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1st baby: is it possible to avoid tearing/episiotomy??

LONGONMOHLONGONMOH member
in Birth Stories

My 6 friends have all torn or been cut in the last year.  Doesn't matter if there's an epidural or pitocin involved or not...but I haven't heard of anyone that I know who's gone without having to be sewn up...what are the chances of not needing stitches?

TIA

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Re: 1st baby: is it possible to avoid tearing/episiotomy??

  • ShansBrideShansBride
    I had a c/s with my first 9never went into labor) and I didn't tear with my second (my first vaginal).  I dld a lot of squatting and tailor sitting which is supposed to help stretch the perineum, so that may have helped too.
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  • texas77texas77 member

    as a midwife i have only had to repair 2 or 3 perineums out of 45 babies delivered.  there are things you can do to decrease your chance of a tear.  you can:

    ~ do perineal massage throughout pg

    ~ have your midwife/ob use olive oil to lube the perineum and allow the tissue to stretch

    ~ use warm compresses during the pushing stage on your peri.

    ~ push the head out really slowly and breathe a lot...especially when you feel the ring of fire.  in fact that's why you feel it so you know when to slow down and breathe.

    ~ ask your midwife/ob to do peri support during pushing

    ~ keep repeating to yourself that you are not going to tear and use visualization

    i'm sure there are more suggestions, but thats all i got right now.  GL!

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  • voelkelsvoelkels member
    Primerose oil, patience...
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  • mattandbekahmattandbekah
    my sister didnt tear, she was also in labor for a really long time, and pushed form 3.5 hours...so the fact that the baby came down slowly probably had something to do with it.  Her midwife used warm water and perineal massage during labor, which Emily (my sister) said was helpful and felt like it relieved a lot of pressure.
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  • dundasgirldundasgirl

    I had to get one stitch.  They debated even doing the one. 

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  • t&dmt&dm member
    I didn't tear with my first and only needed one stitch for my second (8 years later). 
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  • dani2078dani2078
    I didn't have any tearing for either of my boys. Both were over 8lbs and the second one was face up. I made it very clear to my doctor that I didnt want an episiotomy. The doctor was much more cautious. There were a couple doctors at our hospital that are known to be a bit too eager to cut. I made it clear I was not okay with that.
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  • jeffraejeffrae member
    I just had my first....had to have pitocin and epidural....NO tearing!
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  • FutureMrs.SteenFutureMrs.Steen
    Yep, absolutely possible! GL!
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  • #6#6 member

    Very possible.  I had my son in 11mins and didnt tear.  My dr did a perineal massage the entire time I was pushing.  I really 100% believe this is why I didnt tear or need to be cut.  Even with L coming so fast.  I only pushed 3 times.  My first push his head crowned, second head came out, 3rd body came out.  

    My dr. was amazed by it all.  

    My 3 friends who all went to a group of doctors at a different hospital were al cut.  One had a 5lb 3 oz baby and her dr. cut before she even really started to push.  I was like "wtf?"  Why are you cutting now?  We knew her baby was going to be small.  Her water broke at 36wks.  

    As for the others 1 would have had to be anyways.  She had a 10lb baby.  The other Im not sure what the deal was.  But they were all cut and Im not cool with that.  I have heard that tearing should be allowed because it is more natural.  Even if it doesnt happen in a straight line you only tear enough for the baby to be born.  My friends were all cut from whole to whole.  (ouch)   

    My dr told me at one of my 1st appts that he does not cut unless tearing starts.  Even then he said he waits until baby is not coming out even after tearing.  (unless the mother would rather be cut)

    Did I mention that i freaking love my dr?   

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  • NADA-HNADA-H member
    hey ladies, did any of the mommies who didn't tear or tore only a little have an epidural? I know i will want an epidural but I heard and read a lot about it making you unable to push and increases the risk of using vacuum and forceps and thus an 

    episiotomy and I really don't want one.

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  • noraraeucnoraraeuc member
    Episiotomies are basically never necessary. Tell them "I refuse to consent to episiotomy." If you want to avoid tearing, labor in water, push with your natural cues and don't push on your back.
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  • nurrieumnurrieum member
    I supposedly had a decent tear and honestly it was not a big deal. Yes I had to be stitched but I was so focused on my baby that my attention wasn't there. I was a bit psyched out about but when it happens- your baby is arriving that's where your focus. I also had a epidural, I dilated my last two cm in 20 mins and pushed him out in 30. (Maybe I wouldn't have torn if I didn't go so fast- hmm). I also personally healed quickly so it wasn't a huge thing later either. I wouldn't do an episiotomy though..

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  • 4babySlages4babySlages member
    I've had three babies and epidurals with all of them and never once tore... So very possible! Not planning to tear with this 4th baby either (fingers crossed :)
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  • ZulixxZulixx member
    I had a super small year I didn't even notice. One stitch. Healed in 4 days. I woke up after a short nap (19 hours of labor with no progress) and her head was crowning. They didn't think the dr would make it back in time. I pushed for ten minutes and she was in my arms. It happened so fast there was no preventing the tearing.

    I was told the kegels give you more control over your pushing and the slower the baby comes the less chance there is of tearing. But if you have an epidural your not going to have much control of how fast or slow your pushing.
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