What was that "GOOD Enema" Mom always gave us in the 50's?

Growing up, a "Good Enema" meant one that consisted of copious amounts of very warm soapy water administered no matter how much I fussed and complained. Once the bag enema routine began, I can say with certainty that there was always a successful flushing of the bowels

The sometimes elusive ' good enema ' was ' good ' as per my mom's definition . The anticipated term ' good enema ' , at first alluded to and then verbalized as given by mom , was the ' one ' in which we ' held ' all that we could possibly ' hold ' and then by way of her encouragement ' took a little more ' . As I matured , the ' good enema ' goal was more defined by the ' two quart - flat bag ' during our enema sessions . The following ' rinses enema ' always ' sealed the deal ' to further define and make the ' good enema ' a reality for both of us . Mom was very satisfied . I think at times like these she even seemed to ' beam ' with self-satisfaction that the ' good enema ' had over time been ' given ' . My clean little bottom and post-enema rest and relaxation affirmed to her that she had ever so correctly and lovingly ' enemaed ' me to meet her ' good enema ' standards and expectations . I recall with a bit of mirth that one of my grandmothers referenced her pending enemas for me would gently announce , and always with such a charming smile , ( ???!! ) ….. ' I'm going to give you a ' nice ' little ' enema ' ' ( !! ) …. which was her way of referencing what she construed in my childhood / adolescence to be the ' good enema ' in her home .

A good enema by my Mom always consisted of the full bag in me. That was considered a Good Enema to her. I must say like my mom I too believe that a good enema given is the full enema that was prepared.

My mom didn't use the term good enema. She would give 5 or 6 soapy bulbs full and then have me hold for 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes I couldn't hold that long. I think if I held 10 minutes or more it was considered good. She would have me walk in the hallway near the bathroom while holding.

From the very beginning “Good Enema” meant hot, soapy, and full bag. Thats still true today. If you need or want a Good Enema, sleek and You shall find. Just be sure you return the favor. Extras negotiable.

My mom gave “good old-fashioned enemas” (her words). That meant lots of soapy water which needed to be held at least 10 minutes. She used a bulb enema on me when I was young, up to around age 5. Then she used an enema bag. I still remember that big red bag and its long black nozzles. Ivory soap and Vaseline still bring back memories of enemas!

I realy wonder if enemas are typical for the USA.I live in western Europe.Never ever I got an enema,so i have now idea how it feels

A really good enema always had to feel bad...

I vaguely remember a quote from my mom's friend, a nurse, which went something like this:

"An enema that you don't feel properly inside is useless."

And believe me, my mom's enemas, I really felt them...

Mom’s good enemas would have been ones that would have worked wonders on her own bowel habits. Mom also took good enemas quite frequently herself for her IBC conditions. @bethbeth mentioned this perfectly as “ hot, soapy, with not too much crying.” I received so many of these painful soapy very hot bag enemas when I was little, that I too became dependent on enemas just like Mom. Mom always seemed to love getting her enemas and only once in a while would show just a little tear in her eye. I on the other hand, cried from start to finish. That didn’t necessarily though mean that I didn’t like getting enemas. It was just that I didn’t understand them until I got a little older. Love you Mom! Lol Jeanette

My mother may have learned to do really good enemas from her mother in the 50’s. Or maybe just on her own from much experience. She did the same type of enemas as long as I have known her and still does today. No need to change a thing. Always works wonders every time!

Lol Jeanette

Let me start by saying there were essentially no BAD enemas that my mom gave us. Enemas were only given when my mom thought we needed them for some medical reason such as constipation, tummy ache, etc. When it came to constipation, sometimes she would try milk of magnesia or a suppository first and when the results weren't to her satisfaction, then the BF Goodrich open top fountain syringe would be brought out of the bathroom cabinet for a GOOD enema. She knew that would take care of the situation at hand. (and yes, this was what is now considered vintage enema equipment. Red Bag, Red Hose, Metal Clamp, and Black Bakelite Nozzles)

So, basically a Good enema was what we got all the time. A very common medical treatment of that era. Some Ivory soap swirled in about 2 quarts of warm water and sometimes a plain water rinse. Did I like getting them ? That's a story for another thread.😜

… No need to change a thing. Always works wonders every time!

@Jeanette_K

that is absolutely correct;

"never change a running system"😎

I was given the "honor" of receiving my first enema from my mom's hand just in the last breaths of the 1950s when I was about six. According to mom, the reason for this was more of a demonstrative rather than a health-necessary aspect.

She never spoke of a "good" enema, only a necessary one. Personally, I initially didn't see anything "good"; quite the opposite. A little later I accepted these treatments, only to realize later that an enema could be awake nice feelings.

