Why did mom increase the volume

Some books write children enema volume as 50ml per year of age.

250ml for 5; 500ml for 10; etc

This seems a bit more rational than many of the huge quantities that I hear some quote. Although I no longer recall having the bulb used on me, at 4 oz, two of those is about half a pint for a 5 year old, which sounds about right. I did not give my daughter many enemas into her teenage years, but those generally were a quart or just a little more. They worked perfectly well.

The older and bigger you get the more you can hold and the more it takes to completely clean you out. Why do something half way when you should do it right the first time.

Because I only got the one when I was 9 I asked my sister. She said she messed up and sort of told mom to add more. She said that she had taken an enema but not much came out. Mom asked her if she wanted another one with more water and she shook her head yes. She said she didn't know what it would do but she regretted it when the cramps hit. Then as she got older and started to like them mom would ask her if she wanted to try more.

The older and bigger you get the more you can hold and the more it takes to completely clean you out. Why do something half way when you should do it right the first time.

I agree for it is only a form of a habituation to take increasing volumes of an enema.

I’m so intrigued at how many folks here got enemas from aunts, sisters, brothers, grandmas, and other family members. Every enema I got was delivered from mom, later self administered, and then from my wife. An enema from Aunt Charlotte? No freaking thank you.

Nope - never got bigger volume or multiple enemas - for the most part it was just the adult bulb full of super strong Ivory soapy (made from Ivory Flakes dissolved in a pot of hot water on the stove). Wow - it so strong. Cleaned me out!

Oh, for sure!

As my age increased, the volume increased. Mom literally controlled my bowels. I couldn't fight her. She wanted a certain amount of poop in the toilet and if I didn't produce to her liking, she would give another soapy enema right then. She also wanted lots of farts. Sometimes I cried and moaned from the cramps while she was raising and lowering the bag (to stir things up). She always gave me at least two enemas when I was about 12-13 years old. She had some bipolar issues going on for years.

But she gave me ALL of my enemas while I was sitting on the toilet so it naturally limited how far the water would reach up inside the colon. Apparently, she, my grandmother and my aunts didn't figure that out.

If she would have laid me on the bed, the bathtub or on the floor, I would have pooped a whole lot more at a time!!

@Moms Egirl - We have so much inn common, it would be great to compare notes!

Yes, of course. Around 10, I was transitioned the the bag and hose rather than the squeeze bulb. At that time, the volume increased.

But she gave me ALL of my enemas while I was sitting on the toilet so it naturally limited how far the water would reach up inside the colon. Apparently, she, my grandmother and my aunts didn't figure that out.

If she would have laid me on the bed, the bathtub or on the floor, I would have pooped a whole lot more at a time!!

No, for this will depend exclusively of the manner of taking a high volume enema sitting on the toilet:

In the case that you will sit on the toilet and insert there a very long (2 ½ feet for adults) and well lubed colon tube very slowly in the anus while the continuous slow flood of the tap water of the enema you will be able to fill the large intestine completely without any problems.

@Darth said,

An enema from Aunt Charlotte? No freaking thank you.

My siblings an I got enemas from mom, grandma, and both of moms teenage sisters. Of the group, mom was the worst and her two teenage sisters were the best enema givers. We preferred getting enemas from our aunts over mom any day. They were closer in age to us and would play around, when mom or grandma wouldn’t. In later years, after we were responsible for ourselves. It was a toss-up between my sister and girlfriend as to who gave the better enema.

The volume of our enemas got increased as we got older and when our Pediatrician advised mom to increase the amount she gave us. We knew it was coming a few times, because we overheard the doctor telling mom what to increase it too.

@complete_bowel_cleansing So very true! Unfortunately, there were never any colon tubes ever used on me. It amazed me that so many families in the ‘50’s and 60's only used the standard enema nozzle or the douche nozzle. When I reached about 12, my Mother used her old amber bag with the black douche nozzle. Then I had to sit down on the commode while she remained standing and gave me the soapy water. Click. Click.

I rarely gave enemas to my two daughters, but even when they were older I only filled the 2qt bag slightly more than half full. With my oldest in particular who on occasion was constipated beyond other remedies that I tried, I felt it was better for her to take just enough warm solution to get her going so she could retain it easier with minimal cramping. There was no need to clean her out; she was uncomfortable enough already. I also didn’t want either daughter to have terrible memories of their experiences. Some embarrassment along the way, and my oldest once greeted me by pulling the covers over her head and asking, “Do you really have to stick that tube up my butt?” No, I didn’t absolutely have to, but I remember getting a hug from her afterwards and telling me it wasn’t so bad. “Thanks, mom.”

