Did you pee or have a bowel movement while pushing the baby out?

Question

I am nervous about that, its so embarrassing and degrading!!

Answer 1

Nothing to be embarassed about! It happens ALL THE TIME. In fact, I am usually very shy and reserved, especially when it comes, ahem, to bodily functions...BUT...when you're pushing a 7 or 8 pound baby out, you won't care or even think about such things. To that end, I had a bowel movement while delivering my babe and my hubby and I still laugh about how the poor little guy was born in a pile of poo! Kidding, of course, the doctor sweeps anything like that away immediately so your baby won't even touch it. Relax and "enjoy" your child's birth! It will be the best and most challenging moment in your life!

Answer 2

Everyone says it is not embarrasing and you will not care but that depends on if you are shy or not. I was shy and felt like I had gas while on the table. I was soooo afraid that it made me nervous and tense. Also who wants to do something embarrasing like that in front of their husband or boyfriend. Especially if you have not been together very long. Humiliating. Also it is not so much worry about what everyone else thinks but how YOU feel about it happening. It is a valid concern and question. You could ask everyone to leave the room except a nurse and request a quick enema to empty your bowels before your labor gets to bad. This may help and nurses are used to this--they will give you privacy. Also remember that you have a right to not have everyone standing around you watching you. This is YOUR birth and if you don't want uncle Tom, Aunt Mary, cousin Bobby, brothers, friends etc around simply tell the staff ahead of time your wishes and keep an audience out of there. You deserve your dignity and privacy.

Answer 3

Just remember that nurses have seen it all - if you do pee or poop during pushing, it won't have been the first time they've seen that. I am a doula, and I would say about 25% of my clients have pooped while pushing. It's very common because as the baby moves down the birth canal, his/her head presses against your bowel and as he/she moves down, it squeezes the poop out. Much like if you run your finger down a toothpaste container it squeezes it out the end. If you try and hold it back, you will only end up not pushing effectively, and you will have to push longer and longer but you will be holding yourself back. I went through that with my first baby, but once I got over being embarressed, I was able to push much better!

Also remember without an epidural, you can ask to go to the bathroom and push on the toilet and just flush everything down!

Good luck!

Answer 4

I had a BM during labor...the doctor never said anything but I could tell. But, don't worry, it's so common the doctors and nurses are totally used to it. Most of my girlfriends say it happened to them to. Big deal! When you're pushing away with your feet up in the air and a big spotlight shining "down there" so everyone can see what's going on, it is not the time to feel shy about anything. The doctors and nurses are all professionals, they've seen it all (and then some), and nobody will fault you for anything. Enjoy yourself...it will be the most surreal experience of your life and nothing...NOTHING...will ever be the same again. Best of luck to you! Congratulations!!!!!!!

Answer 5

I did with my first and at the time I had no clue cause I was in so much pain but after everyone told me and I was like whatever who cares did you see what I had to go through that is the last thing I cared about. With my second I went at home before I got to the hospital so I didn't worry to much that time. But I will say that I had some massive gas going on! Ha Ha it's all fun and who cares cause look what you get out of it!

Answer 6

I was nervous too, but when the time came I was in so much pain I didn't care anymore. I didn't have a BM, but I did pee all over the doctor once the baby came out. I didn't feel myself doing it, I just looked down and saw that he was being sprayed, oops! I was told later on that when a woman does have a BM it is quickly cleaned up and most women dont even know they did it.

Answer 7

It's a natural bodily function, just like having a child coming out of your vagina. Doctors and nurses have seen much much worse, much more embarrassing and much more degrading things than a woman bearing down with the same muscles used to perform excretory functions and having the expected results.

Answer 8

I don't think I did either but a friend of mine is a nurse and she said that first of all, you usually can't tell if you did or didn't because you can't feel it and secondly, it is cleaned up so quickly, usually nobody notices it (except the professionals!). Don't worry though, that was huge fear of mine but as soon as I started having contractions, I don't think I would have been embarrassed even if I would have crapped right on the doctor! Good luck and don't worry about it too much!

Answer 9

I was worried about it BEFORE I had my daughter, but during all that pushing who cares what happens. But yes, I did have a bowel movement while pushing. Just to help ease you nervousness, my doctor told me it was completely normal, and that they will take care of it. BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!!! Good luck.

Answer 10

No, I didn't, but I think it is pretty common. If you have an epidural you will have a catheter in your bladder so there will be no chance for you to pee. As for the poo, your digestive system shuts down when you go into labor, that is why you can't eat. So, if there is nothing already down there, there will be nothing to get pushed out. I purposefully went and used the restroom before leaving for the hospital. Either way, that will be the last thing on your mind. Good luck!