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.

Ghoul - thanks for that. I mean, obviously if they thought your baby was in distress you wouldn't care, it's just that listening to some stories on here, it seems like HCPs think it's more convenient to cut.

OP would really like you to come back and explain why you are so down on women expressing their wishes on BPs - thought that's what they were for.

I see what you are saying op but sometimes it is better to at least be aware of your options. Luckily I was drugged up to my eyeballs when doc suggested I would need a forceps delivery. I quite calmly said ok whatever your professional opinion is I will go with it but may I ask why forceps and not ventouse?

She looked at me completely confused and said "would you prefer we tried ventouse?" Like it had never occurred.

As it was Dd had SD and forceps could have been a massive mistake so I am glad I had it about me to question the doc.

As for tearing or epesiotomy. I am special I got both big time. Ouchie. Thank heaven for drugs.

i had one
was fine
healed fine
no problems down there
not sure why it's an issue

I had one.
wasn't fine.
didn't heal fine
Had problems down there
This is why it may be an issue

I put that i would rather tear on my birth plan (which nobody saw in the end.
It didn't matter because everything went to plan until the end anyway.)
she wouldn't have come out if i hadn't been cut.

It's rather frightening stuff if you really think about it.
I'm sooooo very glad that i couldn't see the business end during the whole time.

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

I was told after my episiotomy and forceps birth that I was 'never in an emergency situation'

that is all.

Yes that's exactly right RP - I assume that they did think in good faith it was necessary or very beneficial but they didn't explain it properly to me.

actually, thinking about this, after ABigGirlDoneIt 's post...

episiotomies in home births are so rare that Midwife 1 didn't have sharp scissors and was searching around for scissors that were suitable, and was very lucky that Midwife 2 had a pair that were sharp enough.
I offered the kitchen scissors

I don't know if I had one or not. One set of notes said I did, another said 2nd degree tear. So I have no clue.

That's informed consent, that is.

I just hope the OP doesn't work at the hospital where I'll next give birth, as s/he doesn't inspire me with confidence that communication pathways would be open, and that I wouldn't be treated with contempt. Ater the birth I had last time I'm hoping for a MW wife compassion and understanding!!

I normally respect what you have to say as a midwife cervix but the tone of your op is completely off. WTF shouldn't they put exactly what they want on their birth plan? There are obviously still fears surrounding epis and with what looks like good reason so who are you to belittle these women? Nice.

cervix is in a bad mood because she's on night shift.

#*was

Ahhh that makes it alright then!
giving midwives a bad rep!!

nickel then - in the nicest possible way, cos normally I like the OP's posts - I really hope the women she is working with this week aren't experiencing this attitude.

You expect this, maybe, from some male 40-something consultant with an unwarranted God-complex but not an experienced, compassionate MW. This has really put me off and is a major reason I will try for a HB, so I don't get stuck in hosp with someone on night shifts with this type of attitude.

I had a 3rd degree! I wished I'd had one

you can get a 3rd degree tear with an episiotimy.

My BF freaked me out by telling me she heard the crunch/ snap of the scissors doing her episiotomy. Thanks for that, really didn't need to hear about it in such detail 2 weeks before giving birth, I want to live in a little halo of loveliness where pain and ick don't happen and I say "energise" and bambino magically appears in my arms.

It was a moot point anyway as I had an emcs.

The episiotomy I did last month was my first in 2 years. But sadly I know a few midwives who are very scissor happy. Some just can't be arsed to wait the time it takes for a perineum to stretch and will tell women that they 'need' them. Even if those mw's have read a birth plan with 'no epis please', those mw's aren't going to take a blind bit of notice.

It would be nice to think that all mw's are respectful, caring and and deliver evidence based practice and I know its frustrating when your one of those mw's and like to think that everyone is the same, but sadly there are some who give the rest of us a bad name.

An episiotomy doesn't guarantee you won't tear. That's why they're not routine anymore. So you might get cut and not have torn or get cut and tear as well. An episiotomy is equivalent to a 2nd degree tear.

That's why I didn't want one second time around as I tore first time. I could have been cut and the old scar tissue tear too. In my case, I did tear again but it was a breeze to heal - in a few days I felt nothing and at my 10 day discharge check, MW said it had healed fine.

yup, i tore as well.
it wasn't huge, and has healed up rather nicely, but it did tear into muscles.

i'm sure she's not being like that to her patients RP - I have moments like that, where I sound off on here so that my customers don't get the blast of my annoyance :)

I was fortunate enough to have a very easy birth, but watching OBEM (not the most reliable source I know) some midwives appear to say things like 'If baby doesn't appear now, I'm going to have to just give you a little cut,' without so much as a by your leave, or a discussion of the options.

I realise that that the show is heavily edited but still...

I blame Sheila Kitzinger. I got one of her books a few weeks before giving birth and it was full of awful episiotomy stories. Turned out the stats, the stories, and most of the book from the 1970s (despite the up-to-the-minute cover).

Yes, nickel I often sound off to my colleagues simply so I can continue to be nice as pie to my students! Does one good to work out the negativity in a safe way!