Reasons for childhood enemas

1952 my Grandmother had me stay with her and Granddad. Since it was spring she thought she would do my annual spring tonic. Before bed, in this case, Friday evening, into the big tub for a good hot bath. Once my skin was clean, near scrubbed off at Grandmother's hands. I was given a large spoon full of treacle and brimstone. Not bad, sort of tasted like licorice. This was all followed by a quick bulb syringe enema usually castile soap and warm water. A good time on the throne and for all of us younger ones diapers and rubber pants then into bed.

My childhood enemas were in the 70’s. Pretty much the same process every time. If I didn’t have a BM after about 2 days I was given Castoria. If it didn’t work I would have to drink prune juice. After another day or so I would be told that since nothing worked that I would be getting an warm, soapy enema. I dreaded hearing that announcement and my legs would get weak as I headed to the bathroom. Got even more weak when I saw the empty pink enema bag hanging by the toilet. Mom would come in, tell me to take off all my clothes while she filled the bag. I would sit on the toilet and be given one more opportunity to go. Then the douche nozzle was inserted and my clean out would begin.

My childhood enemas started when I was about five and a half. My next-door neighbor, a boy a year older than me, started playing with each other and an enema bag. I was hooked immediately! I don't remember ever having a reason for an enema other than pure pleasure from then on. Even later in life, the barium contrast enemas would bring on an orgasm.

Mom gave me occasional enemas from as early as I can remember, and I expect they were for constipation and were probably well deserved. From memory, and maybe some observations of my own daughters at the same age, the first clue something was not right was a grumpy mood and not wanting to play with my sister or friends. A couple of questions followed, such as, does your tummy hurt, and when was the last time you went poop? For that last one, if my answer was anything other than just this morning, mom would suggest a small enema might help my tummy. Since she did not force me to take more after I said I was full, I did not dislike those enemas and quickly recognized that I really did feel better after it was over.

But by time I was ten or eleven I recognized that I actually liked those enemas and started giving myself enemas whenever I was home alone. Soon I was giving myself more enemas than mom ever did, and the enema had changed from a medical/health tool to a fun activity.

Growing up in the sixties and seventies, I received enemas for constipation, emollient enemas made from potato starch for diarrhea and catnip enemas for colds. I only disliked the starch enemas as I was not allowed to expel them. They were warm and thick and small in quantity but after my morning loose stool, I didn't want to have to retain an enema until it was absorbed. Mint tea enemas were given for gas.

My childhood enemas were strictly a “treatment” for a condition. The various conditions included , probably first and foremost, constipation, stomach aches or stomach flu, and sometimes as a precautionary measure when I had other ailments such as a bad cold or respiratory flu. As my mother would say in those last instances….."just in case you get stopped up from the medicine" !!!!

When younger, maybe up until around 4-5, it was an enema from a small white bulb.

After that age the process changed. Most of the time my mother's first course of action would be a dose of milk of magnesia and if that didn't do the trick, then the red bag would be brought out of the bathroom cabinet to finish the job, so to speak.

This lasted into my early teen years.

As I wrote below, I only got an enema because of my constipation. I thought for a long time that this was the only reason for giving an enema. When I was about 12, I learned that an enema could be done because of a fever.

I was traveling with my mother then by train. There was another woman with her daughter in the same compartment of the train. The girl was two years younger than me. My mom talked to this woman; the talk was about children's health. My mom told me about my constipation and the remedies I was taking. To my great displeasure, she mentioned enemas. I was very ashamed that my mother was talking about it.

This woman replied that her daughter was not constipated. She said she used an enema but for colds. I was very surprised by this as I thought the enema was only done for constipation. At the same time, the fact that this woman's daughter also has enemas made, comforted me a bit. To my surprise, the girl was not embarrassed that her mother was talking about it.

Wait there had to be a reason. Lol

I grew up in the 60s. If staying home from school sick, an enema was pretty much a certain thing.

I remember getting one enema as an older child in the early 90s with a bulb syringe filled with camomile tea to treat my fever.

No matter if It was at home , Or the dairy farm , where I lived and worked thru high school . If I was sick in bed , and that frequently was the case with the dreaded Incapacitating Migraine headaches I had , Mom , Dr's visiting nurse , or Farmers wife made sure my bowels were kept open with large soapsuds Bag enemas , some not so gently given either ~!!!

Mine were always given on a schedule. About every two weeks I would be given to clean me out. They would always be ivory soapsuds enemas.

@redbaglady did you look forward to them or dred them. Do you still keep a schedule?

The reasons for my childhood enemas in the 1960s ranged from illness to constipation, real or suspected, to just when mom thought I needed one. I often ignored any bathroom schedule and would put off the call of nature and I know this was a topic discussed by my parents, grandparents and pediatrician. Sometimes an enema was in my future if I was questioned about going to the bathroom etc, but as often as not, I would be going about my kid business only to be interrupted with the discovery that mom was about to give me one. The whole thing was a love hate scenario with excitement and dread as I was taken to the bathroom

Reasons: Started with enemas given at an early age because of constipation. Then swapping them with my girl cousin. Then once, a punishment enema from mom because I convinced my other younger girl cousin to let me give her one over my lap, promising not to squeeze the bulb to avoid injecting water. Well, I was only 6 and once I had her over my lap with her panties down, I inserted the nozzle and just had to squeeze. Well, she went and told my mom who proceeded to give me the same thing. I cried and wailed but later on that night I sneaked the syringe and gave myself another one. Guess that taught them, haha.

