Truth about Poop (during labor and delivery)

[JoyRenee]

Okay someone asked for it, so here you go! It's quite long, so I have it broken up. Hopefully that makes it easier to read as well. I have to give credit where credit is due: nursingbirth.wordpress.com

Since I am a labor & delivery nurse, I am naturally inclined to jump on any opportunity to talk about bodily functions (especially during awkward times like dinner or outings with the in-laws J) and consequently, I have been inspired to write a post about, what seems to be, the number one thing on every pregnant woman’s mind…POOP!



So here they are:  The Top 10 DOs & DON’Ts of Pooping During Labor & Birth



#1 DON’T forget that life does go on after an embarrassing moment.  How many of you have accidentally passed gas during sex?  You’re all “hot and heavy” with you man (or woman) and you’re both getting into it and then…whoops!  If he/she happened to make a big deal out of it, hopefully you kicked him/her to the curb!  Let’s face it, the people that are closest to us often see us in embarrassing situations at one point or another in our lives: bowing down to the porcelain god after a night of partying, passing gas during lovemaking, runny nosed and hacking up a lung during a bout with the flu, squatting to pee in the woods during an outdoor sporting event etc. etc. etc.  And if those things happened in the company of someone who really loves you, they probably still loved you just as much, or even more, afterwards.  Cuz hey, you’re human!  (By the way, I have personally experienced all of those things so if you are laughing and thinking the same thing…you are not alone!  And for the record, the guy that I passed gas on during sex ended up marrying me this summer so it couldn’t have scared him that much!)



#2 DO understand that the vast majority of women poop during the birth of their babies and that this phenomenon is NORMAL.  If you think about it, when your birth attendant tells you to “bear down and push” they are really telling you to “push like you have to poop!”  It is the exact same motion.  And if you do poop, your nurse, midwife, or doctor is usually reassured that you are pushing correctly!!  In fact, the WORST thing you can do is not push right because you are afraid to poop!  I have seen it happen before and it is such a shame because these women just end up pushing for way longer than they should have all because they let their fear of embarrassment overcome them.  As a labor & delivery nurse, I do not keep records of exactly how many women poop during birth (can you imagine pooping statistics!  haha! J) but you can rest assured that it is the VAST MAJORITY of women.  If someone you know tells you they didn’t poop during childbirth they either are: #1) part of the very small minority of women who actually don’t, or #2) just didn’t realize they did.  And to be honest, #2 is way more likely!



#3 DON’T invite anyone to be present at your birth that you are not totally and completely comfortable with them seeing you in your most vulnerable and trying moments.  Let’s be honest, even in the closest of relationships not many women are comfortable going to the bathroom and pooping in front of their significant other or family members but it is important to understand that the circumstances of childbirth are way different than just your daily morning bowel movement.  My mother doesn’t prefer to be there when my grandmother is bathing, dressing, and going to the bathroom but when my grandmother broke her arm this past winter and needed surgery, that is exactly what my mother did because she needed her.  And I would do the same thing for my mother as I know she would (and has) done for me!  Passing a bowel movement or gas during labor & birth are normal bodily functions that happen during normal labor (as is burping, throwing up, grunting, groaning, crying, etc).  Labor and birth are NOT spectator sports and you are NOT a “hostess” and therefore if you are going to be too preoccupied with the thought of how embarrassing it will be to poop in front of your mother or sister or best friend, then perhaps you should think more carefully about who you invite to your birth.  Just because a family member loves you and “really wants to be there” at your birth, it doesn’t automatically make them a fitting labor companion.  Remember, excessive worry and fear during labor releases hormones that can physically slow or stop your progress!