My enema quantity was the same from age five to sixteen. I had to take the two-quart enema bag. I could stop at any time to relieve myself. There were a or two where a second enema bag was filled and had to take all of the second bags.

@complete_bowel_cleansing

I was one of those children who did have a colon tube inserted (though I didn't know that it was a colon tube until much later). It was attached to a 50 fluid ounce/ 1.5 liter translucent plastic bucket. The hose had markings on it (I'm guessing every six inches but it could have been less). It was a PVC tube that was closed and rounded on the end with a side opening.

I don't know how far my mom threaded the tube into me; only how warm my tummy felt as the enema flowed into me. I recall the bucket being filled anywhere from half to two-thirds, maybe slightly more. But the soapy froth didn't overflow the top of the bucket and I don't recall the bucket ever being completely filled to be completely emptied into my little boy bottom.

I think that many moms thought the kid's colon had to be filled with solution completely for the enema to “work well”. The same is true for many enema takers today.

While this may be the case for someone who is severely constipated and hasn't pood for a week or more and whose colon is packed with hard, dry poo, such cases are pretty rare.

Usually, a much smaller enema will help start a person pooing… perhaps not immediately but usually within a half hour. If you disagree, next ti,me you've not had a poo in about 3 or 4 days, try an 8 oz bulb of warm water with a swish of Ivory bar soap. Lie down, squeeze it in, and retain for a half hour or so.

Mom didn't…but the family Pediatrician increased my constipation relief (warm Castile soapy water) enema volume from 32ozs…to 40 ozs.effective at age 11 ('61) Good Golly ! I was a slim/small bodyframed boy and the 1 quart enema was a neàr “butt buster” with some strong fullness/pressure feel to it plus the “tingle” of the soapy water solution..it would add 8 more ounces to my enemas..I was p.o.'d with the Doctor about it..but had no choice except to get a bigger enema. As the enema bag neared empty I just clenched my butt cheeks several times and the pressure feel seemed to lessen a bit--but it was still a big “whopper” of a enema !

Graduated from the bulb to the bag, when called into the bathroom with Mom sitting on the closed toilet seat and instead of seeing the waiting bulb in a bowl of Ivory, it was the red bag hanging from the the towel bar behind her.

My cousin was out not to long ago it seems her mom , my aunt and my mom upped the volume to the point you couldn’t help but leak solution. The rules where if you leaked it was another enema or if you didn’t take the whole bag it was another enema. This how we ended up with two or three enemas. It’s interesting they would follow the same rules for each other I guess that’s how grandmother taught them you where always encouraged to TAKE A LITTLE MORE

@Enema_Runner wrote:

I was one of those children who did have a colon tube inserted (though I didn't know that it was a colon tube until much later). It was attached to a 50 fluid ounce/ 1.5 liter translucent plastic bucket. The hose had markings on it (I'm guessing every six inches but it could have been less). It was a PVC tube that was closed and rounded on the end with a side opening.

I don't know how far my mom threaded the tube into me; only how warm my tummy felt as the enema flowed into me. I recall the bucket being filled anywhere from half to two-thirds, maybe slightly more. But the soapy froth didn't overflow the top of the bucket and I don't recall the bucket ever being completely filled to be completely emptied into my little boy bottom.

My mom had one of those that was used on me. I'm still not sure if it was given to her by my doctor for me or if it was the bucket that was used on her at the hospital when she had me, but I don't think it came from a drugstore. 1500cc and the probably 6 foot (well, more likely 2m) vinyl hose with the metal slide clamp, rounded end, and hole on the side. Like @Enema_Runner I don't remember the bucket ever being full for me, and while the hose did look like a colon tube I don't remember it ever being really put in far, probably just the customary “2-4 inches” and I have seen them referred to as “rectal tubes” or “rectal catheters,” which makes sense as I think they might be too small and stiff to be inserted much beyond the rectum. I do remember it being “good and soapy” though and working well, though at the time I didn't like it. I guess I had some idea that the constipation would just magically resolve or something if I just held on a little longer.

I don't know if the volume went up much, though I did find the old baby care book from when I was a kid and it said “4 ounces for a small infant, 8 ounces for a 1 year old, a pint for a 5 year old” so it was probably about a pint and stayed there AFAIK.

See my post #41 in “Enema Dependency” thread.

