You are not alone if you are an expecting mother and this is one of your fears.  While studying to be a midwife, or to obtain your sonography degree, lots of women may ask about this very thing and express nervousness.  They do not want to pass stool while in labor and possibly in front of a spouse, partner, or family member.  It may not be what you want to hear, but in fact a large number of women do defecate usually during the second, or third stage of labor.  This is totally natural and happens as the baby’s head comes down the vagina and pushes against the rectum.  If there is feces in there, it is likely you may poop during the labor.  The feces are forced out of the anus when the baby pushes against the rectum, and it is totally beyond your control.  It is unlikely that a delivering mother will be aware of what is happening in this stage of the game and the overwhelming sensations of birth will be much more powerful.  More simply put, pooping will be the least of a mother’s worries while delivering.  Midwives and doctors are very used to this and will simply remove it without a second thought.  Sterile cloths are often times placed around delivering mothers so they will be readily available in this event.  Don’t worry about pooping during labor.  It will all be worth the discomfort, pain, embarrasment and risk once a mother holds her newborn baby in her arms.

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