The enema is occasionally suggested to clean out the laboring mother’s bowels in an effort to avoid exposure of feces to the baby once she is born.  This practice is not as common as some of the other interventions but it may be suggested by the hospital staff.  Most women do end up having a bowel movement anyways due to the pressure on the intestines from contractions, the hormones, and of course from pushing.  Many women actually have a few loose bowel movements shortly before labor starts, which is the body’s natural way of cleansing the system.