#4 DO go to the bathroom and empty your bowels (only if you feel the urge) in early labor.  Feeling like you have to “poop” during active labor or transition is almost always the baby putting pressure on your rectum.  Even if you end up passing some stool during the pushing stage, the rectal pressure you were feeling right before was NOT poop, it was the BABY and therefore you would have STILL felt intense rectal pressure even if you had emptied your bowels earlier!  However, if you are in early labor and you feel like you have to poop and you can easily pass stool without straining, then go ahead.  In early labor, it won’t hurt the baby or your cervix.  That being said…

[Gemmm]

I love this post. I'm going to have one of my friends who has expressed her concern over pooping during childbirth read it . Having had my son recently I feel that it should be the least of her worries! Good on your part for posting this as I see questions regarding this so often.

:)

[JoyRenee]

Well I think docs stopped doing the enemas because our bodies naturally know what to do- we tend to get diarrhea sometime before birth and all the pressure caused by contractions and baby cause us to go poo, too.

There was a time that doctors just went crazy (probably in the 60's up to the 80's and even 90's) and started treating pregnant women like they were in some disease state. When the truth is that if they just back off a little, they'd be astonished that the woman's body is more than capable.

I'm grateful to doctors, though, because maternal and infant death rates are WAY LOW. So I'm not saying to heck with doctors. Just want them to not "get in the way" and do unnecessary interventions so stinkin' much.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

enemas are NOT comfortable.  I had to have one for a colonoscopy years ago..it was one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever had....i cramped and crapped so much my insides and rear end were sore.  I would NOT want to add that on top of all the discomforts of labor.  If you're probably gonna poop anyway, why put yourself through all that extra discomfort unneccessarily?

[JoyRenee]

Well most hospitals definitely don't let you eat or drink ANYTHING. They are food and water Nazis, I swear. I hate it! I think it should be allowed in early labor, but not "transition".

Just a few crackers and some water, you know? Not a huge burger with fries.

[Anya1984]

I still don't understand why can't women have enemas in early labor? Back in a day (10-15 years ago), all women in Russia were given enemas in fact they are still doing it now. So I thought it is good for you, at least some of your bowel is empty...am I wrong?

[Lucey12]

#7 enema: I thought everyone (almost everyone) had one. My sister in law had one with her last pregnancy 2 years ago, I thought it was perfectly normal, and bad if you didnt.

Thanks for the topic. You brought alot to my mind that  hadnt thought about  too much before. Great information.

Id love to hear a post on what women say during labour!

[spade22]

LOL.  I found #9 interesting.  I was induced and was NOT allowed to eat or drink the whole time - I was allowed a few ice chips but that was it.

[KM604]

I was so worried I was going to have a bowel movement during labor.  After the doctor broke my water I did have to go to the bathroom, which I think cleaned me out plus I lost my mucus plug at the same time.  Kinda funny story though, as I was waiting for the epidural they gave me some pain med through the IV (will never do again, made me too out of it).  So like I said, I was out of it.  Well I was really really gassy and there were like 6 other people in the room besides my mom, husband and MIL who would be with me during delivery.  Well I cuoldn't hold it in and told them, "I'm sorry but I have to do this" - so I passed some gas.  To be honest, I don't know who heard it, because of course it couldn't be silent.  But I was so out of it I truly didn't care.  Also, before I got the epidural, I asked hubby for some ice chips.  Well he grabs the ice chips and at the same time is talking with someone else.  I'm still waiting for them and he starts eating them! LOL.  He didn't even realize it, haha.  I did ask him though if I pooped and he said I didn't, so I guess I'll take his word for it.

[lmc2132]

Thank you for this.  #6 might be my favorite--I would not have thought of that and will definitely make a point to have that conversation!

[Mumita]

I've been reading the nursingbirth blog too, all of her articles are great!
but now that I think of it, I have to forward this and the "what women say during labor" one to my husband.  He's sooo cute, he;s making the list for the hospital bag, he's going to all of my classes, he's trying to prepare as much as he can.  I love it!

