Let’s dive into the not-so-glamorous side of childbirth: yes, we’re talking about poop. I remember reading somewhere that many women end up having a bowel movement during labor—it’s completely natural. I even brushed up on the science behind it, learning that diarrhea could be an early sign of labor. I thought I had mentally braced myself for that awkward possibility. I even had a heart-to-heart with my partner, Matt, making it clear he was to stay calm and not make me feel embarrassed about any potential mess. I felt ready to face this reality. Or so I thought.
On my due date, I was all in on those so-called “labor-inducing” activities, eagerly waiting for signs that labor was kicking in.
“Did my water break?” Nope, just a tiny trickle.
“Is that a contraction?” Nope, just gas.
“Did I almost just poop myself?” Oh, definitely!
Picture this: a very pregnant me attempting to roll out of bed, squeezing my legs together, afraid of any leaks. It was a frantic sprint to the bathroom, followed by sweet relief. Wipe, rinse, repeat—until I was ready to cry at the thought of using toilet paper yet again.
Fast forward a few hours to the hospital. I was trying to relax in the jacuzzi tub, breathing through contractions, with Matt by my side, when the urgent need to poop hit me once more. I felt like a slippery whale trying to navigate my way out of the tub, praying I’d reach the toilet in time. Spoiler: I did, but not before Matt caught a whiff of my less-than-glamorous moment. He assures me that he still finds me attractive, even after witnessing that. Maybe my pre-labor “don’t you dare laugh at me” pep talk actually worked!
After all the less-than-pleasant bathroom trips, I thought I’d cleared the way for the pushing stage. Oh, how wrong I was. This time, things took a slightly more civilized turn.
Here’s how it went down: I was standing, clinging to Matt’s neck, while my sister-in-law, who had stepped into the role of labor massage therapist, applied counter-pressure on my back. My midwife was ready to catch our baby. Just when I thought I was in the clear, the urge to poop hit again!
What’s a girl to do in such a moment? Naturally, I announced to the room—and possibly anyone in the hallway—“I’m going to poop now. Sorry!” My midwife reassured me it was completely fine, and the nurse, bless her heart, was quick to grab paper towels, ready for action (clearly, she’s been here before).
As if this wasn’t surreal enough, this wonderful nurse gently wiped my bottom with a warm, wet cloth. A strange perk amidst the chaos! I pleaded with my sister-in-law not to look (she was right behind me) and then begged her not to smell it either. She claimed she didn’t, but I suppose I’ll never truly know. I definitely didn’t anticipate having “the talk” about pooping with her, so apologies for that!
After all the excitement, I eventually welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world—who then decided to poop on me not once, but twice, within her first half hour of life. Talk about a family tradition!
So, yes, if you were wondering—people do poop during childbirth. And if you were looking for an unvarnished, real-life account of how things can unfold, well, here you go. Life can be messy, but it’s all part of the journey.
And just when you think it’s over? You’ll find yourself needing to poop again after the baby arrives, but that’s a whole different kind of struggle.
If you’re interested in more on this topic, check out this other blog post about intracervical insemination. It’s a great resource for understanding the journey to parenthood. And if you’re looking for help with fertility, Make a Mom offers some fantastic supplements. For more information on pregnancy, visit NICHD, which is an excellent resource.
In summary, labor can be an unpredictable journey, complete with its share of surprises—including those less-than-glamorous moments. But through it all, the joy of bringing a new life into the world makes it all worthwhile.