Episiotomy first time..chance of having another?

ChristyCory1212

With my first daughter I ended up having to have an episiotomy and forceps used to get her out. She was getting stressed. (She was only 7lbs 11oz) I am due with another girl and can't stop thinking I'll have to have another episiotomy. Which I really don't want. (My first was a level 3 pushing level 4 and got infected. I was miserable for weeks which is why I'm dreading the thought of another one) I was just wondering if any of you other moms had one and ended up with another and if it was the same or not. Any advice would be great! Thank you!!

mom3babies

My first one my dr allowed me to tear and my second I had an episiotomy. They were pretty much the same recovery.

sschwege

My SIL had an episiotomy with her first (my nephew's heart rate kept dropping), but didn't need one with her second or third. 

It was probably more a product of the forceps that made your recovery so hard.  Isn't a vacuum assist supposed to be more gentle?  Perhaps someone can weigh in, that might be an alternative if you need help again.  Did they say why your daughter was stressed, were you on Pit?

sschwege

I will say though that most women find pushing much easier the second time since there's already been a baby to sort of 'pave the way'.  With DD i pushed for an hour, with my second DS I pushed twice and he was almost a pound heavier with a head in the 75%!

walterjena

My first I had a stage 1, 2nd one was a stage 3...Dr says with this one it's more likely that I will tear ( I don't want another episiotomy) because the scar tissue is weaker however I plan on taking my time pushing to allow time for my body to stretch as much as possible. We'll see!

ariejsmom

I tore with my first. She was 5 lbs 10oz but didn't tear or need an episiotomy for my second and she was 8 lbs 6.5oz.

ChristyCory1212

Yeah I was on pit. I was so happy to have the doctor I did when it came to the forceps. He did such an awesome job. There wasn't even a mark! All the nurses couldn't believe it. I feel bad because at the time I was throwing up between pushing (probably from my epidural) that once he said were going to use forceps to get her out I was just like ok let's get this over I never gave it a second thought. Even to think of the vacuum as an option. I honestly think she was stressed because she was facing the wrong way and stuck lol I am sure hoping the second goes way smoother. Not to be asking for to much but if she could come on time or a week early I would grateful lol (my first was a week late and i had to be induced) thank you all for the input it means a lot!

sschwege

ChristyCory1212 said:

Yeah I was on pit. I was so happy to have the doctor I did when it came to the forceps. He did such an awesome job. There wasn't even a mark! All the nurses couldn't believe it. I feel bad because at the time I was throwing up between pushing (probably from my epidural) that once he said were going to use forceps to get her out I was just like ok let's get this over I never gave it a second thought. Even to think of the vacuum as an option. I honestly think she was stressed because she was facing the wrong way and stuck lol I am sure hoping the second goes way smoother. Not to be asking for to much but if she could come on time or a week early I would grateful lol (my first was a week late and i had to be induced) thank you all for the input it means a lot!

  Poor thing, I bet it will be better this time, it usually is!  If you have to be induced again, you might consider asking them to turn off the Pit once you are in a good contraction pattern, Pit can stress baby as well.  Not saying that's what happened, but might be worth asking  about.  Best of luck!

aschoppers

I had an episotomy with my first and tore 7 years later with my second. Now another 13 years later I'm terrified of tearing again. How to have staff that can do cervical massage to avoid both but if I had the choice I would go with an episitomy again.