Enema Rooms

I had the pleasure of accompanying my wife to the enema room during the birth of my son in the 1980s and being present for the administration of the enema. The room wasn't explicitly labeled as an enema room. The sign read "Preparation"—but when the nurse opened the door, the room's purpose was quite obvious.

In the middle of the room were an examination couch and a gynecological chair. Next to the couch and the chair was a device for hanging the irrigator. The nurse asked my wife whether she preferred to lie in knee-chest-position on the couch or on her back in the chair. My wife chose the couch, while the nurse took a two-liter glass irrigator from a cabinet, filled it with warm water, and hung it in the device next to the couch.

Very Interesting!

I didn’t realise that an actual designated enema room/bathroom was purposely built into hospitals (or at least some hospitals).

This question caught my attention because I have worked in hospitals for over 17 years and have never seen one. But I’m living and working in 21st century Australia, and if these kinds of rooms did ever exist down-under, and I believe they did, because our healthcare model resembles that of UK and Europe more so than the US one, then they certainly would have disappeared decades ago, probably when the ones in the UK did.

When my wife gave birth to our two sons in 2005 and 2008, she was not given (or offered) any enemas. So, in Australia, the practice of administering enemas to expectant mothers had ended sometime prior.

Also, when I was hospitalised in 1980 for two surgeries, much to my surprise I was not given any. So, in Australis, it seems that the practice of administering pre-op enemas had ended sometime before 1980.

But, the main reason why this question caught my attention is because when I was hospitalised in Italy during the 1980s, I was given pre-op enemas. (I have discussed some of my experiences in my posts - feel free to read). And, only 1 out of those 8 enemas was administered at my bedside.

Regarding the 7 that were not given to me in at my bedside, the first one in my life (probably because it was my first experience), was given to me in an examination room. The other 6 were administered in what looked like a standard bathroom, fitted with a hand basin, bathtub, and perhaps also a shower cubicle and also a toilet which we would not have been allowed to use. I do not recall this bathroom ever containing a bed or any enema paraphernalia, besides the already prepared enema equipment suspender via an IV stand, along with the two female nurses tasked with administering enemas to me and the other boy patients.

Thus, I can’t say that this hospital (or hospital ward) had an actual designated enema room/bathroom as such. I believe that this standard bathroom was employed as a virtual enema room/bathroom when required. Perhaps, due to this fact, it may help to explain why this bathroom was strategically located at one end of the corridor of the hospital floor, and the patient’s toilets located 100 meters at the opposite end of the corridor. I guess those nurses wanted us boys to have a good walk before using the toilet.

I grew up in an orphanage for boys from 2nd grade through high school graduation. Since we lived in dormitories, any form of illness or injury was treated in a separate building - the Infirmary. It was staffed 24/7 with female nurses - during my years there 1950s - 1960s - who were WWII vintage, or younger. They handled fevers, vaccinations, colds and coughs, a flu epidemic, upset stomachs, and whatever ailed us. They were well attuned to our efforts to avoid school by being "admitted" to one of the open wards upstairs, as we were not allowed to recover in our dorms. There was a doctor on call at all times for sports injuries, broken bones, appendicitis, etc. The Infirmary even included an O/R, although it was not used after WWII, when surgery was referred to a local medical school hospital.

The nurses of that era were quick to deal with stomach complaints and constipation with an enema. Each of the wards had an institutional bathroom with 3 - 4 urinals and 2 -3 toilet stalls. Instead of showers, there was an oversized, vintage claw-foot tub, which was often used for soaking, fever treatment, etc., as well as baths. If an enema was to be given, they had two heavy wooden panels that locked together atop the tub to form an enema platform. The top was then covered with thick towels and rubber sheeting and the recipient placed in the traditional Sims position. Old-school enamel enema cans were used, along with well-lubed red rubber colon tubes. The toilets were "right there," awaiting urgent use.

Few of us graduated without a visit to the "enema room," and some were (ir)regulars because of poor eating habits, heredity, or malingering. Mine was administered by a young (early 30s), beautiful blonde nurse in a traditional white uniform. She was a French "war bride" with a lilting accent, but a no nonsense demeanor. And that, my friends, is how I ended up here!