Do you remember pre childbirth enemas?

I remember having to drink castor oil. You could have orange juice with it, which floated on the top and did nothing to take the taste away.

BlueBelle

Yes I had enemas but never heard of the 3 H s

Common saying amongst staff. Called black humour.

I wasn't given an enema with either of mine - one at Queen Charlottes in London and the other in the Netherlands. I think I was fortunate by the sound of things.

It was High Hot and Horrible!

I had them for 2 of mine., 1 st and 3 rd. My last one arrived too quickly for them to bother, they just wheeled me into the labour ward. I think it was just to make it less messy for the nurses, frankly.

Yes, I had one of these when my elder child was born. I remember being very surprised. But I don't think I did for my second child.

I had a shave and enema for my 1st baby, born 1974 but neither for my 2nd child, born 1977. I thought this was because he was coming very quickly, but maybe it was just that procedures had changed.

I'm not sure if it was a good thing not to have the enema because I then pooed during labour which can't have been at all hygienic and I was highly embarrassed.

Sparklefizz

I had a shave and enema for my 1st baby, born 1974 but neither for my 2nd child, born 1977. I thought this was because he was coming very quickly, but maybe it was just that procedures had changed.

I'm not sure if it was a good thing not to have the enema because I then pooed during labour which can't have been at all hygienic and I was highly embarrassed.

My friend told the very nippy wee midwife that she needed to move her bowels, but was told not to fuss, it was just baby pushing on her innards, and to get on with pushing, so she did.

It wasn’t.

I didn't know they did that.
My was in first 1988 obviously a thing in the past by then.

All of my three were such quick births so no time for shave or enema thank goodness.

When I had my daughter 40 years ago it was tube in your anus a funnel and warm soapy water. And told to stay in the bathroom. Remember it was very quick to work but having diarrhoea and contractions was not any fun. Not to mention the smell.

Four years later was supposed to be an elective c section. But went into labour at home at 36.5 weeks but had diarrhoea. When I got to hospital lucky I was empty so no enema.

Had emergency c section with both children . But 2 days after each one and hadn't been to the loo. With my daughter it was a suppository which worked quickly good job it was done in the bathroom. With my son it was a bag of saline via tube again acted quickly.

When you have a child there is no dignity. So nothing has ever phased me since. As there's not a part of my body that hasn't been probed.

The joy of being a woman🤣

My first was in 1965. 24 hours start to finish and she weighed 9 lb 2 oz. No pain relief, but a ten day stay in hospital afterward.

I remember it well, especially as I’ve always had IBS! When I had my twins in 1979 it was shave and enema. Subsequently when I had two more boys in 1990 and 1993 they had stopped that business thank goodness. Although with child number 3 I had an epidural and the midwife asked me how long I’d had diahorrea for!

Had enemas and shaves for all four. Worst was the last one, enema just administered when the hospital fire alarm went off! I refused point blank to move, so midwife had to stay with me whilst everyone else evacuated. I knew it would be the usual burnt toast under rhe smoke alarm, and so it proved to be...

1979 - Shave & enema (definitely not a suppository!)
1981 - just shave
1986 - nothing!

I remember it being called the 3 Hs.

And an older friend has talked about being give the OBE - (castor) Oil, Bath, Enema!

As a retired midwife I remember them well, we graduated to the pre prepared enemas and the, thankfully, they were abolished alongside the ‘underneath’ shave. Both procedures proved medically irrelevant

I had an enema with my first but not my other three. Also a shave and then lie on your back until the baby comes. No wonder it took so long to push them out!!

And a hell of a lot! I was a midwife in the 70s and realised how cruel they were when I had my own babies.

High hot and a hell of a lot

I can never forget mine! Shave, enema then bath said the nurse when you’ve finished on the toilet. Trouble was I thought 1 was and wasn’t, found myself swimming in diarrhoea. Scrambled out and tried desperately to get it all down the plug hole before she came back. Not easy when you’re the size of a bus, however, we both survived.

Yes i had enema with first child in 1980- i was quite shocked as i was only almost 17(married at 16) and the shave-but after that by 2nd child (1984) they had moved onto suppositories‐ and only a mini shave-marginally better but not welcomed obviously.Then i dont remember what they gave in 1985 but by time i had next in 89 they had definitely stopped doing it altogether.And as a regular viewer of call the midwife yes it was "High, hot& hellova lot" it didnt work on my friend who had her first child a few days before me in 1980 and had no qualms telling all & sundry how she soiled the bed (not the term she used!)

I remember the enemas. It was a great relief to know the baby was ready.
I don’t recall it being nasty or undignified. The Sister in the Catholic Nursing home (St Francis’s) were so patient, thoughtful and kind. They were gentle and only thought of baby and mummy. Such a pity they are no longer working in my home town.

For my first child I remember the midwife kept asking me if I’d like ‘a nice little enema ?’ I kept politely then less politely saying no thank you.

They were nearly worse than giving birth! lol!

Hmm now i come to think of it maybe i had 'nothing done' in 1985 as my first son had arrived 10minutes after getting to hospital 🤔so perhaps some of you are right.