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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
greengirl0909
member
Natural Birth and Episiotomy
greengirl0909
member
So...my first go round I was in labor for 32 hours. I hadn't slept in 48 hours. When we hit 24 hours of labor, they gave me an epidural so I could get some rest. I was really hoping for med free, but I knew they were right, I needed the rest. The pain at that point was manageable, I still think maybe I could have done it if I hadn't been so exhausted.
So here we are ready for number 2...and I'm thinking, okay we'll give the no epidural thing a try again...and then I thought about my episiotomy and the sound the scissors made cutting my skin and it make me about want to die. Anyone have experiences to share? TIA
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Re: Natural Birth and Episiotomy
My OB doesn't do episiotimies. But to stitch you up I know that they inject lidocaine or some other local numbing and that sounds pretty painful.
They turned my epi off after I delivered, not realizing the extent to which I tore. So I would say for 30 minutes (maybe more I was pretty tired) I felt every single stitch. It wasn't that bad actually, I just looked over and focused on DS while he was being weighed, measured, etc.
With that said, if I ever have number 2 I am going to try it without meds. I was induced and after progressing 2 cm in 9.5 hours I broke down and got an epi.
I had an episiotomy with my first one. In general that doc was a douche. My induction was 35 hours and the episiotomy was cut w/o any pain meds. I don't remember hearing it, I was too occupied feeling it. The epi was turned off sneakily while I was pushing because I couldn't feel the contractions.
I tore along the same scar with #2 (well, even worse than the scar). With #3, I didn't tear on the scar, I went forward instead. I had an epidural w/ #2 that never had time to work. With #3 I was set on hitting the tub to manage pain but after my water broke there was mechonium, so I wasn't allowed and got the epidural instead.
Good Luck with #2. All my deliveries were so different (I also had 3 different docs too). If you want to go med free, it is possible!!
As in NEVER does episiotomies? That's silly. Sometimes you need one. With DD#1, I pushed for over 2 hours. For 45 minutes of that time, her head was directly on my pelivc floor and I was pushing her harder and harder against it. But I would not tear and she would not come out without a bigger opening. Finally, after 45 minutes of excruciating pain, my OB suggested a small cut. She literally made a 2 cm incision and DD#1 popped right out. I was just not going to tear on my own. My DD#1 had a huge bruise on her head because I pushed her against my body for over 45 minutes. The OB was reluctant to do the episiotomy sooner because she didn't want to be seen as "interventionist." Sometimes they are necessary.
I didn't feel the episiotomy because I was so numb from pushing the baby out. With all 3 babies the most painful part was the contractions during transition.
Pushing didn't hurt and neither did the episiotomy ( I only got that with my 2nd) and neither did sewing me back up hurt either. My husband almost fainted though when the started to sew me without anesthesia.
They just let me tear, my Dr's never asked what I wanted and I never told them. Personally, I would want to tear then be cut, and I think that goes along with most in a natural birth plan.
A friend of mine went natural also and her Dr did do an episiotomy and she said it was no big deal and didn't know until he mentioned having to stitch her up.
They gave me the test dose of the epi, but no more because he was not tolorating labor well so it wore off by the time I pushed. I had an episiotomy and I think I know when she did it, but it didn't hurt. I was pre-occupied during the stiching up since my child was not breathing. I think the lidocane pinched a bit, but not a big deal.
It healed up really well and I've had no problems since.
I had one but not all the way through if that makes sense. I know what you mean by saying the sound of it scares you. It gives me the chills to think about it and I can't imagine not being numb from the epi. My doc doesn't prefer doing them but I didn't have the easier delivery and it was necessary. DS was in distress so it was a bit of an emergency.
no, i mean as in the prefer you tear naturally.
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I ended up getting an epidural and kind of wished I hadn't given in. I really think I could have done it without it, but my labor and delivery was really fast. If it had lasted longer, I probably wouldn't be saying that.
I didn't have an episiotomy. I had to get a few stitches, but I was so not aware of what was going on down there. I was focused on DD. I don't remember feeling any pain while getting stitched and honestly didn't pay attention to it at all.
I had a natural delivery with my DS and had an episiotomy (the cord was wrapped around his neck and they wanted him out fast).
At the time I was concentrating on pushing so hard I honestly don't remember the feeling of being cut. I know that DH did tell me the only time I yelled out during my whole labor was when I was cut, so I guess at the time it hurt. The doctor had to atempt it twice because the first time the scissors were not sharp enough and they basically just severely pinched my skin but didn't cut me. After the fact, the doctor went to stitch me up without numbing me first - OUCH!
With DD, I pushed her right now, not episiotomy or tearing!
Zachary Ryan - 1/13/08 - 6lbs 15oz, 20.5 inches
Lilia Rose - 5/11/10 - 8lbs 6oz, 21 inches
I had a med free in hospital birth with midwives. I laboured for 5 hours at home on my own, got to the hospital and was already 9cm with the urge to push. So I started pushing...30 min later his heart rate started dropping into the 60s, so my midwife asked if I oppossed an episiotomy...that my baby was in distress. Obviously I said go for it and next push he was born. I didnt feel the cut at all. I even asked her afterward if she ended up doing it or not because I didnt feel anything.
I went med-free and didn't have an episiotomy (but I was really close - the midwife said "If you don't get her out with this push, you're getting one!" So I made sure to get her out!) So, I had a second degree tear instead (which I didn't distinctly feel - everything hurt at that point). The sewing up afterwards was no big deal, b/c they gave me some good local, so I really didn't feel anything.
I think every birth is different, though, and if you want to, you can go med-free this time (though I understand being afraid of an episiotomy! I'm still more scared of that than tearing!)