There are a lot of major changes happening to your body when you give birth, especially if you're having a vaginal delivery. I mean, no doubt you've spent countless hours reading about what's going to happen to your vagina when you give birth to your precious baby, but let's be real. I know you want to know about the things that happen to your butthole when you give birth, too.
All of that pushing and straining has to effect your butt at some point, right? It seems silly to think that the only part of your nether regions affected when you push a baby out is your vagina, but that's the part that receives the most attention. Whether you're worried about it stretching, tearing, or never looking the same again, everybody has their own vaginal fears when thinking about labor and delivery.
But it turns out there are five things that could happen to your butthole when you give birth. I don't want you to be scared — labor's scary anyway. But I always find that education is the best way to defeat those worries and fears. When you know what to expect, you know how to prepare yourself, even if it means setting yourself up to poop on the delivery table. (I promise, it's not a big deal.)
1It Can Be Put To Work
Yep, you might poop while you're giving birth. But you know what? Nurses are totally prepared for it, you're not the first person to ever do it (nor are you the last), and it's just not a big deal. According to Parents, there are two reasons you could poop during birth — the pressure of the baby pushing on your colon and rectum and prostaglandins, the hormones responsible for inducing labor, are also the same hormones involved in a normal bowel movement.
2It Can Tear
I know, you're not pushing a baby out of your butt, so why would it tear, right? Well all of that stress and pushing can affect your anal tissues, too. According to Cleveland Clinic, you can develop anal fissures during childbirth which are small tears in the skin around your anus that can itch and bleed. Like a perineal tear or hemorrhoids, anal fissures can be treated, but they may be uncomfortable during your recovery.
3It Can Develop Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy? You probably experienced those. Hemorrhoids during childbirth? Yep, they can happen too. According to Baby Center, as you're pushing during labor, you can develop hemorrhoids from all of the pressure. Like pregnancy hemorrhoids, they can be treated at home, for the most part, but still make for a painful recovery. (And make you scared to poop.)
4It Could Fart
Hey, passing gas happens no matter what you're doing, but your butt could do a little extra noise making during delivery. Parents noted that as you're pushing your baby through the birth canal, air can be squeezed out of your anus, resulting in some gas. Not a big deal at all, but don't be surprised if you here a toot or two from your hospital bed. (You'll have bigger things to focus on, I promise.)
5Your Sphincter Could Tear
OK, this one is a little more rare than other things that might happen to your butthole, but it's important to know. According to Baby Center, while perineal tears are pretty common and affect the skin between your vagina and anus, a severe tear could actually go all the way into your anal sphincter. A third degree tear is a tear that extends into your sphincter, but a fourth degree tear goes through the sphincter and the tissue underneath it. These can be pretty painful and may take some time to heal.
