so what's better...tearing or episiotomy?

southernbelle82 · May 2009

Just curious

lanie26 · May 2009

Better what?

I'd rather tear.

618mom22boys · May 2009

I have heard tearing is easier to heal from. But lucky me didnt have eaither with my DS1. And with DS2 I had a big episotomy on my belly! lol

Michelle110 · May 2009

I've heard that tearing heals better because it's usually a jagged edge - also doesn't hurt as badly as an episiotomy. Similar to when you get a paper cut versus a deep cut or laceration that's jagged - the paper cut will almost certainly hurt worse.

Temp146997687502158 · May 2009

I've heard that tearing actually heals better because it is a natural break. With an episiotomy, they may cut more than you actually need. I have also heard that with proper perinium care, you don't need to tear. If you have torn before or had an episiotomy, you won't need to again (with proper care taken)

GeoffreytheGiraffe · May 2009

tearing. episiotomy is no longer the standard of care.

LuckyH · May 2009

I had a small tear. She said it was deep though, so I got lots of stitches. It took a good 3-4 months before the area felt close to normal and probably around 6 months to feel completely normal. I don't know if the alternative would have been better or not. All that matters is that it did heal and went back to normal. Yay for a normal hoo-ha!

lanie26 · May 2009

GeoffreytheGiraffe:
tearing. episiotomy is no longer the standard of care.

I was going to say this too. Its no longer standard AT ALL. In fact if you have a doctor who is cut happy, I'd run.

My midwives don't unless there is a very serious need.

Renee070806 · May 2009

my dr. wouldnt do an episiotomy because she felt that a natural tear would heal better.

i got 4 or 5 stitches so it was "only" a first degree tear but it hurt....like hell...and took a while to get better.

my friends hubby massaged her perineam every night and believe it or not..her doctor did too while she was in labor. she didnt tear at all. im ALL SET getting a rub down from my ob!!!

Luckystar2 · May 2009

Tearing. My dr's office rarely ever do them anymore and would much rather have a patient tear. Unfortunately I needed one. It was a bad recovery! It wasn't healed completely until 10 weeks pp, and I had pain past 3 months pp. It sucked. If I ever get pg again, it will absolutely be on the top of my list of questions for my dr. I absolutely do not want to have one again!

ETA: Healing is supposed to be easier from tearing. I also had a book that talked about how usually your body will tear just enough for what you need. However, an episiotomy is usually more than what you need and can lead to further tearing.

Temp146997687502158 · May 2009

LuckyH:
I had a small tear. She said it was deep though, so I got lots of stitches. It took a good 3-4 months before the area felt close to normal and probably around 6 months to feel completely normal. I don't know if the alternative would have been better or not. All that matters is that it did heal and went back to normal. Yay for a normal hoo-ha!

I tore as well, and it seemed to take forever before I felt "normal".

MsTammy · May 2009

With DS#1 I had an episiotomy. The healing hurt a lot worse afterwards, butin the end, healed perfectly fine and I never have any problems in that area.

With DS#2 I tore this crazy tear on my left side down there. To this day,(over a year later) I still have some pain with it and that totally sucks.

southernbelle82 · May 2009

lanie26:
Better what?

I'd rather tear.

ha...I don't know. Better healing? Which hurts worse? (if that's possible)

meglew · May 2009

Speaking from experience, I had a 2nd degree tear and it healed well. I did not have any issues, so I guess for next time, I would choose tearing again. I will say this though - when I was asking my OB about episiotomy vs. tearing, she said that the epi is easier to stitch up since it is 2 clean edges opposed to two jagged edges. I had a good experience with the jagged edges though, so who knows.

Luckystar2 · May 2009

meglew:
I will say this though - when I was asking my OB about episiotomy vs. tearing, she said that the epi is easier to stitch up since it is 2 clean edges opposed to two jagged edges. I had a good experience with the jagged edges though, so who knows.

That's why it used to be so common. They are easier for the dr because it's easier to stitch up. But being easier to stitch up doesn't mean it's easier to heal for the woman.

Josie22 · May 2009

I had a 3rd degree tear. It hurt like hell, for a looonng time. I wish I would have told the Dr to cut if he thought it would help. I actually tore to my butt hole. I couldn't poop for a week. It was horrible,

auburnbride2be · May 2009

I had an epi and then it tore. (4th degree) I had a midwife so I know it was absolutely necessary b/c they aren't very pro epi. I vote for neither

I think tearing is better, but it can't be controlled. Some people even tear horizontally in addition to vertically. I was lucky though and healing was better than expected for me. People were amazed.

kgail11 · May 2009

I had a 4th degree laceration .. the worst ya can get! It hurt to sit down for 8 weeks. IT SUCKED.

mabst196 · May 2009

I had an episiotomy. My doctor said I was going to tear in a really bad way, so he cut.

