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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Perineums can be functional after childbirth

39 replies

mears · 01/05/2004 23:04

Just thought I would start a thread to reassure the women out there who are planning vaginal birth that perineums are designed to allow babies an exit. It is more often than not that perineums recover without any problem after delivery.
I have had 4 children and needed an episiotomy with the first two. I had sex 2 weeks after DS2. The last 2 children I had without a stitch. I am now 43 years old, my youngest is 10 years old and not a drop of urine escapes when I sneeze

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Original poster
mears · 02/05/2004 10:29

Tears are better if the are no bigger than an episiotomy. Often they are much smaller and follow the natural fibre lines of the muscle or just involve the skin. They heal much better. Large tears are more difficult to repair and can cause more pain than an episiotomy. It means that the midwife needs to use her judgement. If it looks as though the perineum is going to tear when there is still a good bit of the head to come, she will advise an episiotomy. Not always easy to judge though.

Motherinferior - my stomach is resting on the top of my thighs as I sit and type here. Joined the Bigmamas club but only lasted 2 weeks - pathetic will power. Am supposed to be writing reports and doind an assignment just now, not posting on MN

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motherinferior · 02/05/2004 10:08

I've had one episiotomy, one tear. Pretty damn good bladder control although I think when I sneeze very very VERY hard, ditto coughing there is the odd drop.

I do lots of pelvic floor exercises, because I combine them with stomach ones.

Aha, bet Mears is now going to tell us about her glorious tum (if you do, sweetie, you deserve one)

WideWebWitch · 02/05/2004 09:45

But stripymouse, isn't a tear supposed to be better than an episiotomy? Mears, what's the official view on this? I'm also fine (2 x homebirths, no episio, second a 9lb 8oz baby) so that's positive stuff to your thread!

serenequeen · 02/05/2004 08:49

mears, great idea to start this thread. there was one post in particular on the other thread that i really wanted to respond to but didn't want to get into a fight! my bits are perfectly fine, despite long labour, ventouse delivery and episio!

StripyMouse · 02/05/2004 08:40

I had a great episiotomy with DD1 that healed easily and had little damage. The scar was a bit bumpy and on my follow up check up with my GP he noticed it and prescribed some local anaesthetic cream to sue and rub and stretch the area to flatten the bumpy bits...was sceptical but did work.
The episiotomy was painless - I think - was so busy "doing other things" like giving birth at the time that I didn?t notice them doing it. After all that worrying and deliberation about whether or not to allow them to do it, when the moment came, it just wasn?t an issue.
Second time round I didn?t have one but tore badly instead. Took much longer to heal despite careful stitching by a lovely and experienced MW.

If you get the choice, I would advise any woman in labour to go with what your MW suggests at the time and view episiotomies as not ideal but can be a lot better than tearing. Tearing can be ragged and unpredictable concerning how deep and long it is going to be so harder and more painful to stitch and heal (IME).

toddlerbob · 02/05/2004 04:08

First birth, small tear, healed by itself. Think my pelvic floor is better than before or certainly no worse. Hope another positive message does help reassure some of the pg mumsnetters.

Original poster
mears · 01/05/2004 23:29

Don't feel guilty - glad to have your post. Will be checking up to hear how you get on at the docs.

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tatcity · 01/05/2004 23:26

Mears, I agree it is not the vast majority. Felt a bit guilty posting on such a positive thread. Think its to do with intervention. If I'd been left alone during first labour, this probably wouldn't have happened. I will go and see doc next week - still a bit embarassing though! Doc is good looking too!

midden · 01/05/2004 23:24

I had no tears with either of mine depsite quick and intense deliveries, only very slight grazing which healed well in a couple of weeks first time and within a week the second.

Original poster
mears · 01/05/2004 23:20

tatcity - don't be embarrassed to see the doctor. There are a number of things that can be done to help - physiotherapy for a start. Best to try and get it sorted, don't just put up with it. I know there are many women who have had problems but I think that it needs to be known that it is not the vast majority.

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deegward · 01/05/2004 23:17

Mears, have to agree with you. Youngest 1 yr old, both vb no tears or episiotmies, and yes agree, had sex quite soon after with both. No drops here.

tatcity · 01/05/2004 23:16

Mears - glad to hear that! I had episiotomy with DD1 after very quick labour, and got 3rd degree tear. Then had section with DD2 because of "damage" - sure I could have had a natural one though - and I'm afraid despite fairly religious pelvic floor excercises still have quite a severe (and embarassing) problem with leakages! Too embarassed to go to doc! Seems to be worse after 2nd preg - so not linked with the tear I don't think. Sorry to dash your optimistic thread though!

Original poster
mears · 01/05/2004 23:11

Possibly - but you don't need to be a midwife to do them Pelvic floor exercises are the easiest yet most forgotten exercise.

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eddm · 01/05/2004 23:09

Aaah, but is that because you are a midwife and did your pelvic floor exercises religiously?

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