Who Gave a Crap? The Funny Truth About Delivery Room Accidents

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Let's talk about the one childbirth fear that keeps many expectant mothers up at night – pooping during labor. As a doula, massage therapist, and mother of two, I've witnessed firsthand how this perfectly natural bodily function creates unnecessary anxiety for birthing people everywhere.

The science is straightforward: when you're pushing your baby out, you're using the exact same muscle groups involved in bowel movements. Your baby's head applies pressure to your rectum as it descends, potentially causing any remaining stool to be expelled. Far from being embarrassing, this is actually evidence that you're pushing effectively! The statistics? It happens to roughly one in three women, but here's the surprising part – most never even know it occurred because birth teams handle it with such practiced discretion.

What strikes me most from supporting countless births is how quickly these worries evaporate in the delivery room. The moment active labor begins, concerns about bodily functions fade against the backdrop of the extraordinary work your body is performing. And once that baby is placed in your arms? Trust me, you won't remember or care about anything else that happened in that room.

Birth is inherently messy, unpredictable, and beautiful. Your healthcare providers have truly seen it all – amniotic fluid, blood, vernix, and yes, sometimes poop. None of it phases them. They're focused on safely bringing your baby earthside, not judging natural bodily functions. So take a deep breath and release this particular worry. Your body knows exactly what it's doing, even when it's doing things society has taught us to find embarrassing.

Share this episode with an expectant friend who might need to hear this message. Remember, the path to motherhood asks us to surrender certain social constructs around control and modesty – and in that surrender, we discover our remarkable strength.

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Episode Transcript

Deborah (00:13):
Hey Mamas, you're listening to Tend and Befriend,
a podcast about women's mentaland physical health.
This is Deborah.
I'm a mom of two, a labor andbirth coach and birth advocate,
a health professional, and todayI'm your host.
Let's dive into today's episode.
Any information you hear orthat is suggested or recommended

(00:35):
on these episodes is notmedical advice.
Hi everyone, and welcome toTend and Be Friend, the podcast,
where we tackle all thingspregnancy, postpartum and

(00:56):
motherhood with a mix of science, education and a little bit of
humor.
I'm Deborah, your host, yourdoula, a registered massage
therapist and the person who'shere to tell you the truth about
everything, including the stuffthat no one talks about.
Today we're diving into one ofthe biggest unspoken fears many
birthing moms have poopingduring labor.

(01:19):
Yes, we are going there, solet's flesh out the stigma and
talk about why it happens, thescience behind it and why it
should really be no big deal.
Let's start with some honesty.
If you're worried about poopingduring labor, you're not alone.
I definitely was fearful of itfor my first birth.

(01:42):
This fear comes up in so manyof my childbirth education
classes and doula consultationsand, let's be real, it's a
completely valid concern.
No one wants to think abouthaving a bowel movement in front
of their partner or theirmidwife or an entire medical
team.
But here's the thing it's alsoone of the most normal and

(02:03):
natural things that can happenduring childbirth.
Let's break it downscientifically, shall we?
When you're in the pushingstage of labor, your body is
essentially doing the same thingit does during a bowel movement
, using the same muscles andapplying the same pressure.
Your rectum is right next toyour vagina, so when the baby's
head moves down through thebirth canal, it naturally puts

(02:26):
pressure on your bowels, and ifthere's anything in your rectum,
it's come out.
It is not a sign of failure.
It is not to be embarrassed.
In fact, it's actually a signthat you're pushing effectively,
If you're using the rightmuscles to bring your baby into
the world, your body isn't goingto discriminate between baby
and poop.
It's getting the job done.

(02:49):
But how often does it actuallyhappen?
Studies suggest it happens toabout one in three women during
labor.
But here's the kicker Mostwomen don't even know that it's
happened.
Why?
Because your birth team handlesit so discreetly.
Doctors, midwives and nurseshave seen it all.
They're not fazed by a littlepoop and they're not going to

(03:09):
announce it.
Most of the time, they'll wipeit away before you even realize
it has happened.
For them, it's just a part ofthe process.
Now let's talk about perspective.
Yeah, the idea of poopingduring labor might feel
mortifying when you're pregnantand imagining every detail of
your birth, but when you're inthe moment, it's likely going to

(03:30):
be the last thing that youthink about.
You're focused on theincredible work your body is
doing and the baby that you'reso very close to meeting.
And let me tell you, onceyou're holding that beautiful
baby, you won't care about thepoop, or anything else for that
matter.
All the embarrassment, theworry and the modesty poof gone,

(03:51):
Because you just did one of themost powerful, all inspiring
things a human can do youbrought life into the world.
Let's lighten the mood for asecond.
I've had clients tell me somehilarious stories about pooping
during labor, and I remember onemom really having a lot of
hesitation about pooping infront of her partner, and even

(04:14):
to the point where she didn'tactually want to talk about it
with him.
On my table she told me thatshe was really, really worried
and that she wanted to bring itup to him, but she was really
afraid to.
So, after much hesitation andapprehension.
She brought it up with him andthe first thing that he said to

(04:37):
her was babe, that's nothing,who cares?
And here's another funny storyDuring a delivery that I was
assisting, the mom cried duringher pushing stage and said I'm
pooping, I can smell it.
And I said it's not you, it'sDr Tomc who was the OB that was

(04:59):
assisting, and he was a littlemore than offended.
And his response was thatwasn't me.
And I followed up with way totake one for the team.
Dr Tomc and everyone in theroom laughed, except Dr Tomc,
which you know I understand itwas pretty funny, though

(05:21):
Laughing about this can reallytake away some of the fear and
the stigma.
Remember, this is just anotherquirky part of the messy,
miraculous process of bringing ababy into the world.
If you're still feeling anxiousabout it, here are a few things
you could do.
You could talk to your birthteam, let your doula, your nurse
or doctor know about yourconcerns.
They can reassure you andremind you that it's not that

(05:44):
big of a deal and you can focuson the bigger picture.
Remember that your primary goalis to safely bring your baby
into the world.
Everything else is justbackground noise.
So there you have it, the truthabout pooping during labor.
It's normal, it's common andit's really not that big of a

(06:05):
deal.
If you take one thing away fromtoday's episode, let it be this
Childbirth is messy, but it'salso magical.
Don't let the fear of somethingso small overshadow the beauty
of bringing your baby earthside.
Thanks for tuning in to Tendand Befriend.
If you found this episodehelpful or funny, please share

(06:26):
it with a friend or two or leavea review.
And remember mama, you'reamazing, no matter what happens
in the delivery room.
Until next time, take care ofyou and keep nurturing that
beautiful journey of motherhoodand let's talk soon.
Talk to you soon, Okay, let'stalk soon.