Bowel Movement During Labor

on October 28, 2009 at 7:00 AM

toilet A lot of people don't talk about this, but some women have a bowel movement during labor.

I'm very open with my husband and I'm not the most modest person around, so it's not that I care about some poo coming out as I'm laboring, but what about the babies? I don't want them born into a stinky mess. What if it happens just before my twins make their arrival?

Am I totally overthinking this?

Yes, OK. I am.

I was reading through some posts on CafeMom and one mom said she did but they cleaned it up so fast she didn't even realized it happened. She was told it happened later by her husband.

Some have even said that a few days before delivery, they had many bowel movements and it was like their body cleaned itself out naturally in preparation. That would be great!

Apparently enemas used to be common to help the mom remove any waste before labor, but it's not recommended anymore.

Bottom line, I'm learning, is that the type of pushing that happens when you go number two is similar to how you labor a baby out.

Still, it would be nice if I didn't poo.

Are you worried about having a bowel movement during labor?

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About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: labor & delivery

Comments (15)

sstepph

on Oct 28, 2009 at 7:52 AM

I was worried about that and then the day before I delievered Garrett my body like cleaned itself out, not sure if it was that or my nerves since I knew I was in labor. Then during laboring I guess I only went a little bit. DH told me after I was all cleaned up and holding our son in my arms, lol. I didnt even know!

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MoM.i.aM

on Oct 28, 2009 at 9:13 AM

I was worried about the embarrassment of it. But then when it came time I didn't care if I crapped all over the doctor. I just wanted him out! I did end up popping. I saw it in the mirror while I was watching DS crown. It was only a little and afterward I apologized to DH for having to see it and he said he expected it and couldn't have cared less if I went all over the doctor either. He just wanted to see DS. The way I look at it is as long as the doctor doesn't tell me that he has never seen anything like that then I am good. It takes a lot to gross a doctor out.

unknwndreamer

on Oct 28, 2009 at 10:52 AM

I think I had one when I was having my DD, I remember a nurse coming over with a paper towel or something and wiping down there before DD made her appearance and it was quick, like nothing even happened. I asked hubs but he said he wasn't looking and I never remembered to ask a nurse.

Peajewel

on Oct 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM

I agree with Mom.i.aM.....once you are there, it is the last thing on your mind! You may even welcome it just to get the babies (in your case) out! hee hee

RavishingMama

on Oct 28, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Truth be told, I really didn't want to know whether I pooed or not! I have 2 children and they were both pretty hard labors so I didn't even think about it when I actually started to push, it was the last thing on my mind! All I wanted was the baby out of me! Plus I have heard it's super-common and I guess they are used to it and don't really make a big deal out of it.

I think I was more mortified having a bunch of nurses/doctors all looking down yonder! When I had my son it was during a shift change (thanks a lot lil guy!) and so I had double the nurses, eek!

ethans_momma06

on Oct 28, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Let me tell you something I would much rather poop then have an enima. Besides I am really happy to hear that they aren't reccomending them much anyways since my mom told me that depending on the length of labor....they could 'wear off' by the time pushing began anyway!

I pooped while delivering my son. It gets cleaned up almost immediatly and there is no way they are going to let your babies land in it! If you were to worried about it, I would talk to your OB! Good luck!

spicymomma

on Oct 28, 2009 at 12:02 PM

It only happened in 1 of my 3 births. I agree that, when the time comes, I had a few other things on my mind and it didn't really matter so much to me (although I was a little freaked about it possibly happening each time). It's important to just keep telling yourself that it's totally normal if it does happen and it's not like it will be the first time your doctor or nurses have ever experienced it. Kind of the same mantra I chanted during my first pelvic exam!

Jmum

on Oct 28, 2009 at 9:01 PM

I actually peed on one of my labor nurses. Shot her right in the chest. It's hard to laugh, apologise and have a baby at the same time.

But I pooped too. And they cleaned it up so fast I didn't notice. Don't worry. Your babies won't land in poo.

momma_shuler

on Oct 29, 2009 at 12:10 AM

I was pushing so hard during delivery I thought I'd have a bm for sure. But then my midwife did something down there that made me feel a lot better, I think she covered up my B-hole with some towels or something and it made me feel "less exposed". After that I just didn't care anymore and pushed regardless of how much it felt like I was pooping. My husband tells me I didn't poop so I guess I didn't! But obviously even if you do poop during delivery, unless you are watching with a mirror or have a very blunt husband, you probably won't have a clue. I didn't have an epidural and I hear that lowers your chance of pooping on the table.

nily

on Oct 29, 2009 at 8:53 AM

I cry all the time telling even yelling to the nurse that I had to go poop LOL. OMG so embarasing she kept telling me that was my baby coming down that gave me that sensation BUT when the rush me to my emergency c-section they had to gave me a bath because I did was poop hehehehe I cry all the time but at the end I was happy to have my son and non of that matters.