally because the babies head compresses the colon thus pushing anything in it out, and I have been told during natural birth there is nothing you can do about it.

Two things, 1) I don't think you will have to go, and 2) grossly, if you do feel like you have to go it won't last long because once you are numb you won't be able to feel it anyway, nor will you be able to use your muscles to 'push' because you can't feel anything.

Others may have had different experiences, but I have had 2 c-sections and that was how it all worked for me.

This was my experience as well. I didn't have a bowel movement until maybe 4 days post surgery, and that was with the help of a lot of fiber tablets and Colace. Since they have the forethought to give you a catheter for your pee, I'm assuming they'd have a solution if they anticipated that you'd be needing to poo while still numb.

harmonicbabe26 · February 2012

One explanation I was given by a midwife in my prenatal class and by both my OB and the anesthesiologist who met me in prep for my c/s on Monday really made sense to me and so I am sharing.

They all stated that as soon as they open your abdomen all the normal divestive / excretion functions, as well as any uterine contractions, stop bc your body is in kind of a state of shock. After the surgery it takes a while for all the normal functions to recover and resume. So even though you don't go #2 for like 3-4 days, that does not necessarily mean all constipation. Your body has to recover from shock and get things going. Also, as you said yourself, you won't be allowed for most of the actual surgery day and then it is typically a slow process getting back to your normal eating patterns (at least that's what I was told) so again - don't expect that you will start pooping left and rigjht (sorry.... haha) as normal since there is not enough matter in your system to get rid of...

If you are worried about having a full bowel before, you can ask for an enema and that will clean you out... Once they start working on you, no worries about having to go from what I was told...

mben1119 · February 2012

I couldn't_shit for 2 weeks after my c-section. And when I did, it was very very painful. Can't help with the rest, my c-section was not scheduled.

ChiTown Bridget · February 2012

stemms8810:
Like PP said, if anything you will be constipated so I wouldn't worry about having to go. If you are really concered though eat a light dinner the night before and if you do have to go hopefully it's before your c-section.

This and I didn't have a planned c/s and I was still constipated after my c/s.

MI-bride · February 2012

Agree with PPs, but also, they will give you stool softeners at the hospital - you may even need to keep up with them once you get home.

JenJH923 · February 2012

Do not worry about having to go too urgently, the problem will be the opposite! I was so nervous that I was going to have to get on a bedpan and be embarrassed. Instead, I was praying I would be able to go by the time I was discharged 3 days later. I finally went before I went home, but I am still taking Colace every morning. Ask for prune juice (gross, but just chug it) and take a stool softener every time it is due- usually 2 times a day.

ae4245 · February 2012

lorahbora:
surprise3rd:

You are going to have the completel opposite problem, that has been my experience. The meds they give you and the spinal give you terrible constipation. I know women have a concern about this when delivering vaginally because the babies head compresses the colon thus pushing anything in it out, and I have been told during natural birth there is nothing you can do about it.

Two things, 1) I don't think you will have to go, and 2) grossly, if you do feel like you have to go it won't last long because once you are numb you won't be able to feel it anyway, nor will you be able to use your muscles to 'push' because you can't feel anything.

Others may have had different experiences, but I have had 2 c-sections and that was how it all worked for me.

This was my experience as well. I didn't have a bowel movement until maybe 4 days post surgery, and that was with the help of a lot of fiber tablets and Colace. Since they have the forethought to give you a catheter for your pee, I'm assuming they'd have a solution if they anticipated that you'd be needing to poo while still numb.

Same experience here too

JAP09-02 · February 2012

I don't know about going before/during c-section, but I will say that I had severe diarrhea about 2 days afterward. It was horrible! Sorry if TMI. Getting in and out of bed that many times and not being able to bend far enough to clean yourself up is extremely embarrassing. I'm sure my mom never thought she'd have to wipe my a$$ at that age. That being said, the nurse the night before had given me 2 dulcolax, actual laxative, not stool softener. I asked another nurse about it the next day, and she said that it was strange they gave me that. It's not something they usually do. Well, gee thanks! I ended up on Imodium, seriously who gets that after abdominal surgery, while on constipating pain meds?! So this time I'm only going to take a stool softener.

JLDillon17 · February 2012

I didn't have a scheduled c-section either- but I didn't feel the need to go until the day we left the hospital. I was so scared about ripping my incision. But it worked out just fine

pottermommy · February 2012

I couldn't go for 7 days and that was taking 3 softeners a day. It was aweful. It hurt worse than the CS pain.

cottonlily84 · February 2012

If your body is ready to let you go you will be lucky! I didn't go for almost a week. They give you stool softeners every day and tell you to drink lots of water. I was on a soft diet for a couple days after the c/s too. My c/s wasn't scheduled so I ate dinner pretty much at the exact moment my water broke! The stuff they give you just makes it hard to go and it takes a few days for your bowels to start working again. I honestly was glad it took so long to go. My stomach didn't hurt from it but I can't imagine trying to poo any soon after being cut open than I did. They will ask you all the time if you're passing gas to see if things are starting to get back to normal.

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