[sweetangel7]

That one sounds funny!  I'd like to read it =)  This isn't funny but I kept telling everyone how hungry and thirsty I was repeatedly...I hadn't eaten or drank for almost 24 hours and ice chips weren't doing it!  Finally when they were stitching me up they said I could have something to drink shortly and I asked my husband to go get it so it would be waiting for me the minute I was done being stitched WELL he sat around for a minute and I got super bossy...commanding him to "GO!  Now!  Leave the room....get my drink!"  I am never like that lol  The doctor kept telling me "just another minute" and I kept telling him "NO, now...hurry".  

It is strange how you can change when you've just pushed out a baby!

[Nini2686]

I actually read this in her blog along with What women say doing labor. lol I have to admit I am SOOO neverous about this. I told my mom and hubby that I don't care how much labor hurts I just don't want to go to the bathroom in front of everyone. lol My mom told me I'm ridiculous and there is so much going on I probably won't even know I went. I am an extremeley private person and hate talking about "bodily fuctions" let alone going to the bathroom or burping, passing gas in front of anyone including hubby!!! It nice to know that their are other "worriers" like me lol!.

[mature_enough]

HAHAHA I really loved reading that. I made sure my husband read it too so he wouldn't make fun of me after childbirth. That's great. Thank you.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I would SOO love to read that one, Joy.  As for the pooping thing...having been through 5 deliveries and a d & c....pooping, I can honestly say, was the LEAST of my worries.  I think was  more embarrassed by my 5 yo yelling "he's got a big penis" after gabe was born that I was thinking about whether I pooped or not and even with that I wasn't really embarrassed...we all got a huge laugh out of that.  LOL


I can tell a story about poop that's embarrasing.  Atleast doing it during labor is in a controlled environment and someone is there to clean you up right away.  When I was 8 mos preg with Zach I was meetin with a woman in her office... I had my 2 yo with me.  I kept feeling really gassy...but was trying to end the meeting without being rude.  Well as most of you know, many woman tend to lose atleast a little bit of control over bodily functions during pregnancy.  Well as I was pulling my pants down to sit on the commode it hit...i couldn't do ANYTHING...it was a mess, I was in tears, trying to keep my 2 yo OUT of the mess, clean myself and the bathroom up.  

If you think pooping during labor is embarrasing...try THAT situation on for size...Thank GOD no one else was in or came in to the bathroom!  Needless to say I got out of there as quickly as possible and went straight home....sans underwear.

[JoyRenee]

P.S. Nursing Birth also has a wonderful TOP TEN THINGS WOMEN SAY/DO DURING LABOR. It's a crackup, especially if you've given birth before.

Let me know if you guys want that one, too. I'll post it in a new thread if you do.

[JoyRenee]

#5 DON’T try to go into the bathroom during active labor or transition and “try” to have a bowel movement right before the pushing stage just because you are afraid of pooping during birth.  If you are in active labor/transition and you feel rectal pressure, please know that it is the BABY pressing on your rectum that is giving you that sensation.  Therefore straining to have a bowel movement during this time could at best, worsen your hemorrhoids and at worst, injure your cervix by causing it to swell or tear.  There is an appropriate time to start pushing, and many women tell me it is the best part (because they can actually do something about all that pressure!) but it is only time to push when your birth attendant gives you the okay.



#6 DO make a pact with your labor companions (husband, partner, mother, sister, etc.) to NOT tell you that you are or did poop during your baby’s birth if you happen to be really self conscious about it.  The vast majority of the time the mother doesn’t even know that they did poop because the nurse, midwife, or doctor quickly wiped it away.  Trust me, as a nurse, you see it all the time and if vomit, pee, spit, poop, or blood bothered us, we wouldn’t be nurses, midwives, or doctors!



