I’m talking about poo.
Not bright yellow breastfeedy poo that smells like vinegar and brings tears to the eyes, not weirdy poo with streaks of fluff they’ve sucked off a teddy bear and has you running to Google and not the first one they do on a potty. I’m talking about your poo. Or more specifically, childbirth poo.
Why does nobody talk about the ‘P’ word?
This week I had lunch with friends, one of whom is expecting her first baby and planning a home birth, and two of whom are already mums.
While discussing the pros and cons of a home birth one of my friends said the reason she wouldn’t do it is because there are certain things you’d rather forget, and she wouldnβt want her other half reminded every time he walked into the living room. Like sieves.
Why does nobody talk about the ‘P’ word?
We all knew she was referring to poo, but instead of talking about it we all laughed merrily, exchangedΒ knowingΒ looksΒ and moved onto the next subject.
Why does nobody talk about the ‘P’ word?
We’re quite happy to talk about their poo and all manner of pregnancy-related horrors from hairs on our chins to the state of our foo-foos, but childbirth poo seems to be a no-go area.
According to midwife Clemmie Hooper the ‘majority’ of women poo during labour, yet all we ever do is allude to it.
Even at antenatal classes there’s plenty of talk of sieves with much nudging and smirking but nobody reallyΒ talks about the ‘P’ word.
Why does nobody talking about the ‘P’ word? Thoughts please!
Linking up with these fabulous blogs!
Everyone I know does, everything out and the vulnerability doesn’t stop with the pooh. #PostsFromTheHeart
I don’t have children, so this is new to me. Obviously my friends with children didn’t get into these details. I think it shouldn’t be talked about if there is enough support from the NHS, leaflets and so on. If the midwife is not talking about it, that is an issue. A woman should know what to expect.
This is so true! Both that no one ever talks about it, and that most women do it. I trained as a midwife and there was poo at pretty much every birth…it’s inevitable when everything is being squeezed down there! But even knowing that, I’m still dreading doing it myself when my time comes again (in the next few days, hopefully!!). We need to normalise the poo!
#PostsFromTheHeart
I had a c section but did find out about said p word from a few close friends. I guess some are embarrassed. Not my friends lol
I suppose people find it embarrassing but we all do it and in childbirth it’s very common. My husband still brings it up now and again, but I just remind him that if he was pushing out a 8 and a half pound baby out of a hole that is clearly far too small then he would poo himself too #twinklytuesday
I was really worried about pooing during childbirth, but when I was in labour I was so high on gas and air I didn’t even realise and truthfully, you really don’t care when you’re in the middle of it all! The first I knew about poo in childbirth was from the film the Back Up Plan.
This was one of my biggest fears but thankfully I didn’t with any of my three!! It’s nothing the midwife hasn’t seen before though! #twinklytuesday
I get why some find it awkward to discuss-luckily I don’t!!!
Great post!
#PostsFromTheHeart
That is so true! My friends and I talk about everything and anything, but pooping during labour has never been mentioned, now I know what my next topic will be at our next Prosecco fueled gathering… #twinklytuesday
Ooo you’ve just taken me right back to my labour and I’ve got all sentimental! I think I asked the other half if I’d poo’d and he didn’t seem to think I had! I don’t care either way and it certainly wasn’t so ethibf I was worried about once i was in labour! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Haha…I was thinking p for pants? P for periods? Nope it’s p for poo! Classic.
I think there’s a reason people don’t talk about poo after childbirth….it may lead to no more babies being born? Sooo painful! Anyway, great post! #twinklytuesday
I worried about it with my first, but then at the time I didn’t know it had even happened! It worried me a little less with my second and again, I definitely pooped but I had no idea about it with all the pain of everything else going on!
Im not sure as me and my mates love a good poo chat, birth poo, after birth its all good here in devon! thanks for sharing #TwinklyTuesday
haha really don’t! I pooped a bit with my second but not my first! I blame it on being scared to go before I left the house in case she came out!! haha. Great post xx #twinklytuesday
Haha i had a pool birth and im pretty sure i pooped at the same time as my waters broke and logan popped out, i honestly didnt still dont care, i couldnt stop it XD
#TwinklyTuesday
It is a natural thing and very common during the pregnancy. No one talks about it so often but needs to be clearly discussed with the husband. It is the only way to make him accept the reality that “it’s natural and nothing like embarrassing in it.”