The ' Good Enema ' as administered by my mother and both grandmothers was as I recall ...... ' take ' all you can , ' hold ' your enema for as ' long ' as you can and toilet-sit for ' as long as it ' takes ' ' for a complete explusion / cleansing . These ladies were reasonable as they all had a ' sense ' of when I was ' topped out ' as to the instilled volumn of ' SS ' or ' rinse ' solutions . As I matured and still receiving enemas primarily from my mom in our home , her enema ' format ' changed to more of a ' 3-H ' ( high , hot and a helluva' of a lot ) procedure / administration which provided a more erotic / ' klismo ' / deeper ' flow ' stimulus sensation into my colon which made my ' enema with mom ' a most enjoyable recreation experience . Oh yes , I so well recall the ' Good Enema mom always gave us in the 1950's ' and so often wish for a ' return ' to those ' wonder years ' of my 1950's - early 1960's decades of my enema scenario experiences with my above referenced ' enema angels ' . For these dear ladies , I did over time sense a ' glow ' in their post-enema demeanor when they would share their thoughts with me that they had ' given me a ' good enema ' ' where we both were ' winners ' . They seemed to ' bask ' in their enema ' giver ' roles / procedures which were ever so lovingingly administered with ' their boy ' the receptor of said ' good enema ' having a ' squeaky clean ' bottom due to their ' TLC ' and expertise @ ' enema time ' . I am thankful for my most positive memories a few of which , since the initiation of my ' zity.biz ' membership , I have shared on this site . I do beleive that ' klismophilia ' to be ' generational ' as the above three referenced ladies did ' give / receive ' among themselves and that not always from a ' constipation need ' all gleaned from overheard home ' coffee table ' conversations . My mom was willing to ' work ' with me over time as my childhood illness ' enema need ' developed into a strong ' enema desire ' , which she tacitly acknowledged , and from the time of discovery evolved into a welcomed enema ' eroticism ' which while as yet is unexplained is even today very real and remains so satisfying to address .

Moms "good enema" was a classic 3H enema, high, hot, and a hell of alot. If the first fill was not successful at bringing about a "good release" a second one was administered or even a third. This always achieved the the desired copious release. Mom always administered this in a loving caring manner but it was also no nonsense.

@421sseforme said,

Moms "good enema" was a classic 3H enema, high, hot, and a hell of alot. If the first fill was not successful at bringing about a "good release" a second one was administered or even a third.

Growing up in the nineteen fifties, my siblings and I got our share of enemas from mom, grandma, and our two young aunts. Our grandmother was a retired Registered Nurse and a firm believer in enemas for kids, teenagers, and adults. To that end, there were a variety of reasons she gave enemas. For example: Being moody, not eating normally, constipation, and sick in bed are just some of the reasons we received enemas. Up thru age seven, we only received a quart each. But starting at age eight, we were expected to take as much as possible. Then the summer I turned nine, grandma gave me my first 3H enema. It was a two-quart Ivory soap followed by a two-quart salt and baking soda rinse enema. Afterwards, for the next week, we received a daily quart and half rinse enema from our aunts during evening bath time. The routine of 3H enemas continued on a yearly basis until the summer I turned sixteen. By age ten, I was taking a full two quarts for both the soapy and rinse enemas. To our grandmother, a good enema was a soapy followed by one or two salt and baking soda rinse enemas. We normally received two or three enemas a month as kids, however as we got older, the number of enemas went up. Due to want more than need, as we discovered, rinse enemas helped relieve three horny teenagers.

The day came when mom took me to the bathroom for an enema. She announced that she was going to give me a "nice" enema. I was already hooked since a few weeks ago when I was 5 years old I was in hospital for a tonsillectomy and the nurse surprised me with my first remembered enema.

Born in 1948, I was two years younger than Tess who by the time I had my first REMEMBERED enema at 5 years old, Tess considered herself an expert on enemas since she was getting enemas with grandma's red bag and hose, AND was taking enemas by herself out behind the barn or down at the creek that ran through grand pap's farm.

Tess and I had already been treating each other to enemas after I came home from the hospital and I told her about my hospital enema, she told me that she helped mom give me enemas with the "red squeeze thing" when I was little.

Later I remember mom sometimes referring to enemas as either nice or good I never knew the difference between a "nice" enema or a "good" enema, they all felt the same to me, and I didn't care as long as I got the enema!

And I'm still LostInThe50s

“Honey, I just talked with the nurse in Dr. Friedman‘s office. She wants me to give you a GOOD enema. She promises that you’re going to feel a lot better.”

In the “old days,” if I were lying in bed with a stomach ache and hadn’t been to the bathroom since Tuesday (it’s now Friday), I think my mom is going to take the nurse’s words to heart and give me a full enema bag of soapy water that I will still be remembering years from now.

I never had such a large enema that mom made me hold in, but after going back in the bathroom three times, I felt thoroughly cleaned out. The nurse was right. I guess that’s her definition of GOOD.

Mmmm...Mommy with the big red open top enema bag filled with soapy Ivory standing over me in her bra and panties...the jar of Vaseline open

I MISS my Mom’s enemas! They were all no-nonsense and very effective. We were in the bathroom quite a long time.

@LostInThe50s You were lucky to have had such experiences back in the day!

@alan20cm

I was and am still lucky Tess and I still talk about growing up on our grandparent's farm in the early 50s, she reminds me of the many times we watched our two younger sisters and cousins getting hosed when visiting during summer vacations, it was a good time as the West Virginia farm was the center of family life and the setting for many family reunions. My other posts describe living in the huge old farmhouse, including winters when I got up on cold mornings and helped grandpap shovel coal to heat the house!

Now you know why I'm still.....

LostInThe50s

Marty

@LostInThe50s Sadly my memories (of the 60s) don't include getting any enemas but I do remember evenings where there was much discussion as to who should go out in the cold to fill the coal scuttle!

My mother always wanted to put the most positive spin on things and as a result I got a nice warm enema so that I would have a good cleaning out. Growing up my young mind soon ignored the words "good" and "nice" and there was no amount of sugar coating to make me like an enema.

@emom: My mother always wanted to put the most positive spin on things and as a result I got a nice warm enema so that I would have a good cleaning out.

I have concluded that women of the era had to have been reading the same child rearing books or learned the term in their high school home nursing classes. But the practice endures because my wife still refers to taking or giving "a good enema."