Temp174496125006552 · May 2009

caytibeth:
I've heard that tearing actually heals better because it is a natural break. With an episiotomy, they may cut more than you actually need. I have also heard that with proper perinium care, you don't need to tear. If you have torn before or had an episiotomy, you won't need to again (with proper care taken)

Ditto this.

I had an episiotomy with Jordan. In hindsight, I wish she wouldn't have done it and just let nature take its course. With Ben, I had such a teeny tiny tear, my MW said that it would be healed on its own in a day or two. No stitches.

MollyK0222 · May 2009

Renee070806:
my dr. wouldnt do an episiotomy because she felt that a natural tear would heal better.

i got 4 or 5 stitches so it was "only" a first degree tear but it hurt....like hell...and took a while to get better.

my friends hubby massaged her perineam every night and believe it or not..her doctor did too while she was in labor. she didnt tear at all. im ALL SET getting a rub down from my ob!!!

We did this too and I only had a tiny tear... maybe 1 or 2 stitches and I didn't hurt very much at all. DD was a big baby too... nearly 9lbs.

KKM · May 2009

I had 3 third degree tears...they hurt...a lot. That said I have a feeling an episiotomy would have been worse

katy75 · May 2009

I had a 3rd almost 4th degree tear AND an episiotomy! Sucked!! PLUS - I "shredded" my insides. They had a hard time stitching me up inside. The doctor said she had never seen anyone shred their insides like I did - nice. PLUS I was the "freak" that the doctors all wanted to come look at and see what happened and how it got fixed. All I know is that I hurt like hell for a long time.

KatieTheMagnificent · May 2009

I'd rather tear than be cut.

I tore - sideways, not up & down - and it healed fine. Minor second degree, a few stitches. C was 9 pounds, 4 ounces. This time, we're going to be doing a lot of perineal massage in the last few months to try to avoid tearing.

jennya1113 · May 2009

lanie26:
GeoffreytheGiraffe:
tearing. episiotomy is no longer the standard of care.

I was going to say this too. Its no longer standard AT ALL. In fact if you have a doctor who is cut happy, I'd run.

My midwives don't unless there is a very serious need.

my hospital's policy is to avoid episiotomies... they only do 1 sometimes 2 a year. Guess who the lucky one was last year?? Oooouch. It sucked, but it healed pretty fast, within a week I was wearing regular pants again Wink

aforst · May 2009

I had a c-section, so I didn't have either. However, I remember the nurse that ran our child birth class compare it to a sheet. She said to think about trying to tear a sheet and how hard that is. If you were to cut the sheet, it would tear much easier. So, I think her point was it's better to tear b/c your body will do it IF you really need it, and as much as you need it. If they cut you, you are open to tear more b/c the cut has already been made. I hope that made sense.

Oh, there was only one OB in the practice that was cut happy, the rest would not unless really necessary.

Bride2bMO · May 2009

this post makes me feel better about failing to get pregnant this cycle. Brings back memories of tucks pads and ice filled diapers in my disposable underwear. Are my nurses the only ones with that nifty trick?

iris427 · May 2009

If your doctor does routine episiotomies, remind him that the 1980s are over.

fIowerchild · May 2009

I'd say tearing. I had only 2 stitches from a really tiny tear. I don't think I would have gotten so lucky with an episi.

VTbride05 · May 2009

My 2nd degree tear took over 9 months to heal. It still isnt quite right. What's better? I dont know. But my tear was horrible (to me).

Erin&Ryan · May 2009

I ended up being cut (cord was around DS's neck and I wasn't tearing on my own and the doc wanted to get him out). The healing time was LONG (sex hurt for months after). I've never experienced a tear, so I can't comment on that.

Chris&Jen · May 2009

I had a 4th degree tear that required an additional night in the hospital. My OB said that tears are better, AND easier to "put mom back together" because it is easier to see where everything "fits"...kind of like a puzzle.

nkintzel · May 2009

If you give birth in the water, its unlikely that you'll tear or need an episiotomy. The water softens the tissues. I had what my midwife referred to as a skid-mark. Just a little laceration.

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