Anal Armageddon - Surviving Your First Poop After Birth (Including Cesareans)
Being pregnant you can get away with a lot of things but if this is a work laptop it’s probably not wise to put ‘anal armageddon’ in your browser if you’re planning on coming back to read this article but seeing as you’re here now let’s get on with the business of post labor poop.
The thoughts of having the first bowel movement after labor (whether you had a tear or not) can bring about heart palpitations. Your nurse might casually mention it but this topic really does deserve some attention. You and your butt have been through a lot over the last 9 months between hemorrhoids and constipation in pregnancy to wondering if you still have a butt after labor (trust me the sensation DOES come back).
Ideally we’re going for the Type 3 or Type 4 poop although somewhere in the middle (think softserve ice cream consistency is ideal for that first poop).
So what can you do to make that poop a lot less stressful?
Chances are your digestive system had a clear out before or during labor so you probably won’t need to poop for a day or two but it won’t be far from your mind. You’ll have limited sensation around the pelvic floor/rectum just due to labor but that all comes back as the days pass.
Eat your veggies! Ask for high fiber foods in hospital and stock up at home.
Take all the drugs (however opiods in an epidural can slow down the bowel causing constipation and you do NOT want to be constipated right now). If you’ve had an epidural and/or opioids before a cesarean you may want to ask for a stool softener.
Slow deep breaths – just like in labor and minimal pushing – let your body do the work.
Hold a pad against your perineum to give you some support (better still - make some soothing cold padsicles when you get home…ahhh perineal bliss).
A light spray of Dermaplast can be really soothing before and after - but you don’t want to be so numb that you’ve no sensation for the ‘crowning’ part of the first post partum poop.
Get a low stool for positioning (a squatty potty helps your body poop more effectively and reduces constipation. If you don’t have a low stool in your postpartum room for breastfeeding ask for one so that your knees are slightly higher than your hips.
Use wipes to wipe so you can be as gentle and hygienic as possible - there’s a LOT going on down there at the moment.
What helped you to get over the first post birth poop trauma? (I’m joking…it’s really not that bad but we tend to build it up into armageddon in our minds).
Apologies for ruining soft serve ice cream/froyo for anyone!