Is there any way to prevent "butt labor" lol

[LoveChild421]

this is a bit embarassing but I'm sure many other mamas have experienced this- when I had ds I was expecting to have a lot of vaginal pressure/ stretching sensations but I didn't at all until he was crowning- I literally felt like my butt was going to explode and the baby come out of my colon! It was excrutiating and not at all what I expected. Is this just normal or is there some way to prevent this from happening with any future births?

[applejuice]

The sensation of pushing, as I understand from my reading and instruction, is on the same "party-line" to the brain and to the same part of the brain, the parasympathetic nervous system (very primitive part), as the sensation of defecating.

I think. It has been a while.

Maybe someone else can explain it better. I hope I helped alittle bit.

[Artisan]

Nope. That's exactly what pushing feels like for a lot of people. As applejuice mentioned, a lot of the same nerves are involved.

This was one of those things that no one tells you about before birth -- that it feels like you have to poop a bowling ball.

[Mom2baldie]

Oh my goodness, that is exactly what it felt like for me too. I thought it was so horrible and I am glad to know that I am not the only person that felt that way. :o

[mommaduck]

It was hysterical...with our last baby, I got sick and constipated one night. I told hubby it felt EXACTLY like I was giving birth. LOL! So yes, it's normal!

[EmmalinesMom]

It might be different next time just because births are all a bit different. I remember with my first it felt a lot like you described, but with my second, I had the "butt labor" as she was descending, but then I didn't feel it so much as she was actually coming out.

(And hi from Atlanta. :D )

[mommaduck]

Good point...six babies and they definately were not all the same.

[FitMama]

I think it might be normal. I don't remember the exact sensation, but I do recall crying out to the nurses "I really feel like I'm gong to go number twooooo!" What a dork I was :LOL.

[Lucky Charm]

This was one of those things that no one tells you about before birth -- that it feels like you have to poop a bowling ball.
:LOL
I was so surprised to feel it that way. I had no idea....I went from pain to....What the hell is this!?

[JLav]

This was one of those things that no one tells you about before birth -- that it feels like you have to poop a bowling ball.
That is *exactly* how my mom described giving birth to me when I was a kid. I always kinda thought she said it to make me laugh...I never thought she meant it literally.

[timneh_mom]

I think it might be normal. I don't remember the exact sensation, but I do recall crying out to the nurses "I really feel like I'm gong to go number twooooo!" What a dork I was :LOL.

LOL!!!!! I had back labor and the nurse got me on my hands and knees to try to alleviate it. I told her, "It feels like I'm gonna let it fly!" meaning I was gonna crap everywhere!! She said "You won't, don't worry!" and she was right. :)

That angel turned my posterior baby so he was born face down. Being on all fours felt pretty humiliating at that point but it was worth it in the end!

[MamaTaraX]

LOL "butt labor"!! That's a great term! There's nothing you can do to prevent it. I was at a birth Saturday night and themom just madea face that lookedlike that's whatshe was feeling but didn't want to say it, so thenurse explained to her how normal it is and how the nerves and muscles work. It was neat hearing her explain it to ease thismom's mind. And she told her that just in case she really did poop, it wasn'ta big deal. The mom relaxed, it was nice. I guess I'm alucky one in that I never really had that "I'm gonna poop a bowling ball!" feeling but I can tel you that I've experienced the wierdness that is constipation this pregnancy...I've NEVER been constipated before...and the sensation *is* eerily similar to pushing out a baby.S o much so that one day I told my husband I didn't wnat to push out another baby LOL

Namaste, Tara
mama to Doodle (7), Butterfly (2), and Rythm (due at home 1/06)

[Guest*]

:LOL "Butt-labor" I love that because that's exactly what it feels like. Nobody told me it may feel like pooping a bowling ball, so when I was on the toilet trying to push out poop, I didn't know I was actually trying to push out my baby!

Not until I felt her head did it click for me that that was what giving birth feels like.

[MrsMoe]

Felt like this for me also.

