A question about UCing and pooping

[onyxravnos]

So my last baby was a planed UBAC and I knew I would want to be squatting which I did but for the next one I'm thinking about renting a birthing tub...
Well you know how you poop a little when your pushing? My doula was a goodness send and just dealt with that for me but what would you do about it if you were in a tub?

I know midwives have little fishy nets for scooping but... If you were UCing who's job is that?

Sorry sudden UC birth freakouts while still in the TTC stage :/

[Caitlin0919]

I'm interested to know what other lades did for this as well. We're still in the TTC stage too, but we're definitely having an UC. I figured we'd get a fishy net and DH might have to do the "fishing" but if anyone else tried something different, it would be good to know.

[Banana731]

we had a fishnet for this purpose. it was dh's job, but he says he didn't end up needing it. i can buy that, some women are really "emptied out" by then.

If I were a doula at an UC (or just a friend at one) I would take care of it, probably without being asked as long as knew where the net was, so it wouldn't bother me to be asked. I can't speak for others though.

[Peony]

I had a fishy net, no one was the official pooper scooper at my UC because I didn't think to assign the task. It hadn't been an issue at my previous water birth, I like to labor alone, and at the very end DH came in for DS's birth. Anyway, it turns out that my bowels were not empty enough prior to pushing, it wasn't much but still poop was present. It bothered me, DH was too busy hopping around to actually think through and dispose of it, I was obviously busy. I didn't stay in the pool as long as I would of liked afterwards because, well there was poop! This time I will make it clear to DH that such things should be taken care of without me having to mention them while I am birthing. 

[weliveintheforest]

I would expect dh to handle this, but I bet if it happens to me I will just want to get out.  When I was labouring in a tub with dd I was really upset that there was poop in the water even though I knew it was normal and the midwives dealt with it.  With ds I felt uncomfortable getting into the water after I got out to use the bathroom, because I could see that there was dust and a little bit of mucus and stuff.  I might feel differently this time, but don't expect to.

[echospiritwarrior]

this time we had an unplanned uc, I had intended to get in the tub, but things just happened too fast. So I asked dh for some warm wet rags when I felt myself pooping and the poor guy started gagging at some point :(  Make sure your man can handle a dirty job!

[dayiscoming2006]

Anyone have an opinion on doing an enema while in labor? I was considering it. I know it was once a stupid hospital protocol but I really don't wanna have to deal with poop if I can avoid it. Any thoughts? Any reason it would bet a bad idea? Thought the question might be at least somewhat related to OP's question.

[tracymom1]

I think an enema is kind of extreme - unless you have been constipated and want to get things moving (both with your bowels and birthing). Last time, I started pooping the day before my labor started and I am sure there was nothing left by the time I had to push. My little fishnet was never used - it's still in the original package! I guess DH will just have to deal with it if it happens this time around, right? I mean, what else can you do?

[dayiscoming2006]

That makes sense Tracy. I've never pooped during pushing either and I've never used an enema before for during labor. I guess it's just the thought that makes me icked out a little. LOL

[Mamatoabunch]

We used a fish net w/ my first HB and never had one w/ the last 7. I think I had a bit of poop w/ one or so of mine. Not sure what was done or not, but it was never much of anything. Dh would handle it if it was needed.

[lightinmyhands]

I had an enema before active labor began---  though this is something I personally am quite comfortable with, so it wasn't a big deal.  But it cleared stuff out and helped speed up labor a bit.

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by lightinmyhands 

I had an enema before active labor began---  though this is something I personally am quite comfortable with, so it wasn't a big deal.  But it cleared stuff out and helped speed up labor a bit.

Good to know. :)

[lizzie]

If I knew I was already in labor,in the early stages, I might do it this time too. I just don't like dealing with it. Dh would handle it for me without being told - Peony, your description of your dh "hopping around" made me laugh! - but then I'm creeped out that he IS handling it for me. Silly. But nonetheless, that's how I feel. I know I did poo with dd in the hospital and I just remember my dh repeatedly asking the nurses to clean me up. It didn't interfere with anything, but that it was bothering him bothered me in the back of my mind (maybe I never told him to be prepared for that?). Maybe he thought it was bothering me? Thought it would get on the baby? I don't know. He's not at all squeamish, but I'd really rather skip it if I can!

[Greenlea]

I did not have a UC birth the first time around, but I did have a waterbirth.  And my body kind of did its own enema before I was in labor.  I was pretty cleaned out and did not poop in the tub.  The second time around we an unplanned UC waterbirth, midwife was 13 minutes late.  My DH was in the tub with me, and I did poop.  He just wiped it away with a towel, then put the towel outside the tub on the plastic we had set up.  But he was in the medical field so it didn't really phase him.  We did have a fishy net thing though, but my labor was so fast that it was still packed away in the birthing supplies container.