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Subject: enema and labor


Author:
Duchess
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Date Posted: Saturday, March 17, 2012, 03:45: pm
 have read on this message board (and over on the one for women) that enemas and shaving are making a comeback in the labor and delivery ward of hospitals nowadays. I had 5 children between 2003 and 2010 and I was neither shaved nor was asked or "forced" to take an enema.

I think in one way the enema can be good if the patient's labor has stalled or a way to get contractions started. I think it certainly beats the pitocin drip that is routinely handed out, and CERTAINLY beats a c-section. I'd rather get a large volume enema ANYDAY than a c-section!

However, I don't see how this could be helpful if the woman is already having hard contractions and her labor is very obviously progressing along. I don't believe the whole "clean out" crap for one second. If you insert irritating water into the bowels of a woman who is having hard contractions, chances are that water is going to come back out before anyone can get her to a bedpan, bedside commode, or a toilet. Most women already end up stripped of their dignity during this process, why add to it by making them mess themselves all over the bed. Many women are absolutely humiliated that they then have to be cleaned up by hospital staff, no matter how reassuring they may be (sometimes they are not--even worse!).

Furthermore, I have heard too many stories of an enema being giving and the contents don't come out until she is pushing the baby out--or close to it. There is no way to guarantee that all of the enema is going to come out before the pushing stage. Sometimes the enema doesn't work until she IS pushing. So much for sparing her the embarrassment of not pooping on the doctor. Frankly, if I were the doctor getting pooped on, I'd rather take my chance with a solid BM than on that has been liquified by an enema.

There was a nurse named Charlene on this board that used to talk about this subject because they still gave enemas to women in childbirth. I'd love to hear from her or anyone else.
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Replies:
[> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Catherine A.
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Date Posted: Sunday, March 18, 2012, 01:31: pm
During labor was NOT the times I wanted an enema. My two daughters, born 1986 and 1988, arrived very nicely without enemas or shaves.

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[> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Sally
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Date Posted: Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 09:03: am
My daughter had a baby six months ago. She did not get a shave, but she was given two Dulcolax suppositories for a prep.
Within ten minutes she was on the bedpan.
Has this happpened to anyone else?

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[> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Duchess
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Date Posted: Thursday, March 22, 2012, 07:17: am
I haven't heard of anyone getting suppositories during labor. Did she get it in early labor or late (BTW, sometimes early labor can progress to late labor pretty quickly).

I didn't receive suppositories or an enema during labor. I know I have pooped twice during labor, and one time during the laboring process on the bed. There is one time that I suspected I did, but that particular time I would have been glad to have a wet poop all over the people that were not allowing me to push because the doctor wasn't there ( I know they meant well). Sometimes when you are having hard contractions you CAN'T call for the bedpan.

What is worse is when the doctor makes a snarky comment or the nurses give you dirty looks. Often they don't let patients up to go to the bathroom, so what else can they expect?

I don't think a suppository or enema would have saved me the embarrassment, only irrated my system into producing more BM, possibly a wet one.

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Charlene
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Date Posted: Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 04:45: pm
You are right. The large SSE is making a comeback in labor wards at many hospitals. The enema serves several purposes.

1. Many times the bowels are full and the mom to be refrains from pushing like she should, because of the possibility of pooping everywhere.A 1 1/2 quart soap water enema is very uncomfortable for the mother, but does a really good job of cleaning out the bowel.When mom is cleaned out, she will concentrate on pushing as required.

2. A large soap water enema will also help bring on strong contractions to really get labor going.

3. Lastly, these young doctors have a strong dislike of being around poop. More and more of these youngsters will order large soapy enemas upon admittance.

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Duchess
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Date Posted: Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 07:35: pm
I think more and more of these young doctors will rethink the enema when they get pooped on because the enema loosened stool that would have been solid (a nursing student once told me a very embarassing story about that happening). If I am going to be pooped on, I would rather it be solid. If the laboring woman looses control of the enema all over the bed the doctors aren't cleaning it up, it is the nurses.

