enemas anyone???!!!

[soybeansmama]

I am just curious if anyone has used an enema to help labor along. Any luck? Did you just use a regular old fleet or something fancier? Is it weird that I just kinda want a clean bottom? I have just been having annoying and very unsatisfying little nuggets lately (sorry for the TMI). I feel like I want to just get cleaned out and if it could possibly help labor along, why not?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience...

[BrownEyed]

The day I lost my plug, I gave myself one. Like you, I wanted to feel clean and had been feeling a little constipated. I sent DH out to the pharmacy and he just bought the basic kit.

About 12 hours later I had a baby and my water broke about 2 hours after the enema.

[soybeansmama]

oooh, I like your story!

congrats on your wee one!

time to send dh off to the store...bless his heart.

Jessica

[BrownEyed]

Thank you.

I went in to it very open minded and if it didn't bring on labor, at least I'd feel clean ya know. I think that attitude helped too.

[NaturalTXMama]

In labor with my DS, the pushing hurt more because my bowels were full and the contractions compressed it so it really hurt to push that AND a baby out at the same time (probably TMI). ANYWAY, this time I am homebirthing and my DH will give me an enema once I go into labor. My good friend took some castor oil and she went into labor a couple hours later.

[luckydog]

I wasn't planning to do it to induce labor, but like you I've been considering doing it once I know I'm in active labor. I don't want to poop in the tub again during the pushing stage. I know it's not a big deal, but I find it inhibiting when I remember it and I want to do all I can to make myself as uninhibited as possible during labor.

[AutumnLeaves5]

The idea of being 'cleaned out' appeals to me too because I think it'll help me feel less inhibited and more comfortable. Last time I had castor oil (trying to rev up labor after water breaking) and the effects were pretty unpleasant but I sure was cleaned out. This might be a stupid question and sorry if too personal, but does an enema just make you go? Or does it give you diherrea (sp.?) like castor oil?

[trmpetplaya]

I didn't find pooping during pushing to be inhibiting... but it was PAINFUL! Man... I didn't feel like I could take a break from pushing between contractions because the poop hurt so badly sitting there in the middle of my hemorrhoids and I wanted to keep pushing it out So... yeah... next time if I'm constipated again during the last week of pg I will be doing an enema. I knew I would be going into labour soon since I was 5 cm dilated, but I guess I didn't realise exactly how MUCH poop I had saved up in there :

love and peace.

[bdavis337]

THIS is a good idea! I have been crazy constipated this past 2 weeks, regardless of what I eat, and I have some nasty pregnancy-inspired h's to deal with during delivery........

[soybeansmama]

Originally Posted by maurab9

The idea of being 'cleaned out' appeals to me too because I think it'll help me feel less inhibited and more comfortable. Last time I had castor oil (trying to rev up labor after water breaking) and the effects were pretty unpleasant but I sure was cleaned out. This might be a stupid question and sorry if too personal, but does an enema just make you go? Or does it give you diherrea (sp.?) like castor oil?

I just did mine...I didn't get the runs or anything. I had some mild cramps in my bowels that were relieved pretty quick as soon as I went. I have had lots of BH since...we shall see if anything transpires. Not going to hold my breath.

[pwit]

Can I just get the same effect by drinking a big glass of prune juice or eating a bag of prunes. That sounds much easier than an enema and I know from experience I don't want to do castor oil again! But I also like the idea of being cleaned out before labor starts.

[ahdoula]

I tired an enema before I restorted to castor oil, and it did nothing. And in the end my castor oil expereince was mostly positive, everyone's expereince is different. From what I am told castor oil does not only have a laxitive effect that helps the uterus, but effects the nervous system the controls both the uterus and the intestines. It also has some homiopathic properties becuase sometimes a castor oil compress can stimulate the bowels.

[bdavis337]

I don't know if prunes would work as effectively as an enema. And fwiw, it matters not what I eat these days, I'm perpetually plugged up. Heck, I had a massive salad filled with fresh, raw veggies for supper last night, PLUS a HUGE veggie meal that my neighbor made for us with garden-fresh peppers, zucchini, tomato and mushrooms and it all did no good for me at all.

[Jen H.]

I wish I was brave enough to try it, but the thought of putting anything in there just freaks me right out. For me, it's a one-way street. Castor oil scares me too, if only because I'd be worried it would work too well and I'd still have cramps and diarrhea by the time I was in labour or pushing baby out!

[Maela]

Originally Posted by Jen H.

I wish I was brave enough to try it, but the thought of putting anything in there just freaks me right out. For me, it's a one-way street. Castor oil scares me too, if only because I'd be worried it would work too well and I'd still have cramps and diarrhea by the time I was in labour or pushing baby out!

:

Maybe I'll try a big glass of prune juice instead. In a few days.

Jessica, I hope it works for you though. We can't go into labor on the same day. You go first.

[soybeansmama]

If we do, Maela. you can have Lucinda...

I feel sparkly on the inside.:

but thats all. what a jip.

Jessica

[Maela]

I won't say no to that....