Waterbirth - TMI question

[mambera]

OK, I have a totally TMI question for anyone who had a water birth.

What happens if you poop in the pool? Do you get out, drain the pool, refill and start over? Or do you just fish out the floater, or what?

Is there any concern for infection from the baby getting a mouthful of labor tub water?

[lovebug]

i have not had a water birth, but i have heard that some people use a 'fish net' to get things like that out.

but i will be and taking

[Fujiko]

lol, i have video of my husband lovingly fishing my poo out of the tub with a fish net.

[onemomma]

I totally pooped in the pool! My midwife had one of those nets like for an aquarium and fished it out. Ha! No, we didn't refill, no big deal.

As for baby, as long as they are still attached their air comes through the umbilical cord, so they won't aspirate the pool water, just swish and spit if anything. Again, not a worry.

[MidwifeErika]

Just scoop it out with a fishnet. No big deal. There appears to be no increase in infections of newborns who are born in water.

[elisheva]

This happened to me. Twice

My MW first tried to get me to get out of the pool. Then when I wouldn't she covered it with a towel (she pushed the towel down into the water) and AFAIK it just drained out into the yard when my DH emptied the pool afterward.

Next time I'm writing myself a note that says K**** - GET OUT OF THE POOL. Love, K****

[an_aurora]

I poo'd in the pool with DS. I was quite embarassed to have just poo'd in front of my husband, mom, MW & her assistant, but the MW said it was a good thing since it meant his head was moving down. She fished it out with the little fishy net thingy, but in pics I noticed there was a little piece in the bottom of my pool

[Peace+Hope]

heh, i asked my MWs about this, and they said they just use a bowl or pick. it. up. really! maybe i should invest in a fish net for them

[JorgieGirl]

I didn't wind up needing it but our mw's recommended a fishnet. No biggie.

[moonshoes]

so glad that you asked this question,mambera, because I wanted to know the same thing!

[*MamaJen*]

Totally not a big deal, they just fish it out. Only in my case, my midwife forgot to pack the fishnet, and they wound up using one of my slotted spoons that they pulled out the utensil canister. I'm still not quite sure which one it was.
I've also heard an amusing story on this board of a wife who sent her husband shopping with a last minute list of birth supplies. She told him to get a fish net and he came home with one of those huge nets you use to clean the leaves out the swimming pool.

[lovebug]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

Totally not a big deal, they just fish it out. Only in my case, my midwife forgot to pack the fishnet, and they wound up using one of my slotted spoons that they pulled out the utensil canister. I'm still not quite sure which one it was.
I've also heard an amusing story on this board of a wife who sent her husband shopping with a last minute list of birth supplies. She told him to get a fish net and he came home with one of those huge nets you use to clean the leaves out the swimming pool.

that would totally be my DH!

[wbg]

I had a fish net, but as it turns out, DH picked up the big metal strainer I had purchased to make herbs for a soothing bath the next day!! I had it in a totally separate area, and the fish net with the birth pool supplies, so not sure what possessed him to get up and head over to our postpartum supplies, but hey... I guess he was in his own laborland!
I do not even remember pooping but it happened just before bub came.

[JennTheMomma]

Just fish it out with a net. Dh seems to be very excited to be on fish net duty He saw me poo last time with our first son (not a waterbirth), it really was no big deal.

[callieollie]

So, what to people do if their poop isn't, uh, solid? I have heard it's fairly common to have loose stools or diarrhea so I wouldn't think it would be that odd for that to happen. What do people do then?

[Belle]

Originally Posted by *MamaJen*

I've also heard an amusing story on this board of a wife who sent her husband shopping with a last minute list of birth supplies. She told him to get a fish net and he came home with one of those huge nets you use to clean the leaves out the swimming pool.

Then somebody could catch the baby from across the room.

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by callieollie

So, what to people do if their poop isn't, uh, solid? I have heard it's fairly common to have loose stools or diarrhea so I wouldn't think it would be that odd for that to happen. What do people do then?

In my experience, I think your body sort of clears itself out early in labor. It seems like most BMs in the pushing stage are solid (like, something that requires serious pushing to get out.)

[MidwifeErika]

Originally Posted by callieollie

So, what to people do if their poop isn't, uh, solid? I have heard it's fairly common to have loose stools or diarrhea so I wouldn't think it would be that odd for that to happen. What do people do then?

Usually it is pretty solid at that point. However, if it wasn't I would imagine the mother would want to get out of the water. If there is time to drain and refill, that could be done, but usually the poo comes pretty shortly before the baby.