episiotomy.

btj357 · May 2011

today at my appointment i got a packet of different types of labor procedures and episiotomy was listed.. i was wondering how many 2+ mom's had this or tore. and what they would prefer?

had to edit this because oops forgot to ask if you could feel the episiotomy.

MrandMrsAndrews · May 2011

I think there are mixed feelings.

I thankfully didn't tear (or have an episiotomy). I have heard though that allowing a tear will also allow for better healing. I am not sure about that though.

bug81 · May 2011

I had an episiotomy with both of my PP. It is better to be cut and them be able to sew a straight cut up than to have them have to sew up were you tore.

cszlachta · May 2011

I had one with DD, and I didn't even know it was happening at the time (one of those "if necessary" things) and I would assume my healing process was pretty normal. It wasn't fun, but I felt completely back to normal within a month.

Ella&C · May 2011

My doctor does not do them. He says--and the research I have read supports this-- that the body tears only as much as is necessary to allow the baby to pass. How can anyone judge how much they need to cut? And I healed up just fine. Anyway, you don't feel the tearing-or the cutting, for that matter.

AbJams · May 2011

I didn't tear or have an episiotomy, thank GOD, but if I had to choose, I would forgo the episiotomy. I used to think that the clean edges of the scalpel cut would heal better, but apparently it is in fact the opposite.

teachnm · May 2011

I also had an episiotomy with my DS and it healed fine. I have heard that it is easier to heal from an episiotomy than from a tear.

mattandbekah · May 2011

I had a second degree tear, and from all the moms I have heard from that have gotten an episiotomy, I would MUCH rather tear naturally than to be cut..I dont know why, but it seems like getting cut leads to a more painful recovery. I really wasnt in all that much pain after I had Jack.

myeshabride · May 2011

I didn't have one with DS or tear and I'm hoping that area is just as stretchy this time around. Smile

KariChadDora · May 2011

I had a 3rd degree tear and I didn't feel it tear at the time, I had an epidural, or the stitching to put it back together. I would much rather be allowed to tear naturally as then your body will only tear as much as needed, as opposed to possibly being cut further than needed. Plus the rough edges of a tear do actually heal better/faster/stronger than a clean cut. My husband is a urologist and even does "no-scalpel" vasectomies on men, but making a puncture wound than then tearing with his fingers the skin because it heals better than the clean cut of a scalpel. The only way I would want an episiotomy is an emergency situation where the the doctor needed to get the baby out as quickly as possible.

laurynfaerie · May 2011

I've heard two sides to them.

The first one is that it's easier to heal from the episiotomy than it is a natural tear, which sort of makes sense to me.

The second is that you tear more with an episiotomy than if you tear naturally. The tearing a t-shirt analogy that people talk about.

I would prefer not to get one.

babes12 · May 2011

I was very close to having an episiotomy w/ my first. OB told me she'd give me 3 more pushes and then i'd have to have one, well that freaked me out so bad that i pushed really hard and DS came out on that push. Big Smile

I only had slight tears and was stitched up.

adri77 · May 2011

I tore both times, my docs don't do episiotomy's. I did feel the stitching with DS1 b/c my epi didn't work.

Gipper0809 · May 2011

Many doctors don't even do episiotomies anymore. They aren't necessary and you can heal just as well, if not better, than if you were cut.

KrisM86 · May 2011

Nearly all of the research now indicates that episiotomies during most normal labors are totally unnecessary. Most women's bodies only tear as much as necessary to get the baby out. The majority of women who tear have only a first or second degree tear. Even in the cases where the tear is worse, there is no evidence that a cut from an episiotomy heals better or faster.

Also, many tears occur when labor has been forced along by an induction or a woman is pushing too hard or too fast when she can't properly feel her body due to an epidural.

Many doctors (and almost all midwives) only perform episiotomies when it is necessary in order to get the baby out asap.

