Giving women enemas during labour does not shorten labour or decrease the risk of infection to mother or baby. Consequently there is no evidence for any routine use of enemas in labour, a Cochrane Review has found.Enemas are frequently given to women early in labour so that they empty their back passage. The idea is that this will give more room for the baby as it passes through the pelvis. It is also hoped that it will reduce the chance of the woman leaking faecal material while she is giving birth, a situation that is both embarrassing to the woman and a potential source of infection to mother and child.
