Yay or nay to enema?

I always have an enema when I go into labour - well since my 2nd birth anyway - so 3 times now. I find that without an enema the ctx are more painful. This makes sense to me because when I have my period if I get cramps they always go once i've had a bowel movement. A lot of women get constipated when pregnant - me included, and being backed up is just not something I want to add into the labouring picture. I also tend to agree that anything that will make you feel inhibited in labour should be considered important. THat's why I birth without attendants - having them there makes me feel self conscious and that slows my labour considerably and quite noticeably. I think that enemas got a bad name mroe because they were mandatory in hospitals for so long than because they don't have a place. Obviously it's a personal decision that each woman should make for herself.

Heather

I would say that it really depends on why you want to use one: is it to relieve constipation and/or to get labour going? or is it to hopefully ward off pooing while you're pushing?

If it's to relieve constipation or get labour going, then I would imagine a warm water enema in a safe and secure environment would help.

If it's an attempt to prevent a bowel movement while pushing, then you're not necessarily going to see any benefit from it. It may or may not work the way you want it to. One of the reasons (or so I've read) that enemas have fallen out of favour during births is because they really weren't seeing a difference between occurrences of BMs during labour where an enema was used and occurrences of BMs during labour where no enema was used.

For me, I wouldn't consider one. I haven't had many problems at all with constipation, and if my menstrual cycles are anything to go by, my body will want to void at some point during labour. Granted, this didn't stop me from purchasing shoulder length disposable OB gloves and a debris net for the birth pool! I figure it's best to be prepared for all sorts of scenarios.

I am almost certain I will give myself one next birth I have. I have some psychological issues regarding my bottom and BMs due to molestation that happened to me as a child. I was absolutely humiliated and very upset, discouraged, etc. by having a BM with my son in the hospital. Now, this was in front of a bunch of strangers. When I had my UC, I was still very upset by it and I think the fear of it happening held my labor up once I got closer to delivery. My husband did not care one bit and got a very intimate view of all of that stuff. Even still, I was very self-conscious of it and I think it affected how I pushed, held back, etc. I think the fear of it and trauma issues may have influenced the tearing I received.

I understand why people would want to discourage routine use of enemas. I think by and large, they are not helpful. But I think if only for a psychological comfort, I will use one next time. As I said, too, I think that my tendency to be "anal retentive" made it difficult for me to have a normal BM during labor BEFORE the baby came down, so I think an enema would be helpful.