TheFannins729 · May 2011

i had a 2nd degree tear and was feeling myself again after a week.

my friends that had episiotomies were sitting on donut pillows for over a month.

that alone has pretty much made up my mind for me on this baby.

emmyloustu · May 2011

My mw practice rarely performs episiotomies. I had an abnormal delivery - occipital posterior baby - face up, head turned to the side - 8lbs and she pretty much came out in one push after almost 3hrs of pushing. I ended up with a 3rd degree tear. The stitching up was the worst part of labor for me. Recovery was ok.

CoreymaeW · May 2011

I'm pregnant for the first time so I have never had either but everyone tells me that it is much better to have an episiotomy than to tear... not sure why they say that since all other pp have said just the opposite

forensicmama · May 2011

Avoid episiotomies like the plague!!! I would've rather tore. I hear that you heal better from a tear anyway.

thetheisens · May 2011

With my son I did not want a episiotomy at all, but the Dr gave me a small one anyways. I tore a little beyond the cut though. Tears heal better, that's way I didn't want one. It really didn't bother me at all, I don't remember it hurting much at any point. I was up walking around and wearing sweat pants a couple hours after I had my son. I had an epidural, but I fell asleep and the nurse didn't come in for hours at night so only one side of my body was numb and it wore off pretty quickly. I know it's one of those things that first time mom's worry about and I did as well, but honestly it's one of the things I remember the least. I had my son nine years ago and I really don't remember the pain or the tearing or all the things you are so worried about before giving birth that scares you into getting an epidural. I do remember the horrible nurse I had and how the Dr did things that I didn't want him to do.

smilelari · May 2011

I had a second degree tear and would take a natural tear over an episiotomy any day. With an episiotomy, you are likely to also tear on top of the cut. Think about a piece of fabric. If the fabric is whole, it's pretty darn hard to tear it. However, if you cut the fabric, it will tear from where you cut it very, very easily. Same thing with your skin. They did some pretty rigorous stretching down there and based on what I've read since, I'll likely request that they not do that either. COmpletely hands off is the best policy.

3u3 · May 2011

Definitely discuss this with your doctor, because different doctors will lean more one way or the other.

I discussed this with my doctor before I had my DS and he said he preferred to do an episiotomy if it looked like it would be needed, rather than risk a tear. He did mention (as I saw one PP did) that it unfortunately CAN have that t-shirt effect (one you cut it, it can tear easier). He said he'd seen some of his own patients that he had let tear and felt bad b/c it didn't heal very well.

I was SO freaked out about an episiotomy or a tear, that I chose to get an epidural just for that reason! Labor and contractions didn't bother me, but thinking about that (still) makes me want to pass out!

With DS, I had a 3rd degree episiotomy. I was numb from my epidural, but I knew when my doctor did it. We had discussed that it would be at his judgement. He didn't say he was doing it, but I remember being able to just tell what he was doing. But it didn't hurt. I didn't feel the stitching or anything, either. Recovery was not fun for me, although I didn't think it was too bad at the time b/c it was my first, so I didn't know any different. I was given some prescriptions I could take for the pain, but I didn't take them once I left the hospital. It was slightly painful to sit, but not terrible, nothing I felt I needed medication for. But I cried on the table at my first post-partum appt (6 wks) when they had to check how it was healing b/c it hurt. I healed fine, but it took me a while. Probably more around 2-3 months.

With DD, I didn't tear or get cut at all! It was quite a different experience! If I had known it would've gone so smoothly, I wouldn't have gotten my epidural with her.

I've heard from others that tearing feels like its burning? And my SIL assured me before my first that you'll just be so ready to get the baby out that you don't really think about it or care that much. She said she heard a lady in L&D who was yelling "Just cut the baby out of me!" Of course, instead of making me feel better, that just freaked me out more....

ANYWAY...definitely something to talk to your doctor about. Smile

ShawMich · May 2011

This is my third pregnancy. For my first 2 deliveries, I did not have an episiotomy and only tore a little inside my first time which needed stitches. For the second delivery, I had no problems at all.

