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

I grew up in the 60's. All enemas were given by my Mother in a very caring manner. She never referred to them as a Good Enema, rather she was going to take care of me and make me feel better. She was a firm believer that enemas were good for almost any ailment. It didn't matter if I protested, if she thought I needed an enema, I was going to get an enema. They were always given with a bulb syringe....I remember 2 of them. One was all white, the other was a red bulb with a black pipe. She would take me into the bathroom and have me get undressed. There was always a large bowl with a bar of ivory soap floating in the warm water, turning it a milky color. Enemas were given either over her knee or she would place several fluffy towels on the bathroom floor and have me lay on my back with my knees drawn up to my chest. Vaseline was always used to lubricate me and the nozzle. Several bulbs full of soapy warm water would follow. I would fuss and complain that I was full but she would always say you can take a bit more and one or two additional bulbs would follow. Once she was satisfied I had taken enough she would help me on to the potty. I don't remember having to hold for very long until I was older. She would always stay while I expelled. If she was satisfied with the results I would receive a few bulbs as a rinse....if not she would fix another bowl of soapy water and we would start again. Seems like I always ended up receiving 2 series of soapy enemas before she was satisfied. This continued until I was a teenager. I didn't really enjoy the enemas then but now I wish I could experience that again, other than solo.

I think the every day gold standard was just some warm water. When she thought you were really plugged up she would carve strips of Ivory into the bag and shake it until it was good and frothy. I remember her giving several like this to younger siblings but don't remember that treatment myself. It probably happened though.

Hot Ivory soap solution, held in for 5 minutes. Much as I hated it when I was younger, it almost always cleaned my bowels right out. Happened in the 50's, 60's and early 70's.

Not sure

I guess as long as you got cleaned out, and didn't cry too much it was a good enema.

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.