Let’s Just Get This Out of the Way
It’s the question nobody wants to ask, but every first-time mom is secretly wondering:
“Am I going to poop during labor?”
If we had a dollar for every time someone asked quietly, nervously, like they were asking something illegal, we could afford gold-plated birth tubs. (We wouldn’t, of course. But we could.)
Let’s cut to the crap.
Yes. You might. In fact, you probably will.
Not only is that completely normal, but it’s also actually a sign that your body is working just like it should. Pooping during labor isn’t a failure or a freak accident. It’s basic biology with a side of humility. It’s also one of the most common, completely harmless, and weirdly universal parts of childbirth that nobody likes to admit.
You are not alone.
You are not broken.
And you are definitely not the first person to feel absolutely horrified at the thought of pooping in front of people while giving birth.
But here’s the thing. We do not care. Your midwife doesn’t care. Your nurse doesn’t care. Honestly, your partner probably doesn’t even notice. We’re not watching for poop. We’re watching for progress.
In fact, when it doesn’t happen, I sometimes start to wonder if your baby’s really ready. That’s right. Poop can actually be a good sign. (I bet you never thought you’d hear that sentence.) Here is some honesty for you: When you do poop, I am usually doing a little poop dance in my head because I know the baby is close.
I often wonder why we feel so horrified about a normal bodily function…
So let’s talk about it. Let’s get real about what really happens during childbirth. Let’s throw some dignity-saving truth at this steaming pile of fear, break down why it happens, how common it is, and why you should absolutely not be ashamed of it.
This article goes where others politely refuse to go. Around here, we believe in empowering women, even when the conversation gets a little messy.
Why Does This Happen?
Here’s the blunt truth: your baby and your bowels are neighbors. Labor turns that quiet neighborhood into a full-blown construction site.
As your baby moves lower into the birth canal, their head starts pressing on everything nearby. That includes your bladder, your rectum, your pelvic floor, and yes, your dignity. At the same time, your body releases a hormone called prostaglandin. One of its effects is that it stimulates your bowels. In other words, your intestines start trying to get out of the way.
Between the pressure from the baby and the hormonal nudge to clear the path, your body often decides it’s time to take care of some unfinished business.
To make things even more exciting, the muscles you use to push out a baby are the same ones you use to poop. Midwives often say, “Push like you’re pooping,” because that’s exactly the feeling we want. It’s not a mistake. It’s good technique.
And yes, a little poop during birth is often a great sign. That strong bear-down sensation? That’s what moves the baby down. If something else sneaks out while you’re doing it, that just means you’re right on track.
How Common Is It, Really?
Short answer? More common than you think.
Longer answer? Most women poop during labor. Depending on the study, anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of birthing women pass stool at some point during labor, usually during pushing. And those numbers are probably on the low side, because, let’s be honest, nobody is documenting this with extreme precision.
So, if you’ve given birth before, odds are good you already did. If this is your first baby, the odds are very high that you will. And if you don’t? That’s fine too. But it doesn’t make you special. It just means your rectum got lucky.
This is not a rare or embarrassing mistake. It’s a completely normal result of anatomy, hormones, and effort. Your body is working hard to bring a baby into the world. Of course it’s going to multitask a little.
Let’s say it out loud. Pooping during labor is not gross or bad for your baby. It is not shameful. It is not a moral failure or a hygiene disaster. It’s just one more sign that your body is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
We’ve seen it. We expect it. We barely notice it.
And we will never make a big deal out of it. So neither should you.
What Do Birth Workers Do About It?
At my homebirth practice, we carry a cheap little wire kitchen strainer to every birth.
Not for soup. Not for pasta. For poop.
We buy them in bulk, usually fifty at a time, from Amazon or the dollar store. They go into every birth kit and go straight into the trash after one use. Because cleaning it? No thank you. Some things are not meant to be reused.
A good portion of our births happen in inflatable pools with disposable liners. When a little something extra shows up in the water, either the midwife or the birth assistant scoops it up without a word. We’ve got the technique down to an art. Most of the time, the mother doesn’t even realize it happened.
Honestly, we’ve had moms say, “Well at least I didn’t poop,” and my assistant and I just glance at each other and smile.
Because we are not here to embarrass you. We are here to protect your peace. We handle the mess quietly so you can stay focused on the miracle you’re in the middle of.
We don’t flinch. We don’t gag. We don’t make faces. We wipe, toss, rinse, replace, and carry on like the professionals we are.
Your job is to bring your baby into the world. Our job is to make sure you never have to stress about the side effects.
Should I Try to Avoid It?
If you’re wondering whether there’s a way to prevent pooping during labor, the short answer is no.
The longer answer is also no, but with more context and a little love.
There’s a lot of outdated advice still floating around, pun intended, about how to “prepare” your bowels for birth. Some people recommend enemas. Others tell you not to eat once labor starts. And some just cross their legs and hope for the best.
Here’s the problem. None of that helps. In fact, it can make things worse.
