Farting/Pooping during birth (Eeek!)

lvlichelle · November 2013

I keep hearing that most women poop during birth. Um, what is the protocol if that were to happen? Also, all I can imagine is pushing, pushing, pushing and then *BIG FART*. I am wanting MIL and my mom to be in the delivery room along with DH and I.. but I can't get over how embarrassing it will be if I do either. Not to mention the thought of farting in someones face while they are down there playing catch.

Anyone else thought of this? Or have this fear?

tsmith312 · November 2013

YES im terrified of this ! I know its all natural BLAH BLAH BLHA, BUT it still grosses me out ! AND it does happen ! My sister was in the room with her best friend when she gave birth and she said she it was the nastiest thing bc she pooped on herself but didn't know It bc she was all doped up . SOO Im right there with you I don't want anyone in the room other then DH but I still don't want all that happening .

liamandlettie · November 2013

This made me laugh! I'm pretty sure I did (not farting tho!) The nurse didn't even flinch. Just wiped and kept talking to me. My husband still doesn't know! And was a little embarrassing after the fact but I'm sure I'm not the first!

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huskymomma94 · November 2013

I was in my third trimester last time and had pretty much conquered the fear of pooping during labor...and then it occurred to me that I might fart. My worst nightmare. And...yeah, it happened.

Here's some TMI for you: When they broke my water DS' head was pretty much blocking it so it slowly leaked out. So everytime I pushed, it made a loud wet queefy fart noise. Everyone says you don't care. I cared!! I started sobbing that I was so embarassed, etc, even though DH and the nurses were laughing at me. I honestly think my embarrassment inhibited my pushing :-| SO, lesson learned....next time I am going to have music playing to hopefully cover the farts.

I know this was not encouraging at all.

P.S. I didn't poop.

clo1982 · November 2013

I can't speak directly to this as I had a c/s with no labor but what I can say is that you probably won't care at that point. there's a whole lot of messy shi* going on down there and my guess is dr's and nurses have seen/heard it all. It'd probably be impossible to be working with those areas of women's bodies for any extended period of time without becoming completely immune to anything that can happen or come out of them! The whole experience is somewhat humiliating with people walking in and just sticking their hands right on up there to see how you are progressing, so in all it's just another thing not to worry about. I was out of it after my c/s and remember the nurse having to come in repeatedly to change my comforter sized pad because of the bleeding you do. The first time I was like wow this is embarrassing that someone is changing my used pad...after that one time I really didn't care at all.

BrideNamedMeg · November 2013

Yup, what @tallash said - you won't care when the time comes and you are working with doctors and nurses who see WAY worse every day.

If you're not comfortable with your MIL and Mom potentially seeing this, then don't have them in the room. You need to feel comfortable and safe while in labor, not worrying about being embarrassed.

orriskitten · November 2013

I know I pooped while delivering DD. No one commented and the nurse just wiped it away. It is a much bigger deal in your head than in reality. These people see it on a daily basis, you will not be special to them for your shitting or farting lol.

I think someone on here mentioned their nurse said she saw more shit than babies in her time in L&D.

PrincessPeach13 · November 2013

I know I pooped a bit because I could smell it

Nobody cared whatsoever. The doctor just wiped it away with a chux pad and continued on. They seriously don't care. And I was worried about it before hand. But at the time it happened, I was just to busy pushing to care. If my mom or mil ahd been there, then yeah, I probably would have been more embarrassed.

kaking78 · November 2013

My husband asked me the other day if I was going to have an enema, to which I responded with a blank stare. He said that one of the baby books mentioned it as an option. In other news, he's been reading a lot more about this birth business than I have.

babylimas · November 2013

huskymomma94 said:

I was in my third trimester last time and had pretty much conquered the fear of pooping during labor...and then it occurred to me that I might fart. My worst nightmare. And...yeah, it happened.

Here's some TMI for you: When they broke my water DS' head was pretty much blocking it so it slowly leaked out. So everytime I pushed, it made a loud wet queefy fart noise. Everyone says you don't care. I cared!! I started sobbing that I was so embarassed, etc, even though DS and the nurses were laughing at me. I honestly think my embarrassment inhibited my pushing :-| SO, lesson learned....next time I am going to have music playing to hopefully cover the farts.

I know this was not encouraging at all.

P.S. I didn't poop.

I'm sorry, I giggled, but this would be me too. I would die if I passed gas in front of people. (And no, I can't say the F word. It's my one flaw.

)

HappyWife01 · November 2013

I pooped a lot. I had an emergency induction and at that point I had been constipated for a few days and was taking stool softener. It was probably a lot of poop and I didn't care. I still don't and joke about it.