Mom increased the amount of fluid used for the enema. She gave me an enema with a rubber bulb. Initially, it was one bulb, then two, then three. There were two bulbs in the house - one with a capacity of 250 ml and the other with a capacity of about 330. The amount of liquid did not exceed one liter, but I think there was much less, because the bulb cannot be emptied completely. When, at the age of 15, I had an enema in the hospital, I felt a difference. The hospital used an irrigator and over a liter of water. It was maybe 1250 ml.

As I got older the volume definitely got to be more. Seems around 9 years old the bag was filled with more warm water and given a bit slower to make sure I was good and full before the clamp was secured. Then was told to take a few deep breaths and relax for a few minutes while laying on the bathroom floor on the enema towels. She would make sure that I would hold it long enough to work to her standards, which sometimes seemed like forever, and then helped me to the toilet and was told to hold it until she would say to release it. If I couldn’t hold it long enough, there would be another enema. By 11 years old or so, the bag was pretty much full to the brim. By then, I looked forward to the whole experience and the feelings of those larger volumes. Of course, I tried not to let on to the enjoyment and often wonder if she knew or if it was a good act I put on.

My first enemas from mom started at age 9. It became a weekly affair. The 2-quart bag was filled with warm soapy water and I was expected to finish it. Not in one fill, however. I'd take what I could, hold it (a mom determined amount of time) and the release into the toilet. The nozzle was inserted again and more flowed in. Once the bag was sucked flat and I held it the required time, I was free to go. I was a small kid so initially it would take three fillings to empty the bag. Later only two, finally just one. Mom stopped there, but encouraged me to hold it longer before releasing.

Right away I needed very large volume enemas. I was great at holding as a boy when I had the urge to go. I would get very backed up. My mom even took to see a doctor about it. He tried suppositories first which of course I was able to hold in the urges to poop that they caused me. All suppositories did were cause burning that went away as I held. Then the doctor tried a fleet enema which had a similar effect on me. Only a small runny fluid ran out of me. The fleets did very little to help me go poop. Mostly just discomfort and I could easily hold it in. Then they tried a large volume enema with a bag. There was no way I could hold back after that type of enema. Once the enema flooded my insides there was no way I could hold that in and literally that was the only way anyone could make me go. Even laxatives I could hold in the effects of… They would kid me and say I had buns of steel… LOL…

When I was very young mom used a bulb for enemas. It wasn't that large a bulb but apparently worked. I don't recall the age but I was transitioned to the enema bag after a normal enema was two bulbs full. I have not idea how much she had in the bag but suspect that as I got older she slowly increased the amount. When I was in high school I only had maybe 2 or at most 3 enemas and suspect that they were little more than half a bag. Still they really worked and I don't recall ever getting an enema that didn't.

I remember one afternoon when I was around the age of 14 my Mother and Grandmother, who lived with us had gone to a neighboring town to put my Mam-Maw on a bus to visit her son, my uncle. . I thought that I had about 2 hrs to myself before Mom would be back home. So, I decided to sneak me a large volume enema while she was gone.

Mom had stopped giving me enemas a year or so before at the instructions of our new family doctor.

But, I was craving one really bad so I decided to go for it.

I had just filled Mom’s Rexall Victoria Combination syringe with warm water and was in the process of adding additional water into the bag by blowing it into the bag through the hose. In fact, I was on my second glass of water when I heard our front door close. At that point, I looked down at the bag and I must say that it looked like a basketball.

Here I was sitting on the toilet with an enema bag full of water on the floor in front of me when Mom appeared in the bathroom doorway. I looked up and saw her just standing there with her hands on her hips…

I looked down.. then she said “Mike, what do you think you are doing, son?”

I, at first thought to myself, couldn’t she tell?Then, I tried to speak, but Mom interrupted me saying, “Mike, you know what our doctor has said about you taking those things! Besides, that is way too much water!”

I finally spoke up saying “Mom, I can take it!”

Mom just stood there in the doorway shaking her head. Then she spoke again… “okay, kill yourself if you want!” At that point Mom turned and walked into the kitchen.

I remained sitting on the edge of the toilet with my hands on both sides of my face and my elbows on my knees. I was so embarrassed!

After, I guess 15 or so minutes, Mom came back into the bathroom and sat down on the edge of the tub. She reached over and took my hands away from my chin and made me look at her.. She, then, spoke saying “Mike, I just don’t understand why you like taking enemas so much! I really don’t!“

I turned my head away from her.

She, again, turned my face back towards her. I, at this point, had tears in my eyes. i know my Mother noticed that. She took a piece of toilet paper and rubbed my eyes.. and then she just sat there.