Your doctor will probably use his/her expertise when it comes to this. My friend had an episiotomy AND tore for her first delivery so there is only so much that can be done sometimes. It all depends on how elastic your skin is I guess. Obviously the episiotomy is a clean cut and if you tear, it's not.

You won't feel any pain during the episiotomy if you had the epidural. Afterwards, you will. But let me say this...even without the episiotomy, I was swollen and sore and it hurt to sit down after giving birth (it was like sitting on 2 golf balls). I'm sure an episiotomy is painful as well.

At the end of the day, you should find out what your doctor usually does in this situation.

Good luck.

mreinard · May 2011

I don't really have anything else to add to this (I agree most modern practices do not do this and it is better to let the body do what it needs to do) ... except I wanted to tell you how my midwives explained it to me cause it made a lot of sense...

If you take a dish towel and try to rip it down the middle, it is very hard to do. But if you take a knife and just put a little cut in it, it is much easier to tear. Our bodies are the same way.

Personally I didn't tear or need an episiotomy. My midwives were fantastic!

MrsG.060708 · May 2011

I tore and had 2 stitches, so fairly minor (no degree given to the tear). I trust my OB to make the decision, but I think I'd rather tear naturally than be cut and possibly have not needed to be.

mteston · May 2011

I had an episiotomy and I felt every bit of it. It hurt so bad I almost kicked my doctor in the face. lol. But I think if it's more controlled it's safer.

Mrs. Alice · May 2011

I used to work as a postpartum nurse so I can answer this from that perspective. Routine episisotomies is really a thing of the past, and not very common any more. Of course there are some cases where it is medically necessary. Most OBs let you tear naturally and then repair it (stitch you back up). The most common tears were 1st and 2nd degree which require just a few stitches. There were always some 3rd degree and I have seen some 4th degree which is a tear almost all the way to your rectum (don't worry, this is very uncommon). I'd say at least 75-80% of the vag deliveries had some sort of tear/repair or episiotomy. Ice is your friend after delivery!

rockchalkbride · May 2011

I asked my doctor at one of my visits during my first pregnancy if she preferred episiotomies or tearing naturally. She told me that she didn't do episiotomies.

After I delivered my son and had a several 2nd degree tears, I ran into a friend from our childbirth class on the postpartum floor in the hospital who had her son a few days earlier. We were swapping birth stories and she said she had an episiotomy. Well I was floored because we had the same doctor.

Apparently she meant she didn't LIKE to do them, but would if it was necessary. I agree, I think they are become less common.

PenniePie25 · May 2011

I had an episiotomy, because they had to use the vacuum to help get DS out. My choices were that or a C section as he was in distress. I didn't feel it at all at the time as I had an epidural, actually didn't even know she did it until she was stitching me up. I didn't feel the stitiches at all either.

I'm not sure if I'd rather tear or have episiotomy. The recovery wasn't terrible but wasn't a walk in the park, either. Can't say if it would have been easier with a tear. I just look at it as it is better than having a csection but who knows.

sunnydaisy · May 2011

With my first, I had a small tear. Recovery was uncomfortable but relatively quick--about a week to start feeling "normal". With my second (10lbs), I had a "small" episiotomy which ended up resulting in much more pain and a longer recovery--over a month. With my third, I had no problems, and I'm hoping for that this time as well. However, given the choice from my experiences, I would MUCH rather tear naturally than be cut.

I have 3 friends who had episiotomies that ended up with 4th degrees tears. One tore all the way to her rectum and had to have reconstructive surgery. 4th degree tears, though uncommon, are more common with episiotomies than natural tears.

