A lot of women do, it's usually not a big deal, a few stitches and that's it. Honestly, I'll take a small tear over an episiotomy. If it's something you're worried about, squats can help to stretch the area, and you can ask your OB to direct pushing at crowning to give the area time to stretch naturally, rather than powering through in order to get LO out as quickly.
Ezra James 08/22/2013 Nora Grace Due 12/26/2016
Two Angel Babies 07/03/2012 08/08/2015
"If you're still my small babe or you're all the way grown, my promise to you is you're never alone. You are my angel, my darling, my star...and my love will find you, wherever you are."
Yes I tore pretty bad with my first. At the time there is alt of pain so you don't feel the tearing per say, but after when they stitch you and you pee its pretty painful. It burns allot. My situation was pretty bad so it took me like 13 weeks to finally heal. My advice is try to stop pushing when they tell you so things have time to stretch properly. Good luck!
I tore a "3" out of 4 is what my doctor said. I had an epidural so I didn't even feel it. But after the first few times when I went pee it stung!!!! But it doesn't last forever!
See if you can request some perennial massage from any midwives available in your hospital. I had it done as a FTM without even having to ask which was nice. It's supposed to decrease your chances of tearing or reduce chances if bad tear vs minimum tear. I tore slightly they said not enough to even need a single stitch. Good luck [ also I REFUSED episiotomy just the thought groosed me out]
I had a 2nd degree tear with my first, but I told my midwife that I would rather tear than have them perform an episiotomy. She agreed.
It really wasn't that bad. As my DD's head was crowning, she just kept stretching my skin around her head until it gave.
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I have heard that an episiotomy is a cleaner cut so it heals easier BUT from all you ladies with experience it seems like tearing is the better way to go?
Fitz, it's a "cleaner" cut, but it's also deeper, it goes through the muscle as well, whereas a tear might not. And I don't know about it being quicker to heal, but it's easier for the doctors to stitch an episiotomy.
Ezra James 08/22/2013 Nora Grace Due 12/26/2016
Two Angel Babies 07/03/2012 08/08/2015
"If you're still my small babe or you're all the way grown, my promise to you is you're never alone. You are my angel, my darling, my star...and my love will find you, wherever you are."
Fitz, it's a "cleaner" cut, but it's also deeper, it goes through the muscle as well, whereas a tear might not. And I don't know about it being quicker to heal, but it's easier for the doctors to stitch an episiotomy.
thanks! Makes sense that if its deeper you would definitely better off tearing.
I had a 2nd degree tear with DS. It sounds worse than it is (at least in my case). I had dissolvable stitches and because I had an epi I didn't feel them being placed.
I only needed one stitch. I was not prepared for getting out of bed for the first time after delivering and how sore I was. It only makes sense though. It's just not something I thought about.
Re: Birth/Delivery
Nora Grace Due 12/26/2016
Two Angel Babies
07/03/2012
08/08/2015
"If you're still my small babe
or you're all the way grown,
my promise to you
is you're never alone.
You are my angel, my darling,
my star...and my love will find you,
wherever you are."
DD2 8.22.13
MMC 1.4.17 at 16w
Expecting #3, EDD 1.29.18
Nope
I have c/s
I know it is really hard to believe... but you won't really care in the moment. Your brain just kicks into, "Baby out" mode and it won't even matter.
Crazy, huh?
Nora Grace Due 12/26/2016
Two Angel Babies
07/03/2012
08/08/2015
"If you're still my small babe
or you're all the way grown,
my promise to you
is you're never alone.
You are my angel, my darling,
my star...and my love will find you,
wherever you are."
thanks! Makes sense that if its deeper you would definitely better off tearing.