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Katherine Ryan "pooed in front of the two most handsome men in England" – and has no regrets

Katherine Ryan "pooed in front of the two most handsome men in England" – and has no regrets

Comedian Katherine Ryan shares her honest labour confession as midwives and doctors reveal why pooing during birth is so common – and why it can actually be a reassuring sign.

Katherine Ryan holding her child on a background of cartoon poos

Serafina Kenny

Published: August 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM

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Pooing is usually a private affair. Unless you're particularly open with your partner or family, chances are no one has ever seen you do it. Until childbirth, that is.

The ‘labour poo’ is a natural part of giving birth — you’re bearing down with all your might in your pelvic area, after all, so it makes sense that you might have other *evacuations* as well as the baby you’re pushing out. But many women are worried or ashamed about pooing during labour.

Comedian and mum of four Katherine Ryan wants to help change that. As a spokesperson for Andrex's #MyLabourPoo campaign, she's been refreshingly honest about her own experience.

"I've pooed in front of the two most handsome men in England: my husband, and Dr Pat," she said. "And I'm still here. It's fine. It's normal to poo."

Katherine believes it's all part of becoming a parent. "I think pooing during labour is a wonderful induction to being parents... because there's so much poop in your future," she joked. "So, ladies, get it out of the way, have your partner in the room, be okay with the labour poo."

And she's right that it's nothing to be ashamed of. Not only is pooing during labour incredibly common, it can even be a positive sign that you're pushing effectively. We spoke to three experts about why it happens, how midwives and doctors deal with it, and why mums shouldn't worry if it happens to them.

It’s very common to poo — although lots of women are ashamed

According to an Andrex survey of 1,500 women who have given birth and their birth partners, 75% fear pooing during labour, while 74% feel embarrassed about doing so in front of medical staff.

13% had no idea it could even happen, while only 7% felt totally ready for the realities of labour.

Emma Drew, head of consumer engagement at Andrex, says: "Women are walking into one of the most significant moments of their lives carrying completely unnecessary fear - not because the labour poo is rare or complicated, but simply because nobody tells them it's coming.

Studies suggest that between 20% and 50% of women pass stool during the second stage of labour, although the true number is likely higher because it’s often cleared away so discreetly that neither the woman nor her birth partner notices.

Clarissa Battaglino, founder and head of midwifery at The Motherhood Practice

It is incredibly normal to poo during labour.

“Studies suggest that between 20% and 50% of women pass stool during the second stage of labour, although the true number is likely higher because it’s often cleared away so discreetly that neither the woman nor her birth partner notices,” says Clarissa Battaglino, founder and head of midwifery at The Motherhood Practice and midwife advisor to Carea, a pregnancy and postnatal wellbeing app.

“The exact figure varies depending on whether an epidural is used, the baby's position and the duration of labour,” says Dr Kenga Sivarajah, consultant in obstetrics and maternal medicine at Central Health London.

Why do women poo during labour?

young woman giving birth and pushing baby out with partner and midwife offering support

“As your baby's head descends through the birth canal, it compresses the rectum in exactly the same way it would if you were opening your bowels. The muscles used to push your baby out are the same muscles used during a bowel movement,” says Dr Kenga.

There’s no single thing that determines whether mums-to-be will poo during labour, but Clarissa says the “biggest factor is simply whether there is stool in the rectum when the baby is being born.”

Mothers eating normally during labour (which is encouraged during low-risk labour) can also contribute, she says.

“Longer pushing phases or particularly effective pushing efforts may make it more likely simply because there’s more sustained pressure,” says Mary Dehinbo, senior midwife and clinical director at Central Health London.

“It’s important to stress that this isn’t something people can or should try to prevent,” she adds. “Trying to empty the bowels before labour or restricting food unnecessarily isn’t recommended and won’t guarantee it won’t happen."

Some women don’t poo — and that’s fine too!

“Some people do not poo because they have recently emptied their bowels, have eaten very little during labour or simply because there is no stool in the rectum at the time of birth. Neither is ‘better’ than the other,” says Dr Kenga.

