Gross birthing question???

Question

Is it true that you have a bowel movement when giving birth? Any way to prevent? I'm not super modest, but just feel like absolutely all dignity is going away. My doc goes to my church-I don't want to poop in front of him even if he's seen it a lot.

Answer 1

It is fairly possible for you to have a BM while giving birth since you are using the same exact muscles in order to push the baby out of you. While you are concerned, please understand that your doctor will not care, even if he goes to your church. The medical staff will wipe it up fairly quickly and you might not even notice what you had done. Besides, during this time, your mind will be on your baby and nothing else...except maybe the pain!

Answer 2

Some women do poo while pushing out their baby. It's a totally normal thing that happens because the birth canal is right next to the bowel and when baby comes out the bowel is squashed and any "remnants" in there will come out too.
Usually before or during labor women get diarrhea that's a natural preparation for clearing the bowels.
One tip to minimize poopage is to eat things that are easily digestible during labor, like toast and broths. Stay away from the hamburgers and pizza until after you have your baby and avoid milk products like cheese and yogurt because they can cause vomiting during labor.

And- most importantly - if you do poo you wont even notice- there is so much pressure from baby's head descending that pooping will be the last thing on your mind and the nurses are great at cleaning you up quickly that you wont even know.

If you are very very worried about it you can always get a enema kit from your local drug store and when you are in early labor you can use it. They have them at the hospital too and you can always ask the nurse for one.

Good Luck

Answer 3

For most women, yes its true. It was for me with my first and I am also trying to figure out how to avoid the embarrassment. I did it on the table after my epidural but before the pushing phase of labor, so I didn't really even know I was going. (Pooping in front of the doctor wasn't near as bad as in front of my husband who thinks its quite funny to bring it up, especially with baby #2 on the way soon!) I think that's why it used to be standard procedure to give a woman an enema when she came in for delivery.
If my labor with baby number two starts off and I feel I have time, I plan to do the "fun chore" of the enema at home to avoid the poop on the table. However, the movement of the bowels can also cause labor to move along more quickly too so you would want to be sure that you can make it to the hospital relatively quickly. Other than that, you could request the hospital to give you one when you check in.
But at the same time..... doctors deal with women pooping at them pretty much on a daily basis and I don't think it really bothers them at all. It's all in a day's work I guess!

Answer 4

It doesnt happen to everyone, your bowels naturally empty when labor starts. It FEELS like you're going to poop, but thats just what pushing feels like.

You're just going to have to get over it. When it comes down to it all youre gonig to want is to get that baby out of you. You push and its over.

Doctors and other people in the medical profession dont look at people and see the events that happened earlier, in the hospital you're a patient, in the real world, you're someone completely different. He has seen it a million times, and its not like he'd be shocked if you did poop. They have chucks and towels RIGHT there for that very reason, they wipe it away so fast YOU dont even know it happened, let alone anyone else there.

Trust me, its the LEAST of your worried, esepcially at that time. If you let it bother you, you will only end up fighting the urge to push and make your labor harder on your body and on the baby.

Answer 5

Most people do poop on the table, I have heard. I had one baby so far and another on the way. I did not poop on the table. But don't worry. Some womens body naurally cleanses itself out right before laboring begins. Like doing the #2 more than once in a day.That is some how woman know that they are about to start the whole labor process. Good luck! If you are close. Just drink plenty of fluids and smaller meals.

Answer 6

Not everyone experiences this. My mom got an enema prior to having me to reduce her fear of that happening. My best friend who had her baby last May was mortified at the thought of having a BM while giving birth but said when the time came to push for the baby she didn't care what happened so long as the baby came out. I think it's something we'lll all get over the more people that are exposed to our down-there area and especially at birth - there is no modesty in that room - i'm a little apprehensive about having my inlaws in there though - lol

Answer 7

Yes, it does happen and usually to all women. It actually happens to some women and they don't even know about it because the medical staff is used to this and they clean it up before you even realize what has happenned. They are trained professionally and don't even blink an eye when this happens.

As far as your Dr, going to your church. I doubt very much that he is going to tell the other members of the congregation that you have pooped on the table. And if you really don't want to see him then you should either change churches or change dr.s' I know this is extreme but believe me at the time you really wont even care.

Congrats and Good LUck to you

Answer 8

I have had friends who did but the best way to prevent it is to follow the eating directions your doctor will give you the day before you have the baby I didnt eat as much as i wanted even when everyone in my delivery room was and i didnt at all. It is also a big help if you delier calmly and try to push with your stomache however if you do dont worry he cant tell anyone and he has seen it before so dont be embarressed it is gross but it happens and when you have your baby in your arms you wont even think about it or care. hope this helps good luck

Answer 9

Sadly, it's very common.... and yeah... a gross feeling, especially of your DH is standing right there watching! Generally, once labor gets on pretty well you can tell them that you feel you have to, and they'll bring you a bed pan (or perhaps let you try to use the toilet with an insert in it to catch anything that comes out and not allow it to go down the toilet... just in case). You do use the same muscles to push the baby out as you do to have a BM, which is why they often WON'T let you try to use the toilet, they don't want you confused and thinking it's a BM when it's really the baby that you're pushing out (we don't want any babies delivered in a hospital toilet!). Personally... I CANNOT use bed pans.. I've tried countless times to no avail... they would not let me get up and use the toilet... so it's THEIR mess to clean up.

As Forest Gump Says, "It happens"

Trust me tho... when you're at the pushing stage (which is when this fab situation might happen) it will be the least of your worries... you'll be more concerned with getting the baby out and the pain over with! Good news... when the baby comes out... all the labor pain (most of it) stops... so push push push, and don't worry what comes out, just concentrate on that baby!! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 10

I didn't poop but I think I got a hemorrhoid it hurt like hell! Um not everyone poops when they give birth. I don't see how you could after not eatting all day. I really wouldn't worry about it. Besides in all honesty by then you won't care. I am so modest but by the time it was time to push I wouldn't have cared who saw what. You are in so much pain you just want the kid outta you.

Also you'd be surprised how fast you get your body back. I'm already just about back to normal just a small small pooch now. But my curves are gone.