Funny story... my sister was in labor and pushing. She then smelled poop and she thought she pooped on ths table and was in such a bad mood but she wouldn't tell anyone why because she was embarrassed. A few months later she asked if she pooped on the table and I said no. She then tells me she was mad bc she smelled poop and thought she shit on the table. Her husband then turns to her and said "that was me. I farted while you were pushing and it smelled bad." Her husband and I start laughing. She didn't think it was funny.

If I fart loudly while pushing I won't be able to push anymore because I'll be laughing too hard!!

WoodShopGirl · November 2013

FTM, so no experience but I have a funny story about a friend. Her labor with her second was really fast, but her water didn't break. They were going to break it for her and pulled out this large device that looked like a knitting needle. She asked if she could try one more time to break it herself by pushing and they said yes. Both a Dr and a nurse were between her legs when she pushed real big. Her water broke spraying both of them all over.

They have definitely seen it all and I don't think a little poop will matter.

lnvane00 · November 2013

HappyWife01 said:

I pooped a lot. I had an emergency induction and at that point I had been constipated for a few days and was taking stool softener. It was probably a lot of poop and I didn't care. I still don't and joke about it. Funny story... my sister was in labor and pushing. She then smelled poop and she thought she pooped on ths table and was in such a bad mood but she wouldn't tell anyone why because she was embarrassed. A few months later she asked if she pooped on the table and I said no. She then tells me she was mad bc she smelled poop and thought she shit on the table. Her husband then turns to her and said "that was me. I farted while you were pushing and it smelled bad." Her husband and I start laughing. She didn't think it was funny. If I fart loudly while pushing I won't be able to push anymore because I'll be laughing too hard!!

OMG I laughed so hard I snorted. That is funny

Jmom10 · November 2013

I would probably laugh and feel terrible for their sake if gas is as bad as it's been in pregnancy. In surprised I haven't woken up DS in the mornings when I sit down to pee! Maybe I won't care "in the moment" though.

aLsMay24 · November 2013

I was so nervous for this. DH swears I didn't poop and honestly if I farted I don't think anyone would have noticed. There's counting and grunting and cheering and if you go with no epi I'm sure some yelling. So the likelihood someone hears it is small.

KariB509 · November 2013

I never heard myself fart and I have no idea if I pooped. If I did, the nurse didn't tell me about it.
It's completely normal though, as gross as it is. I don't think anyone will care if you poo yourself during labor. The focus is in the baby anyway, not your poopy.

pepperedmoth · November 2013

I caught a baby once (I was an EMT for years). The woman pooped a little (a generous smear); I just wiped it away with a chux and that was that.

Srsly, I was SO EXCITED to be CATCHING THAT BABY EEEEEEEEEE that I probably wouldn't have cared if she'd tried to drown me in an elephant-sized pile.

NO ONE will care except, possibly, you. And even you probably won't.

SassyFlats · November 2013

HappyWife01 said:
I pooped a lot. I had an emergency induction and at that point I had been constipated for a few days and was taking stool softener. It was probably a lot of poop and I didn't care. I still don't and joke about it.

Funny story... my sister was in labor and pushing. She then smelled poop and she thought she pooped on ths table and was in such a bad mood but she wouldn't tell anyone why because she was embarrassed. A few months later she asked if she pooped on the table and I said no. She then tells me she was mad bc she smelled poop and thought she shit on the table. Her husband then turns to her and said "that was me. I farted while you were pushing and it smelled bad." Her husband and I start laughing. She didn't think it was funny.

If I fart loudly while pushing I won't be able to push anymore because I'll be laughing too hard!!

AWESOME!

)

parenthood4 · November 2013

I was so scared of this too, and it still kind of bothers me for this time.

One, if you have an epidural, you have NO control over passing gas. I read that right before I had my first, and it's true. So yeah, that happened. I was just so happy to have my epidural at that point though, I just apologized but didn't really care. In real life, I would definitely care!

Two, if you go into labor naturally, sometimes your body preps you the few days before. So for the few days before I gave birth, my body knew to clear everything out. It wasn't pleasant those few days, but I didn't go to the bathroom on the table because there was nothing left.

Overall, it's not a pleasant part of childbirth, but there's not much we can do about it!

teaforthree · November 2013

A PP mentioned having an enema... and I'm here to say they gave me one (I was in Germany). I had no idea what they were doing to me, and then I felt the warm water, and let me just say, the "emptying of the bowels" sped up and intensified labor, big time. I do think it prevented me from pooping while delivering, but hours afterward, when I was in my recovery room, I took the biggest shit of my life. I was so weak from delivery that a nurse had to help me on/off the toilet, and wipe me. And you know what? I didn't care.

