Soap Suds Enema in L&D - do you still use?

allnurses Guide · Mar 9, 2006

I had a Fleets 23 years ago with my #1 son and a complete shave and a pit induction and an episiotomy and I stayed 3 days in the hospital for a normal lady partsl delivery. :uhoh3:

2 years later at a different hospital with #2 son - no enema, no shave, no episiotomy and was home in less than 24 hours.:biggringi

We do not do enemas of any sort for our laboring moms. I'd talk to the mom about refusing . . . .

steph

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2006

Not L&D, but I had three children (8, 6 and 5 today! :balloons: ) and I did not have to have an enema, nor did we give them at the same hospital when I did my L&D rotation.

I am wondering what medical purpose a SSE would serve? Could it be to further along contractions if being induced? (Kind of like the castor oil home remedy?)

I'd check your policy and see if the patient is also in agreement with this. Remember, they do have the right to refuse - even if their RN has to help them along the road to refusal.

Good luck with that!

Blee

:angryfire I am very angry! Certain hospital I work in L&D and an OB insists that ALL patients receive SSE. I have NEVER done this to any OB patient since I have been a nurse (many years) in OB! Any other nurses out their still use SSE prior to labor/induction? I voiced my concern and nurses are "afraid" to say anything to the OB. Whoever heard of an L&D nurse being timid? LOL. What ever happened to advocating for the patient? None of the other OB's in the unit order SSE. What do you think?

ICURN_NC · Mar 9, 2006

Uh, if I was pregnant and a SSE was even suggested to me, I'd probably laugh @ that person! I mean, really, do we even do that anymore in this country? (I'm sorry to sound that way, but seriously...)

Maybe you should suggest to the OB that he do it himself!

Good luck!

CEG · Mar 9, 2006

Just curious, is this doctor an old man?

I would not be too happy with this suggestion if I was the laboring mom. What is his rationale?

BKRN · Mar 9, 2006

During my L&D clinicals a few years ago. There was a doctor that insisted his patients have a SSE enema so that their would be no BM during pushing or delivery! He told the nurses to not let the patient refuse!!! Talk them into it-tell them it is necessary for the health of their baby! I could'nt believe that some of the nurses went along with it.

allnurses Guide · Mar 9, 2006

The reason is so mom won't have a bm while pushing . . .

steph

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 9, 2006

With birth #3 the water broke before labor was established. I was given an enema to try and get labor going. I don't know if there were soap suds in the enema though.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 9, 2006

I have been in OB 9 years and have NEVER done or been a party to this...and I have worked with doctors who have delivered babies since the 1950s........

And on that note, we don't shave people either...unless they are to go for a csection.

Giving an enema in no way guarantees a so-called "clean" delivery. Poop STILL happens. How do I know? I have had moms who had given themselves enemas (in hopes of avoiding embarassment themselves) and still poop plenty while giving birth. The only way to be sure all is "clear" is to have done a mag citrate prep or something the day before---and nobody is gonna do this.

I am surprised---I have worked 3 places with many different doctors from all over the world, and none even hinted at the use of enema in laboring women.

What a terribly uncomfortable and unnecessary thing to put women through in labor....

allnurses Guide · Mar 10, 2006

I do not think having an enema has ANYTHING to do with starting labor!

That is just crazy!

Deb - I had my #1 son at St. Mary's in Reno almost 23 years ago and the nurse did hand me a fleets enema to give to myself.

And Deb is right - there is no guarantee that you won't poop while pushing your baby out.

What a funny thread!

steph

babynurselsa, RN · Mar 10, 2006

OHHHH Yes I remember when I presented ot the hospital in labor with my first child 20 1/2 years ago. ctx q3 and they gave me that wonderful sse. That was awful sitting on the toilet puking in the trashcan and ctx q3. Definitely not one of my finer moments. Then as I was crowning they walked me to the delivery room to one of those archaic delivery tables. I also remember being quite traumatized when the nurse rebuked me for touching my thighs instead of the "handlebars" and threatened to tie my hands down if I did it again. THen later they pushed this big old metal chair full of water into my room and plugged it into the wall and then wanted me TO SIT IN IT! I was was like uhhh I don't think so.........THen they only let the baby into my room for feedings, my husband had to gown, mask and scrub. Unfortuantely at that time I did not know better. I did become slightly more educated before my next one.

I did not return to this facility for my next birth.

CEG · Mar 10, 2006

I took castor oil to put myself in to labor. I would have guaranteed that there was nothing left to come out during pushing:uhoh3: But my husband told me otherwise. I don't see an enema doing much more.