“It’s common for people to have loose stools or diarrhoea in the early stages of labour, which is thought to be the body’s natural way of emptying the bowel in preparation for birth,” Clarissa says, so mothers may well have pooed already during the labour process.

Benefits of pooing during labour

"Passing stool while pushing is often a reassuring sign that someone is using the right muscles and generating effective downward pressure," says Mary Dehinbo, senior midwife and clinical director at Central Health London. "Although it isn’t a guarantee that birth is imminent, it can indicate that the baby’s head is descending well through the birth canal," Mary says.

And although we might recoil at the thought of poo touching a newborn, there’s growing scientific evidence that it could be good for their health. Far from being unsanitary, being exposed to the bacteria in their mother’s poo could help babies develop health gut microbiomes.

Woman holding her newborn after birth in hospital.

“While we shouldn’t overstate the role of stool specifically, babies born vaginally are exposed to a rich mix of maternal microbes from the vagina, skin and surrounding perineal area, which contributes to the development of their gut microbiome and immune system,” Clarissa says — although “the evidence is still evolving, and no one should intentionally aim for stool exposure.”

Experts don’t want women to worry about the labour poo

There’s no reason to be ashamed or worried about pooing during labour. It’s a perfectly natural process, and midwives and doctors honestly don’t mind — they’re used to it!

“From a midwife’s perspective, it’s entirely routine. It’s such a normal occurrence that it barely registers as anything unusual in the birth room,” Mary says. “We don’t judge it, and often it’s dealt with so discreetly that the birthing person doesn’t even realise it’s happened. If stool is passed, we simply remove it quickly using a disposable pad or gauze and continue supporting the birth.”

Many women don’t even realise it’s happened because we deal with it so naturally and efficiently. Our focus remains entirely on supporting the birth and keeping the woman comfortable.

Clarissa Battaglino, founder and head of midwifery at The Motherhood Practice and midwife advisor to Carea

Clarissa says that for midwives, it is no different to seeing the “blood, amniotic fluid, or any other bodily fluids during birth.”

There are tried-and-tested methods that midwives have to deal with labour poos.

“If the woman is on a bed, we quietly remove the stool and change the absorbent pad (incontinence pad) straight away. If she’s in a birthing pool, we use a fine net or scoop to remove it promptly to maintain water cleanliness and infection prevention,” she says.

"Many women don’t even realise it’s happened because we deal with it so naturally and efficiently. Our focus remains entirely on supporting the birth and keeping the woman comfortable."

One less thing to worry about during labour

If the thought of pooing during labour makes you anxious, you're far from alone. But experts say it's one of the most common — and least concerning — parts of giving birth.

“Labour is one of the most powerful physiological processes the human body goes through. During birth, your body is focused on bringing your baby safely into the world—not on maintaining social etiquette,” Mary says.

"I'd encourage anyone preparing for birth not to let the fear of pooing add to their anxiety. It's a common, normal and healthy part of labour for many people. Midwives are far more focused on your contractions, your baby's wellbeing and supporting you through birth than on something as routine as passing stool."

Katherine Ryan agrees. "It's totally normal to be worried – nobody really wants to poo with an audience. But as a mum of four, I can tell you it might happen. In fact, it probably will. And what I know for sure is that you won't care, and it's not a big deal. If any fear holds you back from pushing, you could have a longer and more complicated labour. So, you gotta go with the flow – even if that means you gotta 'go'."

The bottom line? If it happens, it happens — and your midwife will almost certainly have forgotten about it long before you do.

Authors

Serafina Kenny journalist headshot

Serafina KennyDigital Journalist

Serafina Kenny is a Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes news and features and has expertise in health, nutrition, relationships, and history. She has previously written for Business Insider, Women's Health, Stylist, Men's Health US, The i Paper, Dazed, and more. You can contact her with tips and story ideas (or compliments!) at serafina.kenny@immediate.co.uk.