I just want to point out that episiotomies are NOT routine birth practice.

[HaveYouTakenLeaveOfYourCervix]

on pretty much every birthplan i see it is written

I do not want an episiotomy unless absolutely necessary.

Why do women think that they would be given an episiotomy if it wasn't absolutely necessary and an emergency situation?

Do women think midwives are scissor weilding harpies who routinely cut perineums because they want to?

Episiotomy is NOT a routine procedure. You will NOT be given one unless you really really need one.

that's all.

feel free to now add you stories of unnecessary and unconsented episiotomy horror story.

You are humphy today.

I agree btw though.

when my mum had me it was routine practice, apparently.

I am quite old now though.

I asked for one with Dc3, having had a nasty tear with Dc2. It was quick, easily stitched, and I recovered quickly, with no short term or long term problems.

I know I was lucky, but I am hugely in favour of episiotomies - far better than an uncontrolled third degree tear.

i am humphy. i am working fucking bastard nights.

i have done a grand total of 2 episiotomies over the last few years. both emergencies.

hell, i rarely get my gloves on, let alone find the bloody scissors.

I thikn the reason you see this is because women of my age or a bit younger ( mid 30s) who are having babies are planning their birhts on the whole with the received wisdom of women who gave birth in the 70s or earlier... when routine enemas, episiotmies , shaves etc were more prolific?

i think that women worry about things being taken out o their control and when they are pushing a baby out , they want things to have been clearly set in stone before hand wrt to delivery... and not have to worry about making themselves clear at the point the perineum looks like it needs cutting

YANBU.... Your post reminds me of the very nervous woman at an ante-natal class I went to. She was there with her doctor husband (know-it-all knob he was) and the session was all about 'things that could go wrong'. As the midwife explained various procedures and bits of equipment the nervous woman kept saying 'I won't be having that'...'or that'... 'or that'. Don't know what happened to her in the end but can't help thinking that she was sticking her head in the sand somewhat.

Someone in my NCT wrote "I only want a emcs if it is necessary" ....uh ok clue is in the name love.

Oh and forceps only if really needed...funnily enough mw do not whip them put for fun! But as you say maybe people do have horror stories!

It did used to be routine though, didn't it? Along with smacking the baby as soon as it was born to get its lungs working!

My birthplan is pretty much:

Keep any motherfucking needles away from my back. If I need an emcs please give me GA and knock me the F out

due in 2 days and spent last week sobbing daily

My sis wants an enema when she's in labour so she doesn't poo. She doesn't seem to have considered the pain aspect of it all yet...

I didn't do a birth plan, is that bad? I just figured I'd do what I do with most things and make it up as I went along. I did get an episiotomy with my first child, but that's because his giant head got stuck, everyone was impressed with the size of his head. He wears adult hats now at aged six. I remember I used to bully my little brother for having a giant head. Karma is such a bitch.

debka that used to be routine as well, along with shaving!

They are not routine right now because women had the strength to question the medical establishment.

When I was working in a maternity ward in late 80s before my medical school they WERE routine.

I would leave the patronizing attitude out of the discussion on childbirth.

Incidentally it is still routine (as enema and shaving) in some countries. Also, so-called "developed" ones.

Do people really write that on their birth plan? All mine has on it is lots of pain relief please! in large letters.

FWIW I did have an episiotomy last time, but only because my delicate little fanjo was far to small for DD. DH says he'll be forever haunted by the sound of those scissors snipping my flesh

I put this on mine for DS's birth because the consultant and MW suggested I should after having a third degree tear with DS.

I told them I'd rather tear - which they did a face at. So on the plan it went.

I didn't do a birth plan with either of my 4 Dcs, got one with forceps and episiotomy, one natural quick no tear, another little natural tear and by number 4 I just needed to cough!!

Figured midwives far too busy to Intervene unless had to and also decided to trust them. And I am a nurse,

Cervix as a babyless newbie, if you want a serious answer to this Q -

It's because having your genitals cut is a really fucking scary idea.

And SOME consultants + MWs don't seem to take account of a woman's wishes when she is in labour.

On the homebirth thread t'other week a woman quoted her consultant as saying sth along the lines of 'Women in labour don't think rationally, and so I'd give you an episiotomy even if you said no, as it's my job to think straight when you can't'.

surely you can see how that sort of attitude would freak a first-time mum out?

Plus you do get stories of people feeling 'bullied' (another term from HB thread) into episiotomies, epidurals, etc.

I think it's great that you've done so few. But don't understand why you are rubbishing people putting that in their BP. If they didn't and didn't want one, wouldn't you be saying 'AIBU to think if women don't want a procedure they should make it clear first rather than squawking when it comes to the crunch?'

There is probably a point though isn't there where a midwife thinks "that looks like it will tear badly" and may suggest an episiotomy. A mum who said 'I prefer to tear over epi' on birth plan might be left whereas someone who is desperate not to tear might say if it looks like I'll tear give me an epi. Surely the birth plan is just an indication of where on this line a particular woman falls.

I had one with ds1 but the midwife asked me first and it was necessary. Didn't have one with ds2 but tore. Don't remember having a birth plan with either of them though.

With DD2 all I had in my birth plan was "no forceps", one midwife told me it was practially unheard of to need forceps on a second baby where you don't had a forceps delivery with the first one (although had v long labour with DD1 culminating in ventouse but almost EMCS).

My nephew has SN caused as a result of a stroke sustained from a forceps delivery so I felt justified putting this.

As it was DD2 also presented with Should Dystocia although they managed to avoid need of forceps.

I think people do hear horror stories so I think it is fair enough for people to put these things down...

My birthplan also asks for a
Midwife to elbow or kick DH because I need praise and tears from him....

My birthplan in quite odd

When I was having DS1, the mw asked if I wanted an episiotomy. Apparently I could have let it tear. With DS2 I chose to tear.