Scared Of Pooping While Giving Birth

The fear of pooping while giving birth is real. I was terrified during my first pregnancy of this very thing. More so than anything else. I asked every mom I knew “Did you poop while giving birth? Were you embarrassed, what did you do, how did you cope?”

No matter how many times someone tells us “it’s normal, it happens to almost every mom, and you won’t even notice it” we are still scared because, hello, we aren’t normally spread eagle with strangers (and family) watching our private areas expand and excrete bodily fluids and more..

So, to you my friend who is expecting a newborn and not a pile of doody this one is for you. Let’s get over this fear!

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Table of Contents

Why Do We Poop While In Labor?

You may be thinking about it over and over again.. Will it happen to me, will I poop while pushing? Here is what we know about passing a bowel movement during labor.

You use the same muscles to push baby out as you do with going to the bathroom
If you haven’t gone to the restroom that day the pushing could make it come out
Nurses are fast and will wipe it away, fold it up and place a new blue pad underneath you in a matter of minutes
No one will laugh, getting your baby out is more important than bodily functions

Can I Avoid Pooping While Pushing?

If you want to learn how to avoid pooping while giving birth you can try to follow these tips but remember it is normal, it happens to almost every mom (even the expert moms who have had children before).

1. Take Frequent Bathroom Breaks

Before you are going into active labor – try to give yourself a chance to go number two a few times. Emptying out your body can help avoid you pushing out poop.

2. Drink Lots OF Water

Your fluid intake will help you go to the bathroom before the baby is coming out. Helping you give that extra sense of relief. It also helps to lower the amount of food you eat while in labor and try to stick to liquids to help you keep from pooping.

3. Increase Fiber

Increasing your fiber leading up to the weeks of your due date can help you so much. Start around the 35-week mark if you don’t normally eat a fiber-rich diet – just slowly introduce it.

How To Calm Your Fear Of Pooping On The Table: What You Need To Know About It

1. You May Not Notice That You Even Did It

You are probably thinking – how can I NOT know when I go number two. It’s because you’ll be very focused on pushing your baby out (the pain that accompanies crowning) that you may not notice.

Some moms don’t even know that they did it until their partner tells them. (so just tell your partner not to say a word and you’ll be none the wiser)

2. You Can’t Control the Power Of Pushing

I know you want to control this thing that scares you (and not being able to know if you will or will not poop on the table is one of the fears ohhhh I know it all too well) but we use the same muscles to make a bowel movement as we do when we are pushing a baby out.

One of the suggestions from nurses is to push like you are going to the bathroom.

3. It’s Okay To Fear This

I’m not here to tell you that this is an invalid feeling. Shoot I was scared shitless about this (see the pun). But you can be afraid just don’t let it be your only feel when you are in delivery.

Your mind is much stronger than you know. Feed it happy, good, and relaxed thoughts and you’ll see how fast this fear will diminish.

4. Use Your Mind Not Your Butt

Your mindset will play a big role when you go into labor. You should start by changing the way you look at labor; don’t fear it. It is an event that will be over in a few hours and then you will have your baby.

Remember happy thoughts go a long way. Having a support team can increase your chances for a safer delivery and having a postpartum care plan will help you heal easier and faster.

You can help your mind let this notion that childbirth is scary go by doing affirmations leading up to labor and saying them and having them written during labor.

Is It Common To Poop During Labor?

Yes, it is very common to poop during labor. They do not have an estimate but from what I gather when I talk to moms about 80% of the moms I know and have talked to, visited after birth, and questioned have pooped during labor. Some of those moms were just as afraid as you are right now and guess what..

It didn’t matter, what was more important was their baby and pushing them out. Far from their mind was poop.

Do They Still Give Enemas Before Labor?

An enema is a technique used to help promote a bowel movement. A lot of hospitals do perform enemas before the late stages of labor.

You can always ask your nurse if they can perform one to help you make a bowel movement before you deliver. Depending on your pregnancy and health they will perform one or not.

What Helps Constipation Before Labor?

In the weeks leading up to delivery, you may be constipated. Pregnancy constipation is very normal.

In order to help you go easily, make sure you are drinking lots of water, watching your diet, and eating lots of fiber.

It is also said that many mothers have a cleansing blowout before they go into labor. It happened to my best friend 3x now the day before each of her child’s births she would gt major diarrhea.

In conclusion, having this fear of pooping while pushing is very common but it shouldn’t be the only thing you should focus on.

Did you grab the FREE 5 Steps To Conquer Your Fear Of Labor PDF? Ease those thoughts, learn about pain management, educate yourself about birth and conquer that fear.