episiotomy

[Linnis]

So I've done some reading and some doctors swear by them while other doctors don't. My mother said the only thing she hated about giving birth is she did during a time when episiotomies were done every time, not only when needed. She said when I was a teen the place where she was cut still hurt every once in a while.

My Aunt had an episiotomy for one kid and tore for the other. She says the healing time is quicker for the tear than the cut and would rather tare.

So if you've had both, which had the quicker healing time? If you had one or the other, would you have it again or go the other way?

 

[andiesmama]

(I had to ask my DH, I couldn't remember! lol)

I DID have an episiotomy, but a really small one (1 maybe 2 stitches)....no real pain afterwards, some minor discomfort that went away after a day or less. I didn't have to take any pain meds or anything...

I remember the only thing I was concerned about was having a bowel movement....I figured THAT would be painful, but they gave me a "stool softener" (sorry if TMI ), & no problems....

 

[jgonz]

I posted this in the Bradley/Natural Childbirth thread:

Avoiding an Episiotomy will help prevent tearing. Do this experiment at home... Take a piece of paper, and gently try to tear the edge between two fingers. See there is some give there before it tears? That's close to the way skin reacts to pressure~ there is some Give there before it tears. Now, clip the paper with scissors, and try the experiment again. The paper will rip Quickly, and further, with no give at all.

It's also easier, quicker, and less discomfort, for a tear to heal than an episiotomy. Why? Because in a tear situation, the skin has little fibers and it's a jagged edge. The edges bind quickly and you heal faster. An episiotomy is a sharp clean cut with surgical scissors. It take a Lot longer for a clean edge to heal because there are no fibers of the skin to bind to. Why do doctors do episiotomies instead of let a woman tear? Because it's much easier for a doctor to stitch up an episiotomy than a tear.

The only labor I had an episiotomy with was #1. I had an epidural that took too well, and couldn't feel a thing. There was no way I could cooperate with the doctor. So, he cut me and used forceps to get my DD out. The healing time was Extensive, and very uncomfortable (and made worse by the fact that they shaved me so I had hair growing back at the same time. ) At any rate, having been through that and then tearing a small amount with #2, I would choose a tear Every single time over an episiotomy.

 

[InTheFlame]

After having a painful episiotomy, then doing more reading on the subject... I think that at times, a cut is a good idea. I'd much prefer that than a 4th-degree tear... owowOW!!!

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Most midwives and doctors try for a tear if they can, rather than an episiotomy.

The research shows the healing time is quicker (and the wound heals better) with a tear rather than a surgical cut.

I know that's probably not too much help to those with 4th degree tears and everything like that - but it's starting to revert back to 'assisted' tears (ie pressure in the right areas and correct positioning during birth), rather than an actual 'cut'.

Hope that helps!

Sasch --> future midwife...

 

[RoseofLima]

You are far more likely to have a 3rd or 4th degree tear with an episiotomy than without one...

I would never have an episiotomy--unless I had stood up tried to squat the baby out and she still wasn't coming- when speed was of the essence.

My episiotomies took weeks to heal from, the second one never quite healed right ..,

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

I never want an episiotomy again. I am still sensitive on the scar line and still get pain from time to time even 4.5 years later. It was totally unnecessary too. I would rather tear next time if necessary.

 

[Leanna]

I won't get an episiotomy, I think it has more downfalls than benefits.. you shouldn't need either if you just easy through the crowning and do not lay on your back either.

 

[~Nikki~]

They don't generally perform episiotomies in the hospital I will be at, unless they need to use forceps or something.

So I guess if anything I'll tear naturally...and to be honest I think I would rather have that happen than have an episiotomy...

 

[katelyn]

My aunt told me her feelings about episiotomy, which makes me never want to have one. She had one with her first, back when they did "routine" ones. Then with her last, she had her first c-section. She said that she would almost rather have the c-section as far as healing went - with the c-section she was getting around better faster, and with the episiotomy it was hard to sit for a long time after the birth. :o

 

[jazzbird]

I never thought I would experience an episiotomy, but because Jonas was in distress my doctor had to do a vacuum extraction to get him out quickly. Because of the force of pulling with a vacuum (or forceps) they do episiotomies. I don't even know what degree cut mine is, but it's a couple inches long. It was pretty painful the first week. I had a hard time standing up and sitting down, and I always feared reopening the wound, even though I was extremely careful. A week later, it is definitely still tender and swollen, but it's feeling better, and I'm also getting used to living with it. I hate that I had to have it done, but I know in this case it was for the best. I feel like it will be quite a while before I feel healed.

 

[Leanna]

My aunt told me her feelings about episiotomy, which makes me never want to have one. She had one with her first, back when they did "routine" ones. Then with her last, she had her first c-section. She said that she would almost rather have the c-section as far as healing went - with the c-section she was getting around better faster, and with the episiotomy it was hard to sit for a long time after the birth. :o

That makes sense to me, because I know my healing with a 4th degree tear was worse than with a c-section.

 

[oliveplants]

As in the tearing thread, I've had both, and I prefer a tear. THe episiotomy was sore for a long time, and it wasn't huge or a breakaway; it just healed slower.