Natural Birth
Sage4200
member
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Episiotomy and natural birth
Sage4200
member
I plan on going for a med free birth but should I need an episiotomy, do you know if they will at least numb the area first?
Probably a dumb question but Im a FTM.
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Re: Episiotomy and natural birth
They can do a "pressure episiotomy", where they make the cut when baby's head is putting pressure on the area so you're already naturally numb.
Or you could request to tear naturally rather than getting a cut.
If you actually need one, I assume you'll be in a state where you won't feel it.
It's better to tear. And I say that as a woman that had a third degree tear.
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yes you get a needle to freeze the area.
(I did anyways), the doctor did something and asked if I could feel it, I said yes so he froze it.
I got one with DD and nope, no numbing at all. It didn't feel nearly as bad as trying to push DD out.
I was pushing for a while and was begging my MW to get the baby out. She said that while she knew I wanted to avoid an episiotomy that if she did it the baby would be out in two pushes. I didn't hesitate saying yes and sure enough, DD was born two pushes later.
I did get a numbing shot to sew it up.
...baby #3 is here...
I received a number shot before mine. FWIW, my episiotomy was no big deal (but it was also very minor) and didn't hinder my recovery in the slightest.
I should also add that I did have an epidural but it had with off (long labor) a couple hours prior to delivery.
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I needed an episiotomy with my first (it was very much needed), and I was numbed before cut. Most of the time it's better to tear, though. With my second two, I tore (very small tears - less than 1 cm).
Thanks for asking this - I've always wondered, too.
I had an episiotomy in a "need to get the baby out now" situation (otherwise they would have just let me tear) and they did give me a needle for freezing about 1 minute before the cut. I'm pretty sure the needle for freezing was so it would be working before they started stitching me and not anything to do with the cut at all. In my experience, I can honestly say that the cut was by far the worst part of labor or delivery - it was the only thing during the whole process that really hurt (during the whole labor/delivery I kept saying "I really though this was going to hurt more"). That being said, the cut was also over quite quickly so it was severe pain for a moment or two. I had the episiotomy and also tore - 2nd degree. I had at least 25 stiches (all internal) and had to have two more stiches 2 weeks after the birth due to poor healing (I did this without any freezing either since I would have had to have two needle pokes just to get 4 stich pokes - overall not pleasant but not horrible either) . The incision/epi area took 9 weeks to heal and stop bleeding.
This one hundred times. I would like to think they numbed me for it, but it didn't feel like it. Didn't really numb me for the stitches either. Did I mention they didn't ask either? It really slowed down my pushing/ birthing as I wasn't expecting it at all.
After 2 & 1/2 hours of pushing with no tearing, I had one. I was almost (okay, I was) relieved when my MW suggested that if we didn't make any progress with trying one or two different positions again it might be necessary.
They gave me a shot, and then made the cut during a contraction...which we'd had to wait for since my contractions were really slowing down by that point. It didn't hurt, but the shot after for stitches stung a bit.
My husband thinks they did give me a shot before the mw cut me. I don't really remember. I know that I had been pushing ofr over 3 hours. LO's head was there, but no matter how hard I pushed, I just wouldn't stretch at.all. So, she said she had to perform an episiotomy. I know she gave me a shot before stitching it up. I healed just fine. I used frozen maxi pads and sitz baths.
I guess it looks like I am in the minority here because I didn't find it that bad or painful.