Ceventa · November 2013

This thread made me feel a whole lot better lol I have this fear too!

Zombielove126 · November 2013

Haha, I pooped everytime, and it's not like I could tell I was pooping, but labor poop has a very distinct smell. At least mine did. With our last one I told my ex husband, "do not say anything if I start pooping." he said, " I can't even say howdy ho," and he waved his hand. Referring to Mr Hanky the Christmas poo from South Park. Haha, made me laugh.

cierravictoria · November 2013

I don't think that pooping in the bed makes me nervous, but what about pooping during a water birth? Do they just fish it out?

Birdie1483 · November 2013

I understand being embarrassed if your mom and MIL are in the room. But just think about how much you and your H probably pooped on them when you were babies!

They've seen it all when it comes to your bowel movements.

jwls84 · November 2013

I did! And I was actually kinda glad I did because it meant I didn't have to go after birth for a while ( because that terrified me more than pooping during labour)! They say if you do poop it takes your body awhile to have to poop again, with stitches in my ass I was happy I didn't have to worry about it!
Also they don't say anything, they just wipe it away and that's that

I'mGonnaMarryYou · November 2013

I didn't because they gave me Zofran right after I got sick off of the pain killers (was given pain killers because I had prodomal labor and they were trying to get me to sleep a bit before the delivery so I was well rested). Zofran makes me constapated so I didn't poop. But DH and I did talk about it before I went in and again last night and I told him if I do he's to ignore it becuase it's not like I can control the situation.

My BFF who is a doc said during her rounds in OB nearly everyone did. And it's no big deal. So, I'm fully prepared to poop the bed this time.

YankeePeach08 · November 2013

huskymomma94 said:

I was in my third trimester last time and had pretty much conquered the fear of pooping during labor...and then it occurred to me that I might fart. My worst nightmare. And...yeah, it happened.

Here's some TMI for you: When they broke my water DS' head was pretty much blocking it so it slowly leaked out. So everytime I pushed, it made a loud wet queefy fart noise. Everyone says you don't care. I cared!! I started sobbing that I was so embarassed, etc, even though DH and the nurses were laughing at me. I honestly think my embarrassment inhibited my pushing :-| SO, lesson learned....next time I am going to have music playing to hopefully cover the farts.

I know this was not encouraging at all.

P.S. I didn't poop.

That is hilarious...you are my hero!

Also, to everyone who is scared of pooping in front of DH just watch some birth videos online...you'll see that there is so much nasty stuff coming out/going on he probably wouldn't even recognize a turd if he saw one.

Also, by the time he goes without sex for 6 weeks he will forget EVERYTHING he saw!

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IdyllicPursuit · November 2013

Totally 100% normal. You'll never even notice because the nurse will have it wiped up so quickly. No biggie:)

avigailandcharlie · November 2013

Wait question on this I "plan" on getting an epidural (I have plan in quotes because I know anything can happen). Anyway, what if I have to pee or poo? Like not just some slips out while I'm pushing, but I have to significantly go, like a full BM, where do I go since I'm bed bound by the epidural? Since usually labor is several hours im assuming I'll at least have to pee several times.

I'mGonnaMarryYou · November 2013

avigailandcharlie said:

Wait question on this I "plan" on getting an epidural (I have plan in quotes because I know anything can happen). Anyway, what if I have to pee or poo? Like not just some slips out while I'm pushing, but I have to significantly go, like a full BM, where do I go since I'm bed bound by the epidural? Since usually labor is several hours im assuming I'll at least have to pee several times.

They put a catheter in.

recline84 · November 2013

At one point when I was in the birthing tub, I told my midwife, "I have to poop." And she's like, oh that's normal, you're just ready to push. I told everyone in the room to get out, I went to the bathroom, and then got back in the tub! I knew it was not the same feeling. And then I wasn't worried about anything floating in the tub later!

DTNZ4Ever · November 2013

LOL! This made me laugh. So apparently in all the prebirth classes and prep DH and I did before DS. DH had no idea that pooping was part of the deal. We have a closed door policy at our house. So I did poop when pushing and the nurse pointed it out as to show DH that I was pushing correctly. DH was horrified. I had no idea I did as the nurse cleaned it up and I kept pushing away. I didn't know until after the fact when DH told me. I was shocked that DH didn't know that pooping was part of the deal.

jennybean80 · November 2013

As an L&D nurse trust me, the pooping is not a big deal. If it happens it's a tiny little amount, and frankly with the amniotic fluid and blood etc we're wiping you up during pushing anyways so it just gets cleaned up. If you go into labour spontaneously you'll probably clear out the system ahead of time!
I think I've maybe had 3 moms realize they pooped in 5 years as a full-time nurse at a super busy L&D unit (we're on pace for around 7000 deliveries for 2013). Not nearly as big of an issue as people think.

