so they say a lot of women poo during labour but.....

[Sophie001]

But I knew I was anyway because I could smell it hahahaha!

This was my exact thought...how could you not smell it?!?! I'm dreading this sooooo much!

 

[LillyTame]

... But what if the poop isn't solid & you're in the water?!

This is the question me and OH came up with too and are still waiting for an answer!!! Any MWs experience loose poop in a water birth? Do they change the water?

 

[babyerin]

Theres nothing you can do about it really, I was induced and spent the night before trying to poo out everything I had up there and I still crapped on the table. I never will forget the shame of the lovely student midwife wiping my bum while I was on all fours but nobody laughed. Its nature, animals poor too when they give birth..and I was definitely making animal noises at that point lol. MooooOoooo!

 

[katieeandbump]

But I knew I was anyway because I could smell it hahahaha!

This was my exact thought...how could you not smell it?!?! I'm dreading this sooooo much!

Haha they should make everyone wear a peg on their nose!

 

[NDH]

I have no idea if I did or not. I kept saying I had to poo and yelling that I was just pooing when the mw told me not to push (spent 2 hours feeling like I had to push but not allowed) and I asked several times if I pooed but she never said if I did. I did pee several times, not on the toilet lol. I was concentrating too much ln not pushing and then on pushing to notice or care what other bodily functions were going on.

 

[Sophie001]

Maybe I do want a c section after all...

 

[wishingalways]

Maybe I do want a c section after all...

Lol,i know what are we getting ourselves into. Xx

 

[MrsSmartie]

I am a midwife, it really doesn't bother us. In fact when we write BO (bowels open) in our notes we know it will be soon that we are writing vertex visible (can see the top of the head!) Diarrhoea is a bit grim but really rare, I've hardly ever seen that. I have no idea what we would do in the pool with that! Probably get out... whatever mum wanted to do. And please don't think it is like a full on poo, it's just little bits. Most people have their bowels open in early labour at some point so it's just little bits at the end and we sweep it away. Lots of people never know. Please don't worry about it, I have had so many women terrified/refusing to push literally because they are scared they may poo! Worth it to get your baby in your arms! xx

 

[Hopefulk]

I worry about the smell... Especially if my third tri wind is anything to go by! Lol!

 

[socitycourty]

i did, i was pushing and no one said anything but my DH told me later
i had no idea

 

[Sophie001]

I am a midwife, it really doesn't bother us. In fact when we write BO (bowels open) in our notes we know it will be soon that we are writing vertex visible (can see the top of the head!) Diarrhoea is a bit grim but really rare, I've hardly ever seen that. I have no idea what we would do in the pool with that! Probably get out... whatever mum wanted to do. And please don't think it is like a full on poo, it's just little bits. Most people have their bowels open in early labour at some point so it's just little bits at the end and we sweep it away. Lots of people never know. Please don't worry about it, I have had so many women terrified/refusing to push literally because they are scared they may poo! Worth it to get your baby in your arms! xx

Can we literally do nothing to stop it then?

 

[MrsSmartie]

I am a midwife, it really doesn't bother us. In fact when we write BO (bowels open) in our notes we know it will be soon that we are writing vertex visible (can see the top of the head!) Diarrhoea is a bit grim but really rare, I've hardly ever seen that. I have no idea what we would do in the pool with that! Probably get out... whatever mum wanted to do. And please don't think it is like a full on poo, it's just little bits. Most people have their bowels open in early labour at some point so it's just little bits at the end and we sweep it away. Lots of people never know. Please don't worry about it, I have had so many women terrified/refusing to push literally because they are scared they may poo! Worth it to get your baby in your arms! xx

Can we literally do nothing to stop it then?

Well frankly, no. The baby's head is also pushing on your back passage as it comes down so even if you have been to the loo already the baby is going to move bits down. Add that to the pushing intensely for a couple of hours and I think it's pretty unlikely not to! Some people don't though. It's really not a big deal. You really won't give it any thought at the time so please don't worry about it now.

 

[Srrme]

I have no idea if I did. It sure felt like I had to though. I'm assuming my husband would have told me (and possibly made fun of me for it afterwards though) since he was center stage.

I'm content not knowing.

 

[MummyClaire28]

May as well be honest and say I didn't fully poop, mw had to keep wipin me bum though apparently!!! I wont go into anymore detail LOL

 

[Shadowy Lady]

My midwife said like 90% ppl do and it's natural. So even if ppl tell u they didn't they likely did just don't know it lol!

 

[lizardbreath]

Can no longer have posts here

 

[bumblebeexo]

They have a fish net thing. I got out the pool to push, have no idea if I shat or not, and I don't want to know!

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I think it helps if you know about all these embarrassing things before you go into labour. I'm glad that I read lots of things on labour because I was able to tell OH what to expect and how it's all normal for everyone. I'd hate to have no idea these things happen then have him tell me afterwards that I'd pooped, and for us to think it was an unfortunate, embarrassing accident rather than part of labour for many people! xx

 

[Guppy051708]

Ive pooped during both of my water births

lol no one cared, as others have said they just fish it out, no big deal. and honestly you arn't going to give a crap while your trying to push a human being out of your foof (no pun intended ). It's so true! all modesty goes out the window!

 

[rwhite]

I can confirm that I did, in the pool, and they scooped it out like they were getting a goldfish out.

If it happens, don't be embarassed. Because like you said, it happens to a lot of women.

I think a lot of women don't know they pooped when they have a dry land birth because if they are distracted the midwife/doctor will often scoop it up discreetly before they even know it happened