And what if she can't expel the enema until she is pushing out the baby? That does happen you know.

Unless I was in very early labor, or my labor had stalled, I would be refusing the "doctor-ordered" enema.

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Jamie (Oh please!)
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Date Posted: Monday, August 20, 2012, 12:12: pm
This is exactly why I've my kids at home! What medical necessity is there for enemas? Hmm...? Seems to me it's for the immature doctors and lazy nurses. Sickening!

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Sheila
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Date Posted: Friday, March 30, 2012, 01:09: pm
I was shaved and given the "dreaded" HHH enema prior to delivering all three of my children in the '60's. It is not a pleasant experience but, as my mother told me when I balked at the idea, "Everyone surivives the enema." I remember being preg with my first and given an informational phamphlet about the delivery process. It clearly stated "You will be given a large, cleansing enema. . ." I sure was. I was surprised that when my daughter-in-law gave birth, she was neither shaved not given an enema. She did get a suppository the next day . My daughter had her children in a birthing center two years later. She was given a cleansing enema.

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Duchess
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Date Posted: Saturday, March 31, 2012, 07:14: am
I was always given stool softeners after I delivered.

I am glad that it seems your enema contents made it to a toilet/bedpan. Some women are not that lucky, and end up with lasting memories of having a watery poop in front (or even on)strangers.

With my third child his head was crowning by the time anyone bothered to check my cervix. I would certainly hope that no one would waste time trying to give an enema in that circumstance!

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Charlene
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Date Posted: Sunday, April 29, 2012, 11:38: am
I know the administration of a large cleansing enema to a laboring mother is not very pleasant, with the contractions from labor ,and the cramping from the enema. I have found that having the mother relax, taking deep breaths, and inserting the tubing further into the bowel takes away some of the discomfort. In addition this type of enema is given in early labor because it takes 20 to 30 minutes to expel, and removes the majority of fecal matter from the bowel.

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Nancy
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Date Posted: Saturday, May 26, 2012, 03:51: pm
I can relate with your experience. Mine was the same. The pre-delivery enemas were quite awful but we all did survive. It does seem that pre-delivery enemas have made a come-back. My daughter was not given enemas with her first two babies but had a third last year. She was very surprised when the nurse told her she was going to be given an enema. When she complained that she'd had two prior deliveries without having an enema, the nurse told her that this OB insists on it. My daughter asked if it was "just a Fleet." The nurse said it was a good old-fashioned soapsuds enema. After the nurse pumped the 3 qts into her, she told her to sit on the toliet for 20 minutes.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Charlene
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Date Posted: Monday, June 04, 2012, 07:45: pm
Yes,the large soap water enemas are uncomfortable, but when all is said & done the mother fares better. The very large enemas are only given in very early labor. This will give enough time for the bowels to expel all the liquid.

1. If the intestines are clear, mother will be willing to push with the appropriate muscles to release baby. She will not have to worry about pooping everywhere.

2. The OB's , both male & female prefer to have the mom to be enemaed with large SSE.

3. These large soap water enemas also hydrate the mother to be.

4. After a good enema, it will take the bowel 3 -4 days to be ready to poop again. This will allow mom's soreness to subside

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
helene
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Date Posted: Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 01:58: pm
I couldn't agree more! As a retired nurse who have hundreds of pre-delivery enemas, you are absolutely correct. However, Besides the physical benefits of the good cleansing enema, there was a psychological benefit as well. After "Mom" was shaved and had taken her enema, she was far less fearful of soiling herself and focused on the instructions during labor and delivery. My approach was calm and matter-of-fact while administering the enema and as many times as I heard "Stop, I can't take any more," the truth is the bag was emptied and retained to provide a thorough cleansing.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Sarah's daughter
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Date Posted: Monday, September 03, 2012, 05:02: pm
Large enemas arent used in Germany, but usually 3/4 - 1 litre. Soap isnt used either as irritated bowels after birth arent useful.
German young ladies today can decide if an enema is given, and I think most but surely not all take the enema. It somewhat depends on the hospital - in some hospitals moms are asked if they want an enema, in others they have to ask for it. But all can refuse the enema, and I never heard of moms who didnt get an enema if they wanred it and there was no medical reason against (e.g. too late).
Husbands or grandmothers-to-be sometimes give the enema instead of a nurse or midwife if the mom desires this.
Enemaed hugs
Little Helen

