Poop Happens - what nobody tells you about when having a baby!

You've read every pregnancy book you can get your hands on and feel so well prepared for giving birth.  Then your best friend drops this bombshell, "Ugh, it was so embarrassing when I started pushing and then pooped right there on the bed!"
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Wait, wait, say what?!?!
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As if your pregnancy dreams hadn't been weird enough, suddenly you find your self having nightmares about lying on the delivery bed, feet in stirrups, madly pushing out a poop while your doctor, nurses, doula and partner point and laugh.  Of course while they pinch their noses shut.

​Relax!
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​This won't actually happen - all of us in the birth field have seen it many times.  As for your partner, show them this blog post so they have the heads up too and demand that they act cool when it happens.
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​Give Me the straight poop
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If you take a look at the anatomy of a pregnant person, it's easy to see why poop happens.  As the baby's head descends into the vagina, it tightly squeezes it's neighbour, the rectum.  It's inevitable that any contents would squeeze out and that's a good thing because the sooner you can release your bowels, the more room the baby gets to pass through.  Sometimes the poop will continuously creep out with each contraction.  Don't worry, your nurse will discreetly wipe it away without a word.

​Pee or Get Off the Pot
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Nobody has ever made it through months of pregnancy without PLENTY of trips to go pee... and labour is no different.  Sometimes it's hard to notice the urge to pee with the intensity of contractions, but it's important to keep trying regardless.  Full bladders can impede labour because of how close to the cervix and vagina they are.  A good rule of thumb is to empty your bladder every hour.  The toilet is also a wonderful place to labour because your pelvis actually opens wider in this position, once again making more room for baby.  It's also a great place to start pushing (particularly if you're having difficulty relaxing your pelvic floor), since our mind is so programmed to let go when seated on the toilet.  Don't worry, it usually takes many, many pushes until the baby arrives and the nurses/midwives/doctors will get you to move before you give birth on the toilet!
If you have difficulty urinating, it may become necessary to have your bladder drained via catheter.  It's usually quick, easy and painless.  The nurse or midwife would insert a soft, small tube into your urethra and the urine simply drains into a basin.  

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Even More Ick!
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​Let's face it: lots of stuff is going to come out of your vagina before the baby does.  It starts at the very beginning of your body preparing for labour when you pass the mucous plug.  That's the clear, slippery, thicker goop that usually comes out when you're using the washroom.  Often it has a minor blood tinge to it (either pink or brown).  This is often one of the first indicators that labour is starting soon.
As the cervix dilates, blood usually makes an appearance - not in period like quantities (if this happens, it's an emergency so seek medical treatment immediately), but probably enough to warrant putting a pad on.  
At some point, your water will break (the amniotic sac).  It can slowly trickle out, or burst in a huge splash!  Labour usually intensifies shortly after with the baby's head pushing directly on the cervix .  If you haven't had any contractions yet, sometimes it takes awhile after the water breaks and if it takes too long, you may be encouraged to have an induction.  The fluid should be clear and odorless - any funky smells or colours should be checked out immediately by your care provider.

Another icky thing to deal with comes the other way: vomiting.  Some people experience it at the beginning, some all the way through and many do especially at transition.  This is when the big hormone shift happens, you start feeling hot and cold, trembling, shivering and often nauseous.  Don't be surprised if your doula, nurses, midwife or doctor gets excited when you announce the need to throw up - it often means you're nearing the end!
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Are you thinking that all of this sounds just awful and embarrassing?  Don't dwell on it, honestly once labour kicks in full force, you are in such a zone that most of these things don't even phase you.  Your doctor, midwife, nurse and doula have seen this many times (if not every time!) and will carry on as usual.  Don't alter your drinking or eating habits to try avoid this happening - it's so important to stay well hydrated and to have plenty of energy to sustain the marathon of labour.  

If you are looking for comprehensive prenatal classes in Calgary (where we teach all of this nitty, gritty stuff), please get in touch with us to book private prenatal classes or to find out when and where our next group prenatal classes are.

And as always, if you would like a professional doula who will offer you nothing but the best support throughout pregnancy and birth, click here to book an interview.