Epsiotomy

[nappyaddict]

Question for a pregnant friend.

Does the midwife do it or the doctor?

Presumably there is lots of blood?

Is it better than tearing?

Can be a midwife or a doctor - I had a lovely Kiwi registrar - had a nice chat with her while she was sewing me up!

DH was taking photos at the business end - of course I couldn't see anything at the time - it does look quite full on a fair amount of blood, but I'd had an epidural and didn't feel a thing! I was chatting happily and holding my baby!

Lol why was he taking photos of the epsiotomy part!

I had an epi with DD1 and it was done by the registrar as I was in theatre as they were using forceps; I tore with DD2 (2nd degree tear). Recovery time from the tear was absolutely minimal (could sit down straight away) whereas after the epi I was in serious discomfort for nearly 2 weeks (having to sit on cushions and walking like a cowboy )

Midwife did my epi, didn't feel it as had an epidural. Stitching didn't hurt either (only the bit where she found a tear she hadn't noticed before and therefore hadn't numbed that area before stitching). Recovery afterwards was fine - hurt a bit but not to the point that it stopped me doing anything other than sex - took a good 8-10 weeks before was healed enough for that.

The evidence is actually that often a tear is better than an epi (why they no longer routinely do them) because a tear is more likely to go through skin alone, whereas an episotomy goes through skin and muscle.

They need to do them for forceps to open you up very quickly as they can't wait for the contractions to open the perineum.

Can be done by midwife or doctor, there shouldn't be too much blood as it shouldn't be preformed before crowning, the perineum is very thin at that point. I have only performed 1 in 15 years, although seen more as it's the doctor who would perform it prior to an insrumental delivery. As above, regaring tears appear to heal with less problems.

Mine was done by the registrar, she gave me a local anaesthetic so I didn't feel a thing. I didn't tear so I don't know if the recovery is better for tearing or episiotomy but it was very sore for a few weeks after. It looked like there was loads of blood but my notes say I only lost 300ml I don't think it was that bad

Nappyaddict

I know ..

That was the question I put to him afterwards

I have to be very careful when I click through photos on the pooter, esp with in-laws and my little sister (who I don't want to put off childbirth!)

Most importantly I will have to hide them from DD when she grows up, or she will be traumatised for life!

(PS it really wasn't that bad - I didn't feel a thing and it healed really well.)

x

Mine was done by the Doctor. Recovery wise, it took about two weeks before I was comfortable sitting and walking around.

The midwife did mine. I think she did it when having a contraction while crowning, but don't quote me on that as I was off my head on G&A.

I had one as DD was a star gazer and crowning forehead first so I started to tear and she wasn't getting out. One quick snip and she was out on the next push.

The stitches for the tear and cut were painful to heal over then next week or so, but the tear was in danger of being worse if left.

Birth is a bit of a blood bath anyway without any tearing or cutting and you have to remember a little blood goes a long way on a white sheet. 3 years on DH is still in shock about the sight of the placenta going into a bucket medical bowl.

Bump delete those photos - surely they're not your best side!

So if you are having forceps does a doctor do the epsiotomy not the midwife?

Mine was done by the midwife, I barely aknowledged when she said it was necessary, as I was also off my head on gas & air. I presume she had good reason to do it. Stitches werent brilliant though, they came out too early and I had to go back and have it redone. Nearly 9 weeks postnatal its all fine and as healed as it will ever be. Doesnt cause me any problems.

Did the midwife do you stitches to?

Yes.

The doctor did my episitomy,forceps and stitches. Have to say he did a fab job all around.

Sorry, I mean episiotomy.

I had forceps so an episiotomy. I'd had an epidural by that point though and didn't feel a thing, and had a nice lady doctor who did a great job sewing me up again.

I stayed in hospital for four days and they gave me shitloads of oramorph, voltarol and paracetamol so I didn't feel a thing afterwards either Continued taking voltarol for a couple of days once I was home but it really healed fine and didn't give me any bother at all.

The registrar did my stitches too after putting her foot on the bed and yanking easing DD1 out with the forceps. She and her colleague had quite a discussion about where to place the last stitch so that I "would look as nice as possible" so I think they did a pretty good job.

Midwife did my epi (no choice because I just wouldn't tear and DS's heartrate was starting to drop). It didn't hurt at the time but it took literally months to heal. It still aches if I do any exercise (or similar activities) which cause it to stretch a lot and I think I have a lot of scar tissue.

I think mine was a particularly unfortunate experience but it chimes with the over all picture that tears tend to heal better. I hope I just tear this time - really don't want to have another.