My parents believed that they encouraged better health. I was not in agreement initially, but learned to not fuss.

Constipation. Don't have an exact number, but I think they tended to happen after 4-6 days of not going.

For me, it was always for not pooing…. at least from what I can remember. At bath time, from probably age 5 to 11, when my underwear came off it was probably checked for ‘skid marks’. I think, if they were seen, I was watched carefully to see if I pood during the next day. If I didn't, I'd get a bulb full before my bath. I don't remembe the bulb having any dramatic effect, but it must have worked.

The bag was reserved for when I was really constipated, such as times when in bed sick for five days or more. The bag certainly worked and rapidly made me run to the toilet and poo completely uncontrollably.

Alright, this thread's now almost of age (like 18yo), so I'd be interested in what your hypothesis (including the underlying theory) was and if it turned out to be true. DM me if you don't want to answer this publicly. I'm a professional researcher btw, so I'd really like to know your theory.

For my personal story, I was born in the late ‘80s and I have never received an enema. I’m really wondering what parents back then were thinking.

At home I started getting them around 1970-ish up until 1981 (my senior year in high school). I would have to get one anywhere from once or twice a week to maybe only every few months. I did get them less often as I got older.

I got them only for my constipation problems, and for “putting off the call of nature” as @koroseal put it. I had a “bathroom schedule” too, rarely ignored though because I was usually reminded.

The first enema I got was at our doctor's office by his nurse. I recall at some later visit mom telling the doctor that I was still having bathroom problems, and him telling her “well if he can't or won't go to the bathroom, give him an enema.” I guess it had been recommended that I go every day too due to my tendency for large stools.

Our doctor was an older Asian guy. He died around the mid 2000's, at nearly 100 years old. He had seemed to be okay with enemas for constipation problems.

Enemas were one of the home remedies par excellence at that time. They were quick to hand and quickly showed success.

Well, punishments are not and weren't illnesses or ailments, but they often helped there too😎. I know what I'm talking about😎

Today, for every little thing, there's a pill you throw in.

Reason - mom thought I was constipated (I faked it)

Decade 1970s

80s to 90s…

My dad was a firm believer in bowel movements daily. I was kind of embarrassed, so sometimes if he would ask if I had pooped today, I would say no.

It was 2 Days in a row, enema day one, soap stick day two.

Reason - mom thought I was constipated (I faked it)

Decade 1970s

I always sat on the toilet for too long because I was always reading...

Mother then said I probably had a constipation.

The inevitable consequence: I got enemas that I didn't want at all...😂

Late 50s, early 60s

Mother was an old-time Nurse. 1929 to the 60's, early memory, was on my stomach, turned my head, she said: “I thought you liked them?”

Was giving me an Enema. How many is them? By age 12 the die was cast.

Have given 200 to 250 to late wife and 2 former girlfriends off Baltimore City Paper/ Wide Side, the 1st one was ex-dancer,

other Red Head, is now on 3rd marriage. Back then Nurses were into Enemas. She mentioned once gave many to Men & Women.

Wish had Films or Photos of the Women. Recently read 2 articles on Nurses who passed, they were known as “Enema Queens”!

Could they be my “mommy”?

I got them for constipation from my mother in the '40s. Last one from my grandmother was again for constipation and was given in mid-50s.

Enemas were on a regular basis at our house all through the 50’s and 60’s. If you didn’t go for three days, it was enema time. We were asked daily if we had gone poop or not. Sometimes if we were not feeling well it was enema time no matter if the bowel schedule had been met or not. Mom was always the one to give them to whoever was on the receiving end. I know she regularly gave herself enemas sometimes on a daily basis. She had several bags of different size capacity that were kept under the bathroom sink once they had hung to dry. As I got older I would sneak in a few extra with the large Klystra she had and worked my way up to a couple of quarts. Once in a while we got a mineral oil retention when we were sick, but most enemas were just warm tap water or she added a little soap suds. Loved the large Klystra so much it is my go to gallon bag at 70 years old!

@dudleybott

so true 👍😎

You describe my childhood exactly.

Except that I didn't know if my parents gave themselves enemas. But probably yes... Why did we have a big red rubber bag at home and a big bulb with the thick, long nozzle, which I didn't notice until much later.

When I was older, my father once said that it was important to keep the butt hole clean because of hemorrhoids.

Your contribution is good...👍😎

I have no idea why my Mom gave me a soapsuds enema. I don't recall any bowel problems. But, suddenly, my Mom was standing before me with a full bag and a towel. i complained, but to no avail. I got two enemas. This stopped when I was around 8 or so. I do know that my parents took enemas frequently and they did give them to my sister. I just do not recall ever hearing a reason or someone complain about constipation.

Aquarius, the way you word it makes me wonder, if you didn't know about the bulb with the thick nozzle. Perhaps that was mom's vaginal douche device. In years past many women did that regularly. and they never used it for enemas.