What if I poop while pushing?
If I could make a guess, this is one of the biggest fears I hear from people when talking about birth. Here’s the secret though, and I really can’t stress this enough: it’s really not going to be a big deal.
One of the most common symptoms of early labor is diarrhea. Since our intestines and uterus are next door neighbors, what irritates one thing will often also annoy the other. So when your uterus is waking up and beginning to contract, your intestines respond as well and clean themselves out. This also bodes well for the baby descending, because full intestines can get in a baby’s way. This all adds up to there being much less of a possibility of a bowel movement later in labor, because your system will already be empty.
The most important thing though, is that every birth worker in the room will actually be pretty glad if you poop a little while pushing. We see it as a sign that you’re pushing effectively, since the muscles used to push out a baby are all the same as when having a bowel movement. And if you do poop, it will probably only be the tiniest bit and you are most likely not going to know, because nurses and midwives are fabulous at cleaning you up discretely.
In all honesty, the only time I’ve ever seen this be any kind of issue is with an insensitive dad who made fun of his wife when she was pushing. And quite frankly, it took all of my willpower not to jump over the bed and slap him.
So partners, here’s the rule: Much like Las Vegas, what happens in the birth room stays in the birth room, and this is one of those things that you don’t ever need to mention for as long as you both shall live. Amen. Some moments in the birth room are best left between the couple and their care team—and poop in particular is one of those things. It’s a natural part of the process, and you don’t need to feel embarrassed or discuss it outside the team.
And if I hear that you brought it up at Sunday dinner with the entire extended family (I read a Reddit story about someone who did just that), my wrath will be great and my retribution swift, which is also the threat I make every time I fry bacon for a recipe and my children hang around and steal it like Joanna from Rescuers Down Under (I suspect I just dated myself with that reference, but if you know, you know).
If this, or any other questions or concerns, are nagging you, I’m always available to talk through our fears and anxieties about birth. Book a one-on-one call today, and let’s put your mind at ease and put some systems in place to set you up for an empowering birth. You can also grab my free Birth Plan Template or check out my Advocacy Mini-Workbook for more support.
Christine Rogers is a birth doula and childbirth educator. She is the owner/operator of Draw Near Doula Services and serves in-person in Anchorage, Eagle River and the Mat-Su Valley regions of Alaska, and offers virtual doula services and education all over the United States. A mom of four, she works hard to ensure every client she serves has a positive and empowering labor experience, because no one should have to be afraid of birth. When not doula-ing, she’s a writer, baker, aspiring potter (as in bowls and vases, thank you very much), and her love languages are mason jars, dangly earrings, and Dr. Pepper.
Need a doula? Looking for childbirth education? Find Christine’s services online at www.drawneardoula.com. You can also follower her online on Instagram & Facebook: @drawneardoula .