BBCfamily · May 2011

I had an episiotomy, it wasn't a big deal. I was more worried about my son's heart rate dropping than how my vag would heal. It probably won't be your biggest concern at the time.

beedale862003 · May 2011

I had a second degree tear with my son, but its because he came barreling out both shoulders at the same time. I did not tear because of his head and he is in the 90% for his head circumference (and has been since he was born). I would definitely choose to tear vs. episiotomy. You never know you may not tear at all or very little, plus like so many people mentioned studies now show that tearing naturally is better.

Temp574971250006741 · May 2011

cszlachta:
I had one with DD, and I didn't even know it was happening at the time (one of those "if necessary" things) and I would assume my healing process was pretty normal. It wasn't fun, but I felt completely back to normal within a month.

This

aliemarie18 · May 2011

Luckily I did not tear or have an episiotomy with DD, but when I went to my birth classes, which were provided by one of the midwife/nurses at the hospital I delivered at, she explained that it was better to tear naturally. She gave each of us a hand towel and asked us to try to rip it in half, obviously we couldn't. Then she cut them about half an inch and had us try to rip them. All of us were then able to tear the towels in half. I realize this is not exactly how your body works but I thought it was a good example.

penguincrazy · May 2011

I had an episiotomy with DD#1 and the healing was AWFUL! My stitches didn't disslove right and would snag when I shifted positions. OUCH!! With DD#2, I used midwives and neither tore, nor needed an episiotomy. The recovery was AMAZING! I literally felt like my old self the next day! The only way I'll consent to an episiotomy again is in case of distosia or the like.

and P.S.- my girls were both born with large heads (just like daddy)

CakeBatter · May 2011

I had an episiotomy. My epidural wore off and I felt it (only time throughout the whole process I screamed - 3 times). My Dr was surprised I felt it). I did not feel the stitching it up, though.

mabst196 · May 2011

I had an episiotomy. It was a *** to recover from and was painful for quite sometime. I don't have a tear to compare it to. From the sound of it, I was going to tear in a very bad way so if I had ti chose between the episotomy and a 4th degree tear, I'm going to have to guess the cut was the way to go.

Jsthomas618 · May 2011

I had an episiotomy w/ DD. Didn't even feel it thanks to the eipdural. DD came out very quickly after I was cut. Had no problem with healing, hemorrhoids hurt worse than anything (ha, sorry if TMI), Don't really have a preference for tearing vs. episiotomy...what will be will be.

rainlily · May 2011

I had a 2nd degree tear with DD. She was born with her hand up by her face, so if could have been a lot worse. The OB who delivered her said that he generally doesn't do episiotomies. He said that he doesn't like to guess how much to cut. A woman might not tear at all and with an episiotomy, the minimum cut is 2nd degree. I had not met the doc before I started pushing (long story), but when he came in the room I told him I didn't want an episiotomy. I am glad he respected my wishes.

Having practiced dentistry for years and done lots of oral surgery, I can tell you that I am skilled enough to sew anything up. I can do as good a job approximating the edges of a jagged laceration or an incision. A jagged laceration takes more patience to suture, but it isn't impossible to fix. A clean incision is easier for the operator to suture. OBs are skilled surgeons and can do laparascopic surgeries and work on fallopian tubes, so I think they can sew up a vagina.

I had little to no discomfort from my tear. It healed up very quickly. I never even took a single ibuprofen for pain. I used the peri bottle and some witch hazel pads and that was enough.

julier1111 · May 2011

the dr had the scalpal in his hand and asked if i was ready and then he sighed and said never mind. i had the epidural so i didnt feel the rip.... until afterwards... i kind of wish he would of cut me bc my vag is a little uneven. DH says he cannot tell but i can feel the difference. i ended up having 36 stitches down and 6 stitches up. it was horrible. i will ask to be cut sooner this time.

mbgreenwalt · May 2011

I tore naturally. DD was facing my hip bone and after 3.5 hours of pushing they finally turned her and she came out really fast. It was a second degree tear that needed sutures. I had an epi, but almost kicked my OB in the face when she tried to suture me, she had to numb the area. I healed really quickly and the pain was gone about 10 days later.

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