#7 DON’T ask for an enema/accept an enema before or during labor.  Please!  Given enemas to women in labor is an outdated and unnecessary practice.  Birthingnaturally.com writes:

“A substantial portion of women in labor will have bowel movements, whether or not enemas are given,” especially during both early labor and pushing (Mahan and McKay 1983:247). Available evidence indicates that enemas do not in fact decrease the chances of elimination during birth nor the incidence of fecal contamination during labor, whereas they do often cause considerable pain and distress to the laboring mother (Romney and Gordon 1981; Whitley and Mack 1980). Moreover, the expulsion of feces during labor does not seem to increase infection rates: in a study of 274 birthing women randomly assigned to enema or no enema groups, no difference in infection rates was found (Romney 1981), and the risk of neonatal infection was very remote (seven babies from each group showed signs of infection which may or may not have had to do with bowel organisms). Another finding of this study was that the two groups had similar durations of labor, contradicting the notion that enemas shorten labor.”

Also as a side note, please don’t take Immodium AD before labor to “prevent” pooping!  It will at best, not work and at worst, make you constipated.



#8 DO remember that your body will probably “cleanse” itself out during “pre-labor”.  After all, mild diarrhea or loose stools can be a sign of “pre” or “early” labor.  And even if you do experience “pre labor diarrhea” you might still poop during delivery and that is okay!



#9 DON’T limit your food intake during labor if you are hungry because you are afraid that you will poop (or throw up for that matter).  A runner does not prepare for a marathon by starving themselves and you shouldn’t prepare for birth by starving yourself either.  Both you and your baby need energy to have the endurance for a successful vaginal birth.  If you aren’t hungry, well then that is different, and you should still be encouraged to drink at least 4 oz of water, juice, or Gatorade every hour.  If you are preparing for a normal vaginal delivery, even if you are being induced, you should not have to follow a “clears only” or “nothing by mouth” diet.  Good prenatal nutrition recommends women eat 6 small meals per day with frequent healthy snacks so why should we starve women during labor?  The answer is: we shouldn’t!!



If after reading all of the above you are still worried about pooping during delivery, then:



#10 DO realize that “WORRY is the WORK of pregnancy!”  In her book Birthing From Within, certified nurse midwife Pam England tells the story about a patient of hers (Hannah) that worried a lot about having a natural birth experience after having had a highly medicalized birth with her first baby.  She writes that Hannah longed to hear her say things like “Don’t worry” and “Everything will be alright” but instead England encouraged her to face her fears.  She instructed Hannah to write down all of her worries and explore each of them with questions like “What, if anything, can you do to prepare for what you are worrying about?” and “If there is nothing you can do to prevent it, how would you like to handle the situation?”



England lists the “Ten Common Worries” of Pregnancy as:

1)      Not being able to stand the pain

2)      Not being able to relax

3)      Feeling rushed, or fear of taking too long

4)      My pelvis not big enough

5)      My cervix won’t open

6)      Lack of privacy

7)      Being judged for making noise

8.)      Being separated from the baby

9)      Having to fight for my wishes to be respected

10)  Having intervention and not knowing if it is necessary or what else to do



I would like to add #11:

            11) Fear of pooping in labor/Fear of embarrassment regarding bodily functions



In summary, if you are a pregnant mom reading this post, please know you are not alone in your worries!  Please use these next few months, weeks, or days, preparing not only physically, but mentally and emotionally for the amazing journey you are about to embark upon.  Please understand that getting ready for labor doesn’t just mean a tour of the hospital or learning about birth technology/interventions, but also means acknowledging and talking about your worries and fears with people you trust, especially your birth attendant!  No mother can give birth if she feels unsafe, senses danger, or has never explored her fears, even if they seem “trivial.”  Please know that although the thought of it might be “mortifyingly embarrassing,” when you actually are working hard to push out your baby, anyone that really cares about you and loves you will not be bothered by a little poop and most likely, you will not even notice it!  Please know that although birth might be one of the messiest experiences of your life, no amount of fluids, cursing, farting, vomiting, striping naked, howling, crying, peeing, bleeding, or pooping will take away from how honestly empowering, mind blowing, and touching this experience can be for you and your family.

*Nursing Birth