Does having a previous episiotomy/assisted delivery?

[expatinscotland]

Make a woman more prone to tearing in subsequent vaginal deliveries?

My last delivery was with something called 'Haight-Ferguson' forceps.

bumpity bump.

I had DS1 with forceps and loads of stitches - I was in a great deal of pain afterwards. 20 months later, DS2 slipped out and barely grazed me. That's only my experience though - don't know any science about it!

I had an episiotomy with my first baby and the scar took a long time to heal - I was stitched up correctly, but sex was still painful 6 months later ( it healed eventually ). I had my second baby nearly three years later and gave birth on my knees ( leaning over the sofa, at home ). I didn't tear at all, so it's not inevitable. I'm sure the position I delivered in the second time was a major factor in not tearing.

I tore in both deliveries, but the second time the tear was along the scar of the first time, and not as extensive, so there was no extra damage, IYSWIM. I healed better and faster the second time as well.

I tore first time round needing a few stitches three and a half years later had a quicker birth with a much bigger baby and no stitches required. Hope this helps.

i was cut 1st time round. 2nd time i tore but in a different place. 3rd time i didnt tear or need cutting

episiotomy with first and like rosieposie took ages before sex was comfortable again, had dd2 20 months later and only a slight tear with her no stitches. dd3 9 yrs later a graze and ds 13 months later and nothing.

Episiotomy, ventouse, forceps and a third degree tear to muscle with first, but all healed well and hardly any discomfort afterwards. Three and a half years later, second one popped out much more easily and only a tiny tear to skin.

I had episiotomy and ventouse with ds1.

With ds2 and ds3 I didn't have any 'assistance' but I had a small tear each time.

Not sure if position makes a difference - I was lying/sitting backwards with ds1 and ds3 but kneeling over the back of the bed with ds3 and still got a tear.

I had a ventouse with DS, with an episiotomy. DD 2 years later with nothing - 3 pushes and she was out, after a 2.5 hour labour. Both times I was sitting up on the bed after labouring in the water.

I had forceps and an episiotomy with ds1 and then had three more children, none of whom caused me to tear enought to warrant stitches again (thank God, aren't stitiches after an episiotomy a pain in the bum?!)

I still couldn't sit down (literally) after 6 weeks. I ended up after scar tissue removed a year later - and no-one would listen when I complained about the pain after the episiotomy

Large episiotomy and ventouse first time, sex was painful for months. Second time: I tore badly along the line of the external scar and the tear even went a bit further (almost 3rd degree) but stitching took much less time because it was just external and superficial compared with the episiotomy. It healed quicker and sex has been much easier (when we get around to it!). Both were large babies BTW, second larger than first.

Had episiotomy and ventouse with DD and third degree tear too. Lots of stitches etc. Took a while to heal and was sore for 3 months after. Pushed for nearly 3 hours before ventouse btw.

DS born 2 years and 9 days later and had a slight graze - no stitches. Pushed for 40 mins this time after only 6 hours total labour started with ARM. Do have some hammerheads (SP) this time though .

Life is like a box of chocolates......

Both babies were fairly large btw.

What on earth is a hammerhead?!!

There's something about this in MIDIRS this issue, will have a gander later, but it might have been about 4th degree perianal tears.

haemarroid or whatever the spelling is!

LOL, VTM!

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Luckily I didn't look at them before she used 'em on me to get DD out (DD had her arm up by her head). I just saw on my notes what they were.

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She could have used a sword to get her out, by that time I didn't care if I lived or died, I just wanted it to f*&&ing stop!