I talk about poo all the time. Worriedly I even got excited when I saw this post! I didn’t poo in birth, either time. I had terrible poos for the first few hours of labour this time though, I just couldn’t stop, so I doubt there was any left! #familyfunlinky
Oh this made me smile. Having had sections I don’t feel I can offer my experience of the matter! Loving reading the comments though!! #FamilyFun
You are so right. No one talks about poo. It is naturally going to happen with all the pushing.
I have had 2 c-sections so have no experience.
#bestandworst
I have no idea how it didn’t happen to me, but obviously it’s a natural reaction to all the pushing and nothing to be ashamed about! #FamilyFun
I believe it happened to me… but no one told me! I did catch a glimpse of the reaction from my husband though!! hahaha, it happens and its natural, but somehow we still avoid that word! Funny! #FamilyFunLinky
I’ve never really thought about how no-one talks about poo. I used to be a midwife so it’s not something I’ve ever shied away from talking and given that a lot of my friends are midwives or nurses, they don’t shy away from it either. I have to say, from a midwives’ perspective, poo in labour is a very encouraging sign – it means that the baby is almost here and so my perspective on it is a very positive one! #FamilyFunLinky
Well I talk about poo quite alot but being a Nurse I’m bound too ha! I don;t know why people don’t talk about it more really, it is such a normal bodily function! Thanks for linking up #bestandworst
weird isn’t it? personally, i had a homebirth and did a massive poo right into my husbands’ lap (poor sod…) it’s not something we like to recall over dinner, but I certainly wouldn’t have any problem telling pregnant friends about it!
popping over from #ablogginggoodtime
Hahah so true, although amongst my mummy friends its pretty much all we talk about!! My biggest fear of labour was pooing myself, thankfully I didn’t!! #twinklytuesday
I wish someone had warned me about the poo. It is so British not to. I’m sure my Dutch friends would. I’ll have to ask now! To #ablogginggoodtime
I have never really thought about it but you’re right. I didn’t even know it was a possibility until I was pregnant with my first. #TwinklyTuesday
Hahaha. I feel like there are all kinds of posts on Pinterest and blogs about pooping in labor! It was one of those thing that was in every “things no one tells you” lists and it was in handouts in our birthing class.
It’s one of those things that is funny to talk about..but if it happens, it’s probably not a big deal at all. π
Thanks for the giggle. #ablogginggoodtime
haha! I love talking about shit! So…many years ago when I trained to be a Nursery Nurse, age 18 I was on a placement on a labour ward and this woman whilst pushing, nudged one out. She was unaware and the midwife, discreetly wiped it away when the other half went ‘OMG you’ve just shit yourself!!’ It was sort of funny, sort of embarrassing for the mum that he had drawn attention to it. And then my friend passed out and that was the end of that. haha!
#PostsFromTheHeart
Ha I don’t know, perhaps it just makes people uncomfortable or embarrassed? It’s funny thoughbas we all talk about our kids poo and their nappies etc but our own oooh no. I guess we shouldn’t be so awkward about it really, but still we are… thanks for sharing at #familyfun
Oh boy yes. I remember being terrified this would happen! It didn’t (as far as I know!), but it was definitely something I was aware of.
Morgan x
#ablogginggoodtime
If it was my first pregnancy I would want people to tell me about things like this.
#FamilyFun
It’s a good point – I’m not sure though. I remember my sister telling me about the birth of her first years ago and it was the first time anyone had ever mentioned the poo issue!!!! #familyfunlinky
I remember my sister in law asking if I’d pooed when I gave birth, nobody else did though. Fortunately I didn’t, although I’m not sure my husband would have told me if I did. Still, the sieve was still left safely on the side of the birthing pool where it had been placed in preparation, so I’m 99.9% sure I didn’t!
I didn’t even know the poo issue existed until I was watching a documentary about birth. The thing is, it’s something that happens so frequently, I don’t know why people don’t talk about it more! #PostsFromTheHeart
Ha! This is so true!! In one of my earlier posts I talked about the shock of the first poo after baby was born… Why the hell did no-one warn me about THAT atrocity?! Hahaha! #ablogginggoodtime
I love this post so much. No poo here as I had two emergency c-sections, it was one of the things I worried about when I was pregnant though.
I have blanked it out π with my first I was completely numb down below due to a lot of local anaesthetic for the episeotomy: anything could have happened! #familyfunlinky
I had a c-section, so no story to tell. But I had read on blogs that it might happen. I guess no one wants to remember and so they just don’t talk about it! #TwinkyTuesday