Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

1 2

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Anyone refuse stitches?

35 replies

Allthatglitters789 · 05/06/2013 21:57

Has anyone experienced a tear during childbirth and declined stitches? What was it like?

OP posts:

Report

ZolaBuddleia · 05/06/2013 21:59

No, because my innards would now be my outards.

There was no way my tear would have healed properly without some serious undercarriage tapestry.

Report

BoyMeetsWorld · 05/06/2013 22:02

No but I wish I had. Stafford hospital of doooom stitched me up after forceps / episiotomy ...with no blasted anaesthetic!!! The botched stitching job has caused far more long term issues than the minor tear would've I'm sure

Report

BoyMeetsWorld · 05/06/2013 22:03

Plus I've heard tears heal better than cuts (something to do with jagged edge?)

Report

Pendipidy · 05/06/2013 22:04

I had a second degree tear on dd2 but didn't decline, the doc was down there at least half an hour stitching and afterwards i can see where he stitched and i hate to think what i would look like without the stitches! My dh would have been commenting like a wand up a wizards sleeve or other such euphemisms!

Why don't you want stitches?

Report

foxybingodotcom · 05/06/2013 22:04

Why oh why would anyone decline stitches? I needed joined up, I can think of no good reason for not doing that!

Report

NachoAddict · 05/06/2013 22:08

My sister refused point blank but she only needed one or two so they gave up.

I was stitched from inside out so couldn't refuse that.

Report

motherofsnortpigs · 05/06/2013 22:14

I declined stitches after a 2nd degree tear. It was an old scar from a stitched tear that kinda burst - nice!

I did have to promise the mw that I would stay in bed for a week and she came every day to check.

I have a fully functioning fanjo, including birthing another baby without tearing subsequently. There is, however, a teeny flap of skin that dingle dangles out, it's just a bit weird and in no way painful.

Report

ChutesTooNarrow · 05/06/2013 22:18

Yep, point blank refused for dd after horrendous experience with ds. The midwife went from assuming she would put a stitch in for a small tear to whole heatedly agreeing that it was so minor that a stitch wasn't needed.

It healed fine, I was very conscious not to stray far from bed for the first few days.

Report

ZolaBuddleia · 05/06/2013 22:21

Blimey mother, I wonder how often MWs see that? (People refusing stitches, not your dingle dangle). Were you just convinced you'd heal fine?

Report

Allthatglitters789 · 05/06/2013 22:43

It's not that I don't want stitches, but I didn't have stitches with either of my births and had a 2nd degree both times, I read it heals quicker and is also less painful, not sure though as I can't compare. However I healed great and feel no different 'down there' than before I had children. Did have to have a few check ups though to make sure it was healing ok and not getting infected.

OP posts:

Report

s0fedup · 05/06/2013 22:43

i was told after ds2 that i didnt need to be stitched. I had to rest and it would heal by itself...
Fast forward 3 months, and ulcerated fanjo tjat required an operation under general to repair. Still not right.
Whatever u do, my advise no matter how small get them to sew

Report

capercaillie · 05/06/2013 22:46

I had stitches after DS which was an episiotomy and tear.

2nd degree tear after DD (hand by head thank you). Midwife gave me choice of stitches or not (independent midwife). I refused stitches but had to promise not to go downstairs for a week and stay in bed for a week. I was happy to do that.
It was much less painful and healed much better

Report

maxbear · 09/06/2013 15:32

I'm a midwife and we rarely see women that refuse stitches. I remember one lady who would not let me look afterwards.she was adamant she didn't want stitches. I ended up being her mw in her next pregnancy, she told me she wished she had had them as it didn't heal . If I needed stitches I personally would want to be put back together as I do think it gives the best chance of healing, a small tear might heal without stitches but many larger ones may result in a slightly larger opening if left. General thinking is that an unstitched tear will be more comfortable in the short term but may not heal as well. Everyone is different though, one size doesn't fit all!

Report

AuntPepita · 09/06/2013 15:42

Yes, I refused. Query second degree, but the midwife was horrid and I was just not happy with her messing with me and I refused. Was less painful and healed quicker than the one stitch I had the time before.

Report

Fanjango · 09/06/2013 15:46

I had a small second degree tear with my first DC. Refused stitches, mw said I'd made the right choice . Healed fine, sadly rather large tear after twins, one breech, and deffo needed the stitches

Report

MaryKatharine · 09/06/2013 15:50

Yes, I refused 3 times. First one was 2nd degree and the other two 1st degree. The worst birthing horror stories I had heard revolved around stitching and it freaked me out far more than labour. Most people I have spoken to said they had nowhere near enough pain relief, some just offered gas and air!
maxbear, maybe you can comment on that. Is it normal just to offer gas and air? I mean, if you went to A&E and needed stitches they wouldn't expect you just to use G&A would they?

Report

sparklekitty · 09/06/2013 15:55

I has a massive episiotomy and was stitched inside and out for half an hour or so, doubt they would have let me refuse on the grounds that they'd be shoving my uterus back up inside within hours

Report

kelda · 09/06/2013 16:00

I had stitches each time. I had independant midwives, with 20years plus experience, one of who had spent a lot of time working in community midwifery in Africa without proper medical care. They all told me that it was better to stitch then not.

Report

piprabbit · 09/06/2013 16:05

Why would an unstitched wound heal faster than a stitched one? I can't imagine the process - is there any research/articles I could read? Thanks.

Report

cazboldy · 09/06/2013 17:11

I had 2 stitches after my first - It hurt like mad at the time, and took ages to heal - I have to admit I know it sounds woossy, when you hear about people having loads of stitches, and inside and out etc, but it was horrible!

2nd time I didn't tear

3rd time, ds2 came very quickly, at home, before the mw had arrived, so there was noone to tell me not to push, pant etc, and I tore, though not horrifically. I was on such a high after his birth, and by the time the mw had got there, I didn't really feel like being pulled about - ds2 was already on the breast, and so she had a little look, advised I probably should have a few stitches, but I said no. she stayed for a while, and once the blood loss had slowed she was happy to leave it.

It healed better than the stitches IMO.

Numbers 4 and 5 no tears

Number 6 due early October, so fingers crossed no tears this time too!!!

Report

Coconutty · 09/06/2013 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Redbug · 09/06/2013 18:31

I had a 3rd degree and bad cervical tear, was in theatre for two hours being stitched back together! Can't imagine why one would refuse, assuming no enormous concerns about quality of medical staff.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Email address

You've subscribed!

youaintallthat · 13/06/2013 08:53

I had a forth degrees tear and lost about 60% of my blood volume I needed about 100 stitches so don't think I could have ./ would have refused. However it was done at Tameside hospital which was named alongside Stafford recently as one of the worst uk hospitals! And so far I've had 2 surgeries due to poor repair and awaiting at least another 2 surgeries.....also can no longer have vb with subsequent babies.....

Report

TheOrchardKeeper · 13/06/2013 08:59

I timed it at 40 minutes of stitching and lost count of stitches twenty minutes in at about 20...

So no bloody way

Report

Nicolaeus · 13/06/2013 09:08

I had stitches and they were definitely more painful than giving birth (partly due to fact that the epidural had worn off, partly due to the incompetent student midwife - the nurse who took the stitches out (ow!) said they were really badly done) however I would do it again. Didn't even cross my mind to refuse.

Took ages though so DH had a lovely long cuddle with DS