Finally, spoke saying “Mama, I like taking enemas because I love the way the warm water feels as it enters my body. It is almost like an internal back rub! You know that I have been taking them all my life and now this new doctor says that they are bad for me! I just don’t understand that!”

Mother didn’t say anything! She just sat there..

I looked up and then noticed Mom had tears in her eyes too.

A minute or so later, Mom stood up, patted my head and left the room.

I could hear some things being moved around in the kitchen and a minute or so later Mother returned carrying a gallon pitcher, a quart jar, a box of salt and a small container of liquid Ivory soap.

I watched as Mom carefully put each item onto a small table that was right inside the bathroom door.

Next, she came over to where I was sitting and leaned over.

First, she kissed the top of my head and then she picked up the blotted enema bag and took it over to the sink where she let the cool water out of the bag.

Mother, then, turned on the water in the sink adjusting the water till she had just the temperature that she wanted.

When that was achieved, she picked up the jar and filled it with water. I watched as she poured the water from the jar into the gallon pitcher. She did this 3 more times.

Then, she picked up the salt and poured several teaspoons of the substance into the water. This was followed by her putting her hand into the water and stirring it for a minute or so.

Next, I watched as she picked up the enema bag and poured the salty water into bag till it was nearly full.. then, she put the pitcher down and picked up the liquid ivory. She squirted at least two squirts of the soap into the bottle.

This was followed by her picking up the red tubing and screwing it into the bag.

Mom, then, turned the bottle over and began shaking the bag back and forth.

I asked her why she was doing that?

I did not know.

Mom said that she was going to be giving me a different kind of enema today. She called it a soapsuds enema and that she was shaking the bag so that the soap would be mixed in the water.

I had never had one of those type enemas before and what she said made sense to me.

Well, Mom, then hung the bag above me. I could hear the water filling the hose… bloop, bloop, bloop!

Mother, at that point, told me to get out of those undershorts that I had on and get down on my hands and knees in front of the commode. I did.

Mom walked over to the small white cabinet beside the sink and retrieved a jar of Vaseline. Mom, then, walked back to the toilet and sat down onto its lid.

She opened the jar’s lid and got a glob of the stuff onto her finger. I watched as she put the lubricant onto nozzle and then I felt her smear a bit of the stuff onto my hole.

When that was done, Mother spoke again saying “Mike, I probably shouldn’t be doing this.. but, I feel your pain.”

Now, with that said, I felt Mom gently insert the nozzle into my rectum. She put her hand onto my back and began to rub it as she opened the tub’s shut-off and my enema began.

I took all of that bag..

Mom asked me if I wanted more water. Of course, I told her “please!”

She got up, took down the bag and proceeded to fill the bottle with the remaining water in the gallon pitcher. She, again, squirted a couple of squirts of the liquid ivory soap into the bag and attached the tubing.

As before, she shook the bag and then she proceeded to hang it above me.

She reinserted the nozzle and opened the tube’s shut-off and my enema began anew.

Mother asked me where I was putting all of this water. I told that “I didn’t know!”

Then, she reached her hand down onto my stomach. I felt her as she began to prod it as if what she was doing was helping move the water deep into my body.

A second or so later, I heard Mother close the shut-off and I felt her remove the nozzle from my rectum.

I started to get up, but Mom told me to stay i the knee chest position until she returns. With that said, Mom got up from the toilet seat and left the room.

After, I suppose 10 minutes had passed, Mom reappeared in the bathroom. She, then, told me to get up onto the toilet and let the enema out.

I did.

Mom left the room but reappeared only to give me a regular tap water enema saying she had to rinse the soap out of my body.

I, of course, told her thanks and gave her not only a kiss on the cheek but also a big hug!

I was given bulb enemas by my parents from about age 3 to age 8. The volume never exceeded a bulb full, 2 at most. It was a small blue rubber enema bulb, not sure of the capacity, but my enemas were just to get my insides moving enough, nothing more. Even so, they felt like a lot, because I didn’t know any other way. Sometimes I would beg my parents not to give me a full bulb - whether or not they complied, it always felt like a large amount of liquid up my butt to me.

My enema quantity was the same from age five to sixteen. I had to take the two-quart enema bag. I could stop at any time to relieve myself. There were a or two where a second enema bag was filled and had to take all of the second bags.

as a 5 year old a two-qt enema 🤔...

Either you had parents with little anatomical knowledge, or you are subject to a mistake..., otherwise you would probably not have been able to write this post for biological reasons.

Sorry, but I had to write that..