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[> Subject: Re: enema and labor (To Nancy)


Author:
Catherine A.
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Date Posted: Sunday, May 27, 2012, 12:14: am
Sounds like daughter has a different OB for her third delivery. The doctor has to be a guy. I can't imagine that a female doc these days would order a SSE for a mom in labor unless there's a compelling reason. And why 3 qts? That borders on torture.

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[> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor (To Nancy)


Author:
Marianne
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Date Posted: Sunday, May 27, 2012, 04:23: am
In Germany pre-delivery enemas are usually not oredered by a doctor. When I gave birth to my 3 daughters and when my daughters gave birth to my (by now) 3 grandchildren, we were ASKED if we wanted an enema - we wanted.
Enemaed hugs
Marianne

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[> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor (To Nancy)


Author:
Little Sarah
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Date Posted: Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 12:27: pm
A 3 quarts SSE before childbirth? In Germany such large enemas (more than 1 litre) are unusual. And doctors prefer an enema of 1 litre water or salt solution the lady decides to receive to a SSE she remembers her right to refuse it - which almost all German women would do.
Enemaed hugs
Little Helen

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor (To Little Helen)


Author:
Marianne
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Date Posted: Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 06:17: pm
I agree. I and my saughtres were asked if we wanted an enema - we wanted. 1 litre without soap is more comfortable than no enema at all. But I think we would have given birth without an enema if only 3 quart SSE had been offered.
Prep-enemaed hugs
Marianne

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[> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Barbara
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Date Posted: Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 06:57: am
Quite a few years aga, I did get a pre-delivery soapsuds enena. Also, I got "soapies" on the mornibg of my discharge.
Did anyone else have this happen?

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[> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Marianne (to Barbara)
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Date Posted: Sunday, September 02, 2012, 05:37: pm
I was asked if I wanted an enema before the births of my 3 daughters - I wanted. But of cause no soap was used. And I didnt get an enema before my discharge. And it was the same when my 3 daughters gave birth.
Enemaed hugs
Marianne

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[> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Marlene
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Date Posted: Saturday, June 30, 2012, 01:03: am
When my three children were born, two daughters in 1976 & 1978 and my son in 1981, I received prep and discharge enemas for all occurrences. The prep enemas were very difficult; the discharge ones were easy compared to the prep ones. They were not given in the hospital, all were given at home prior to going to the hospital and after returning by my Aunt Kathy who was an RN.

Marlene

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[> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Laura
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Date Posted: Friday, August 31, 2012, 11:55: am
I am pregnant for the first time. My OB practice has four doctors and in a recent appointment the prep enema was discussed. Two of the doctors prescribe them, two don't so it depends who is on call when I go into labor. My grandmother, mother and mother-in-law all believe I should have the enema while my friends tell me NO WAY. Now I am very nervous about who will be the one delivering the baby. My husband thinks the whole thing is funny and since he'll be present is encouraging me to have the prep. What do you think?

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Catherine A.
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Date Posted: Friday, August 31, 2012, 06:51: pm
To Laura...No matter the doctor who is on call, you have the right to refuse an enema. You can refuse your husband's encouragement, too. However, if you feel that having an enema would make you more comfortable during delivery, you also have the right to say yes. And you also have the right to ask your husband to wait outside the room while you are getting the enema. If he won't listen to you, the nurses will do the asking for you!!

Most younger women today skip the enema, and they do just fine. Past generations of women in labor often had no choice. You do.

Personally, I take enemas for health reasons (they can feel good as well). However, if I were in labor today, I'd probably pass on the enema. I had a SSE enema with my oldest, who's now 26, and it wasn't pleasant. I skipped the enema three years later with my youngest.

