Enemas during labor?

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I am a nursing student who is writing a paper on evidenced-based practice and I wanted to know if enemas given during labor lowered the incidence of postpartum or neonatal infection. The research (Cochrane Review) found no signficant difference in rates of infection for women who do not recieve enemas versus those who do so the practice of giving an enema during labor is not supported. So my question to you is....do you work in a labor and delivery unit that routinely gives enemas? I saw there was a thread related to this in March of '06 but wanted some current feedback. Any response would be appreciated, thank you!

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I work in L&D and we do not give enemas to patients...

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I've given an enema twice in the 5 years I've been doing this. Both times, the woman was so constipated that the stool was literally blocking the lady partsl canal, making it difficult for me to do a cervical exam.

I would guess that most hospitals do not routinely give enemas, and hopefully haven't for the past 10-20 years.

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years back, they were routine...think that it was mostly to stimulate labor-sure did with my second....

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Specializes in ER.

They were giving up on routine enemas when I was in nursing school in 1988.

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I had h,h,h enemas with my first two kids in 73 and 74 an I'll admit I availed myself of a Fleets at home with my other two kids...no surprises while pushing:eek:...

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
no surprises while pushing:eek:...

Bah. The only thing that surprises me is when a woman DOESN'T poo a bit while pushing. That's one of the biggest concerns of every woman (myself included, I remember apologizing profusely to my OB and best friend/nurse while I was pushing with my last baby). I always tell them that almost every woman poos a little, and we LIKE when they poo because that means they're using the right muscles.

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

The enemas were given to empty the bowel to stimulate labor, and allow more room. They haven't been given routinely in many years. Thank heavens!

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