Also I don't find women usually fart during pushing, although if they have an epidural they often get a little more relaxed and sometimes things let loose. Again, not usually a big deal - although I did have one patient who thought I was the one farting until she let one rip after I left the room! Then she was super embarrassed and apologized for suspecting me!!

BabyVDM · November 2013

I'm a FTM and probably have to have a C-section due to the complete previa, but farting and pooping during labour has never crossed my mind as something to be worried about or embarrassed about.

For crying out loud, you will be pushing a baby out and I for one think that should you have a huge dump in the way, letting it go whether voluntarily or not would be one hell of a huge releif and probably make things more comfortable. Same with gas.

Mom and MIL have both been in the 'position' and been through the process, they probably also both alos pooped and farted through the process aswell.

The nurses, just wipe it away and put a new pad down, they aren't thinking anything.

Plus come on, really is anyone going to notice. There's going to be a shit load (pun intended) of other stuff going on to distract them.

kimberpoo · November 2013

OMG this thread made my day. Trying so hard not to laugh out loud at work right now.

This is honestly one of my concerns as well (the poop, I don't care who I fart on), but you girls have said so many times that no one cares that it makes me feel a ton better. Also, a huge thank you to all the nurses and docs out there who deal with us during and after delivery!!!...and thanks for wiping our poop

:-j

jennybean80 · November 2013

@FarmBoysWife "hanging over backwards on a bed stark naked moaning like a walrus" just about peed myself laughing!!

Rita092010 · November 2013

Speaking of pooping/farts in delivery...

It totally freaks me out to poop in a public bathroom and would never let anyone hear me fart, that is for sure...

However, after 22 hours of labor and an epidural (and peeing in towels because who knows why they didn't just put a catheter in me after that long with that much IV fluids and why I didn't request one I just don't know)...one just does not care nor is it controllable to not poop while delivering nor pass gas at random times.

I was prepped in a hurry for an emergency c-section, epidural had been placed hours before. Nurse was working on inserting the catheter and I passed gas, her face was like right there. I apologized and was embarrassed for a grand total of 5 seconds. She said she had seen a lot worse (and I agree, she probably has and I can say I have seen/heard/smelt worse in my nursing career). So if it makes anyone feel better, at least you didn't pass gas directly in someones face.

Worse part is, I switched OB's to a different clinic between that pregnancy and this one. The nurse that I passed gas in her face was the first nurse I met at the new clinic. She said she remembered my delivery...haha! She will likely be the one to prep me for this baby. We both had a good laugh!

Butts31 · November 2013

@huskymomma94 your story is hilarious and thank you for sharing!!! I was afraid of pooping too but like pp, it's normal and they see it all the time. When I was time for me to push I felt really gassy and told the nurse in advance "sorry" if anything happened. It never did and once I got passed being embarrassed about what could happen, I was able to push like a champ.

bran0915 · November 2013

I pooped almost the whole time I was pushing with DD. I must have been crazy constipated BUT they said it means you're pushing right. The nurses wipe it up right away and no one really notices. No biggie

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Farting/Pooping during birth (Eeek!)

"Dear Lord, I would have loved to have held my babies on my lap and tell them about You, but since I didn't get the chance, would You please hold them on Your lap and tell them about me?

BFP #4 6/26/13, EDD 3/8/14, Delivered @ 40w6d
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Re: Farting/Pooping during birth (Eeek!)

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Want a personalized experience?

Farting/Pooping during birth (Eeek!)

"Dear Lord, I would have loved to have held my babies on my lap and tell them about You, but since I didn't get the chance, would You please hold them on Your lap and tell them about me?

BFP #4 6/26/13, EDD 3/8/14, Delivered @ 40w6dBethany Elizabeth born on 3/14/14 @ 6:48am weighing almost 8lbs 1oz and measuring 20 1/2 inches.

Re: Farting/Pooping during birth (Eeek!)

Married : ** 09/09/2011 ** BFP : 07-18-13 ** Baby #1 is a GIRL , Born 03/12/14 **

** BFP 2 : 01- 05-15 ** EDD 09-11-15 **

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BFP #4 6/26/13, EDD 3/8/14, Delivered @ 40w6d
Bethany Elizabeth born on 3/14/14 @ 6:48am weighing almost 8lbs 1oz and measuring 20 1/2 inches.

Married : 09/09/2011 BFP : 07-18-13 Baby #1 is a GIRL , Born 03/12/14

BFP 2 : 01- 05-15 EDD 09-11-15 **