You need fuel to give birth. Fasting makes you weak, and trying to control your digestive system while pushing a baby out is like trying to keep a beach ball underwater with your pinky toe. It’s not happening.
The truth is, trying to avoid pooping during labor usually just adds tension. And tension works against labor. When you’re focused on clenching and holding back, it slows progress and makes pushing less effective.
You don’t need to prevent it. You need to trust the process and let go. Literally.
If poop happens, it means your body is pushing with the right muscles. That’s a good thing. It’s not gross. It’s not shameful. It’s a biological indicator that your body is on track and doing what it was made to do.
And if it doesn’t happen? Cool. But please don’t treat that like a badge of honor. This is not a contest, and nobody gets a trophy for clean sheets.
The Bigger Fear: What If Someone Sees?
Let’s be honest. Most women aren’t actually afraid of pooping during labor. They’re afraid of someone seeing it.
It’s not the act that feels terrifying. It’s the idea that your midwife, partner, doula, or mom will witness something you’ve spent your entire adult life trying not to do in public. Birth already strips you down physically and emotionally. Add in the potential of an audience, and suddenly the whole thing feels like a nightmare you can’t wake up from.
But here’s what I want you to know.
No one in that room is judging you. Not your midwife. Not your birth team. And probably not your partner, who is just trying not to pass out. Remember your midwife is probably doing the poop dance in her head.
In fact, most people don’t even notice. When it happens, we clean it up so quickly and quietly that by the time you ask, “Did I…?” we are already two steps past it and focused on the next contraction. My rule: what happens in the birth space stays in the birth space.
There are no gasps. No announcements. No secret group chats. We don’t document it. We don’t debrief about it later. We just handle it. Quietly. Respectfully. Professionally.
We are there to support your birth, not to analyze your bowel movements. And if something happens during the process of getting your baby out safely, we treat it as completely normal.
You will be far more focused on your body, your baby, and the powerful work you’re doing. Most women don’t even remember it. And if they do, it’s usually because we laughed about it together afterward.
You are not alone. You are not the first. And you will not be the last.
Final Thoughts: The Poop Is Not the Problem
The problem is the shame. The silence. The pressure to make birth neat and tidy when it is anything but. The problem is pretending that bringing a whole human into the world should somehow look like a spa day and smell like lavender.
Birth is raw. It’s real. It’s intense. And yes, it sometimes includes poop.
But poop is not the villain here. If anything, it’s the unsung hero. A tiny, awkward, biological side effect that quietly confirms you’re doing everything right. It shows up when your body is relaxed, open, and pushing like it means it.
So instead of fearing it, maybe it’s time to welcome it. Or at least not let it ruin your moment.
You are giving birth. That is no small feat. If a little poop sneaks out in the process, so what? You are still powerful. You are still beautiful. You are still the hero of this story.
No one remembers the poop. They remember the baby. The strength. The moment you roared or cried or collapsed with joy. They remember the love in the room. Not what ended up in the chux pad.
So take a deep breath. Trust your body. And if the poop shows up, just know, your midwife’s got it covered.
We’ve been scooping, wiping, and smiling our way through births for years. And we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Because the truth is, poop happens. But birth? That’s the real miracle.
—Stay Strong! Jaelin—
Additional Reading:
- What To Know About Pooping During Labor and Delivery by Cleveland Clinic
- Do People Poop When They Give Birth? by Healthline
- Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today’s Best Women Writers
- May Babies: A Collection of Birth Stories!
Note: Full disclosure: SHEis Online earns a small (very small) commission on any links in the article that take you to Amazon.
Related SHEis.com Articles
“Birth Shouldn’t Feel Like a Hostage Situation”
“When Fear and Anxiety Walk Into the Birth Room”
“Why I Practice Evidence-Based Midwifery”
About the Author:
Dr. Jaelin Stickels, DPN, CNM, APRN, is a deeply passionate and highly skilled Certified Nurse Midwife and the owner of Holistic Heritage Homebirth in Houston, Texas. With over a decade of midwife experience, Jaelin has had the privilege of helping several hundred (almost 900) women welcome their babies into the world. In addition to her advanced practice licensure training, she has additional advanced training in twin and breech births, making her one of only a few with these skills in her area. Jaelin approaches every birth with expertise, compassion, and a deep respect for the birthing process.
Jaelin’s journey into midwifery began with a profound love for supporting women through the incredible experience of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Since 2010, she has been dedicated to walking alongside families during these transformative moments, offering guidance, support, and care tailored to each individual’s unique needs. She is a big believer in informed consent and ensures clients are given the best evidence-based information to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Married to her high school sweetheart, Ted (aka Chef Ted), since 1984, Jaelin is the proud mother of three grown children and the delighted grandmother of one amazing granddaughter. When she’s not assisting in births, Jaelin finds joy in going to the movies with her husband, quilting, and cherishing time with her family. Known by the other midwives in her practice affectionately as the “Birth Hog,” she brings an unmatched dedication and enthusiasm to her work, no one loves birth quite like she does.
Find out more about Jaelin’s Homebirth Practice (Holistic Heritage Homebirth) in Houston, TX
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