3 Bottom-Based Birth Fears // Pooping During Labor
There are 3 main fears commonly associated with your bottom during pregnancy:
1. Pooping.
2. Tearing.
3. Hemorrhoids.
Today, we'll tackle #1 bottom-based fear. POOPING.
1. "OMG WHAT IF I POOP?"
This sounds a little silly, but it's something I hear from every. single. mother. Well- first time mothers, that is!
Our American culture is especially grossed out and embarrassed by the idea of passing a bowel movement in front of other people. I don't blame you here! But here's the thing. You're going to poop at some point. And when you do, the excitement in the room will rise because this is a very good thing! You pooping means that baby is moving down and making room! Your birth team will not only be totally fine with this occurring, but we'll be expecting and anticipating it!
Many women fear this moment and even go so far as to not eat beforehand, with the idea that if their stomach is empty, this won't happen. But this is false thinking. You can hold SO MUCH waste in your body. You skipping that last meal won't make a difference for your pooping scenario, but it will make a difference for your labor and birth! This mentality is really dangerous and sets you up for a difficult labor. You need to be well fueled for your birth! If you do not have proper fuel, how can you be expected to have the energy and stamina to give birth? You would never run a marathon on an empty stomach because you know you would need the energy to make it across the finish line. Labor is the same way! Your womb is a muscle and she needs energy. YOU NEED TO EAT.
My favorite nugget of advice for moms in early labor is this:
Rest, EAT, Drink.
This is important and valuable for many reasons- but here is a quick breakdown:
REST- Do not wear yourself out during early labor. Rest as much as possible and try to forget you're even in early labor. This is the most exciting time in the world, but you need to save up your energy for when the ball really gets rolling. Watch a funny movie, go to the park, play dominos...you name it. Quit jogging and squatting and take it easy!
EAT- You need energy for birth. Some hospitals allow you to eat, others you will sneak some food. There was (and in some places, still is) a common policy of not allowing a woman to eat during labor in case she needed anesthesia. The study that locked the policy in place was very poorly done and has since been proven otherwise. (Your stomach is never actually empty and you'll have more stomach acid without food.) You have a big job ahead of you and you'll need some food. If, for whatever reason, you just can't eat...honey sticks, lollipops and pregnancy gatorade can go a long way for you! Sometimes all you need to jumpstart a stall is a little sugar!
DRINK- Dehydration during labor is a no-go. Along with a hosts of other problems, dehydration causes premature cramping and more painful contractions. Stay well hydrated, sip between contractions and pee 1x/hour.
“Rest, EAT, Drink.”
Most women will have bowel movements as an early sign of labor, so you may not have too much stored up. But if you poop on the table, on the floor or in the tub...don't sweat it. I know you've heard it a million times by now, but it really is true that it's normal and very common. If a woman thinks she didn't poop during labor- she probably had a great midwife who cleaned it up quickly and without mention.
If you still find yourself apprehensive or nervous about it, try sitting on the toilet: aka The Porcelain Birthing Throne. If you're focusing on keeping your bum closed, that cervix is not going to open! You're naturally trained to relax and let go of all tension while on the toilet, so many mothers find this to be their favorite place to labor. Privacy-check! Upright position/gravity-check! Flushable and catches any extra fluids-check!
*If you're planning on a hospital waterbirth, go ahead and pack your fishnet now. With all of the excitement of being in labor, almost every family forgets their net and our Atlanta-based hospitals don't supply them here yet. If you DO forget your net, your birth team can easily rig up a styrofoam cup with holes poked through it to scoop up and discard any mess.
*If you're planning on preserving your placenta through encapsulation or having it post-birth in a smoothie, you'll want to ensure it isn't coming in contact with maternal feces. This doesn't happen that often, but it is something to look out for.