[orangebird]

this is a bit embarassing but I'm sure many other mamas have experienced this- when I had ds I was expecting to have a lot of vaginal pressure/ stretching sensations but I didn't at all until he was crowning- I literally felt like my butt was going to explode and the baby come out of my colon! It was excrutiating and not at all what I expected. Is this just normal or is there some way to prevent this from happening with any future births?
My baby felt like it was coming out my butt this last birth. Labor was normal (if a one hour transition-only labor is normal ;)) but when I pushed him out, whoa! I don't know if it was because he had a nuchal arm or what but it felt like he was coming out my butt. I was bulging out by my butt and I even put my fingers inside myself as he was almost out, plenty of room in the vagina, why is my baby leaning back and trying to come out my butt? I thought for sure I was going to get a huge splitting tear towards my anus. My midwife grabbed a washcloth and put counterpressure on that area (IMO that doesn't probably really prevent tears but it helped me mentally so I was able to push) and I had ZERO tears or skidmarks. Amazing. I thought for sure I would split in two.

[LoveChild421]

good to know I'm not the only one :p I really hope the next labor is different- it's funny how unprepared I was for that sensation though- maybe that made it worse- none of the ladies in Ina May's books ever look like they're gonna take a mighty crap! not fair! :LOL

I was bulging out by my butt and I even put my fingers inside myself as he was almost out, plenty of room in the vagina, why is my baby leaning back and trying to come out my butt? I thought for sure I was going to get a huge splitting tear towards my anus. My midwife grabbed a washcloth and put counterpressure on that area (IMO that doesn't probably really prevent tears but it helped me mentally so I was able to push) and I had ZERO tears or skidmarks. Amazing. I thought for sure I would split in two.

same here! Except my dp was doing the counterpressure- I wasn't even able to push until he did that! it helped so much! zero tears, a couple ittybitty skidmarks :shrug

[lizabird]

I actually was prepared for that sensation, having read the Ina May Guide to Childbirth, several birth stories in there mention this sensation. I think I said something during labor like " they're right, it really does feel like a huge constipated poop", then everyone laughed and then I pushed out a baby. So, nope, you're not alone. It's funny how this is such a common feeling yet no one wants to talk about it, so it's such a surprise for a woman in labor. :blush

:) lizabird

[citizenfong]

My baby felt like it was coming out my butt this last birth. Labor was normal (if a one hour transition-only labor is normal ;)) but when I pushed him out, whoa! I don't know if it was because he had a nuchal arm or what but it felt like he was coming out my butt. I was bulging out by my butt and I even put my fingers inside myself as he was almost out, plenty of room in the vagina, why is my baby leaning back and trying to come out my butt? I thought for sure I was going to get a huge splitting tear towards my anus. My midwife grabbed a washcloth and put counterpressure on that area (IMO that doesn't probably really prevent tears but it helped me mentally so I was able to push) and I had ZERO tears or skidmarks. Amazing. I thought for sure I would split in two.

This describes my second birth well. He was also born with a nuchal hand!

It's true that that is just how it feels for some women. However, I don't think that it's the norm for me. With my first birth I did not experience that sensation at all! With my second my body started pushing on it's own (just like with my first) but pushing in my bum. After a bit it started pushing in the right place. Seriously, a totally different sensation for me (thank GOD!). I honestly believe that the "rear pushing" was my body trying to reposition a malpostioned baby. And I believe it worked.

Just my .02.

[scrappingmom]

I know the feeling as well .. very well termed there "butt labor"

I dont know if it was a fluke or if it really was what helped but when i was having that feeling i did 2 things... 1 invisioned the pushing with my belly and told myself "dont waste energy trying to poop" and 2.. i sat up more, this felt like it enabled me to put more pressure pushing the baby out. Now i have no idea if either of those ACTUALY did anything.. but mentally they did :D .. and sint that half the battle???? :wink

being 5yrs since the birth of my last one i'd forgoten about that part of it..lol thanks fort he reminder ;)

[orangebird]

Yes, my previous labor didn't feel like butt-labor either. The two births were completely different, sensation wise (my first was medicated so didn't feel like anything. I also think I had the butt thing because of his funky position. My previous delivery I felt it more vaginally. And that time I felt more like I was going to tear up towards my clitorus. Upwards, not back toward my butt.

[sunnylady303]

How funny - I had forgotten about that part of it. But yeah, I was pushing my dd out and insisting I had to get off the table and poop. Everyone was saying, "no, you're not moving, that's the baby you feel." And I was like, "I know what it feels like to have to poop and I REALLY have to." But they wouldn't listen to me and sure enough they were right - it was the baby and no poop at all. :LOL

[applejuice]

With all of my babies, I had a major case of diarrhea the day before...then I was nauseous, so my digestive tract was completely empty. Nothing there, so when I had that "sensation", I knew it had to be the baby since nature had emptied out the bowels and stomach before hand..

That is just me.