[*Anna*]

I'm reading about what to expect after giving birth vaginally- and this I was unsure about???? Anyone experience "bowel incontinence"? Does that mean you just start pooping and can't control?

Internal organs on the move

While your uterus expands during pregnancy to accommodate your growing baby, it pushes many of your organs — including your stomach, large and small intestines, bladder, and heart — up and out of the way. Once your baby leaves the neighborhood after delivery, it won't take long for your organs to hightail it back to their old haunts. This repositioning can be one cause of bowel and bladder incontinence. Typically, incontinence is short lived, and everything will be back to normal within a few weeks.


ETA: I googled some more and found this... holy crap I am now going to do even more Kegals every day!!!! This scares me the most- and nothing else, not even childbirth scares me!!!


Is it common to have trouble controlling bowel movements or gas after giving birth?

Some women have some anal incontinence after childbirth, which means they have trouble controlling their gas, or less commonly, their bowel movements. You're most likely to have anal incontinence if you tore through your anal sphincter during the birth of your child. Serious tears involving the anal sphincter occur more often if you have an episiotomy, a big baby, or an assisted vaginal delivery (especially with forceps).

The more children you've had, the greater your risk of anal incontinence. Being obese may also increase your risk. Women who have c-sections are less likely to have anal incontinence than those who give birth vaginally, particularly if they have the surgery before going into labor.
How long will it last?

Most women regain control of their bowels within a few months, though others still have some incontinence many years later. Most of these women, though, have only occasional involuntary passing of gas.

Some women develop anal incontinence later, either as a result of an injury to the anal sphincter during delivery or the effect of pregnancy and childbirth on the pelvic floor nerves (or both). It can also be caused by other factors, such as chronic bowel disorders and just getting older.
How can I cope?



• Use absorbent underwear if you suffer from bowel leaks. Adult diapers are sold for this purpose in drugstores.

• Do regular Kegel exercises. They can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, giving you better control, and increase blood flow to your perineum, which aids healing. If you're not sure you're doing them correctly, review them with your healthcare practitioner during your checkup.

• Talk to your doctor or midwife if the incontinence lasts for more than a few months. In rare cases surgery is necessary to correct the problem.

[A*LOT*OF*HOPE]

That doesn't sound fun!!

[IamMom]

I never had anything like that - I had no trouble peeing normally right after he was born - like an hour after. And they gave me a stool softener to make going poo easier and it was no problem once it happened - the first one was like a day or two after....I didn't eat much the days leading up to my induction or the days after cause I was scared to poo during birth and then after the birth But it all came out fine after it was all said and done.

[Frozendesire]

Erm. Never had that. I hold my poop and pee just fine, and I don't do kegels like I should haha.

[ScottishBrit]

I was soooooooooooo scared to poop after but luckily It wasn't bad. Peeing was fine but burned a little for a few days. I think It was cause I was torn. But I will tell you for at least a month when I had to pee I had to go right then I couldn't hold it or I'd pee my pants. It's crazy how much control you lose after having a baby. LoL...

[soImarriedAnerd]

When they say 'some" women they really should say--REALLY RARE! I had ONE patient who had that happen...thats it and It was post 4th degree tear (from epsiotomy), plus posterior and need forceps--- and 12lb baby! I had hundreds have a problem NOT GOING because they were constipated/scared to push/or had a painful tear/swollen vaginal area (or combo). The tear they are talking about getting (the one that goes to your rectum) ---its almost impossible to get if you DON'T have an episotomy, and rare if you do. The normal tear naturally is 1-2 degrees with a very rare 3rd degree. A normal cut and tear with an episotomy is 2-3 with an occasional 4th (this the the two holes become one tear!), the cut they give you is usually past a 1st degree so you start with a 2nd then tear from there.
Quit googling this! LOL I can pretty much guarantee its not going to happen....its THAT RARE! Now get in your bubble of peace!!!!

Now urine incontinence---well heck aren't you sneezing and peeing a little already!? LOL its very common in pregnancy.

[~* Helen *~]

I never had anything like that, I just had the usual bleeding after!!!

[LisanAndy]

I never had any problem with pooping other then it being the tiniest bit uncomfortable the first few times but it was nothing major. I took some stool softeners and it was much better. Didn't help I had hemis after pushing for 90 mins so they were tender and I had to use hemi cream once I got home. I did have a problem peeing for a few weeks after though, couldn't tell you why.

[soImarriedAnerd]

^^^because during pregnancy everything rests on your bladder so it gets irritated by the weight then you go to sudden NON weight, then during delivery there is TONS of pressure on your bladder-a bladder can actually STOP the baby from coming down if full. (KEEP THOSE BLADDERS EMPTY in childbirth!!!!). You can really mess things up if you don't empty your bladder while in labor/pushing!

[~* Helen *~]

I never knew that about the bladder during childbirth Angela!!!

[**Jenn**]

I've never had an issue pooping or peeing afterwards. I never even used stool softeners and I was completely fine. I did tear some with both boys (not as bad with Lochy) but my only bathroom issue was wiping after I peed--I could only use the peri bottle and dab gently with toilet paper for a few weeks following the births. No problems actually going though.

[Mars]

I didn't mean to laugh but I couldn't help but smile reading your post because I used to worry about the same thing. Since I had a section I can't speak from experience but most persons I've known and asked about it never had those problems.

[*Anna*]

Ok Angela- I'm done googling this And I'm in my bubble I'm glad its rare, and I heard making sure I pee every hr during childbirth to keep my bladder empty- I told my doula and DH to make sure I do

Thanks everyone And thanks Angela for the nursing wisdom

[lauren in hi]

I never had any incontinence issues when I was pregnant w/ Abby. However, the tearing was awful during delivery & I developed urinary incontinence after that. I finally saw a urogynecologist when she was over a yr. old & I eventually went through p/t...it helped a little but I am going to have corrective surgery done in the future b'c my pelvic muscles are damaged. I did have a stitch in my bum but no problems w/ anal incontinence. Keep in mind, though, that many women develop some sort of incontinence during/after pregnancy but it doesn't always mean it won't go away. If you do have problems that last longer than several months, I'd def. advise getting a referral to a urogyn. Not trying to scare you, but a lot of women think it's just something they need to "live w/." It's not.

I didn't read through all the posts on this so I don't know if what I said has already been said...if so, sorry for the repetition. And I'm sorry if it sounds negative...not trying to be.