Remember, your choice. You're the one having the baby, not them. Blessings to you and Godspeed.

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor to Catherine


Author:
Laura
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Date Posted: Saturday, September 01, 2012, 10:25: am
Thank you so much. Everyone seems to have a different opinion on this. I've been doing alot of reading on the subject as well. I do know I have the right to refuse taking the enema. I also know that during delivery the baby will put pressure on the rectum which may cause me to poop. Both my mother and mother-in-law insist that having the enema will make labor easier for me in the long run. My grandmother says I am being "ridiculous." My husband thinks the whole thing is funny. I don't think he'd feel that way if he had to have it.

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor to Catherine


Author:
Susan
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Date Posted: Saturday, September 01, 2012, 01:58: pm
I can't believe this whole discussion. They don't give the old huge enema anymore! If they give an enema, it's a Fleet bottle. No big deal! I give them all the time-Just let them shave you and roll on your side. You should be more concerned about having a healthy baby not your enema.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor to Catherine


Author:
Marianne (to Susan)
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Date Posted: Monday, September 03, 2012, 05:35: am
Enemas before births arent a big deal indeed. But there are so many discussions about this because taking or refusing an enema is one of the few things moms are left to decide. When my mother gave birth to my brother she was given an enema without choice. When I was born she remembers as a nice aspect she was asked if she wanted the enema - and the enema taken by own decision was not unpleasant.
Enemaed hugs
Marianne

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Little Sarah
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Date Posted: Sunday, September 02, 2012, 04:56: pm
You surely are NOT ridiculous. As your mother and your mother-in-law gave birth, they probably felt a little better with enemas. I also got enemas before the births of my daughters. And BTW my husband didnt think the thing was funny. He clystered me before driving me to hospital.
If it were possible I would take the enema for you. But it isnt - so I can only recommend you to receive it. You have to decide - its YOUR body.
Clystered hugs
Little Sarah

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[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor to Laura


Author:
Sarah's daughter
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Date Posted: Sunday, September 02, 2012, 06:12: pm
Dear Laura,
an enema before childbirth isnt horrible. I had enemas before the births of my 2 babies - given by my husband.
The advantages:
1. there is more space for the baby with empty bowels,
2. there is less danger of soiling youself,
3. it can make labor stronger,
4. it rehydrates you,
5. you can recover some time before you have to poop after birth,
6. you please your grandmother, mother, mother-in-law and husband by taking the enema.
You have to decide as its your bottom.
I wish you an enema without big disscomfort, a birth with little pain and a healthy baby.
Enemaed hugs
Little Helen

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[> [> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Marianne (to Laura)
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Date Posted: Sunday, September 02, 2012, 12:46: pm
Dear Laura,
you have the right refuse the enema if you dont want it. I hope you also can get an enema if you want it - also a doctor who usually doesnt prescribe it is on order.
My grandmother, mother and mother-in-law encouraged me to take an enema before my 1st baby. The experience of this made me decide for enemas before the births of my 2nd ans 3rd daughter. I encouraged my 3 daughters to receive enemas before their 1st births - so they did. They tell me they want enemas also before further births.
Prep-enemaed hugs
Marianne

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[> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Fran
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Date Posted: Tuesday, September 04, 2012, 10:28: pm
Above, Susan said, Just let them shave you and roll on your side. I didn't think they did and shaving anymore at least in the U.S. Do they still do that in some parts of the country? Or is Susan from another country where they still do that?

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[> [> Subject: Re: enema and labor


Author:
Marianne
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Date Posted: Wednesday, September 05, 2012, 04:27: am
When my 3 daughters gave birth, they were asked if they wanted to be shaved - they didnt want. And they were asked about an enema - they wanted an enema in side position without soap. As the midwife said at the birth of my 1st granddaughter decisions about the enema depend lagely on family traditions - enemas are taken by ladies born with enema prep.
Enemaed hugs
Marianne

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