Does episiotomy on no.1 mean same for no.2?

[babyblabber]

If you've had an episiotomy for first baby are you more or less likely to need one for subsequent babies or does it have any bearing?

also, i know the position of the baby and instrumental delivery have a lot do to with episiotomies but does the size also have an impact? if baby is in a good position and you don't need forceps etc but baby is 11lbs can you still get them out without an epi/tearing?

Just my experience but

DC1 - Epidural, episiotomy, forceps birth
DC2 - Induced, no episiotomy, slight graze but no tearing/stitches

They were both over 8lb, so no experience of babies as big as 11lb, sorry.

i had an episotmy with no1 and never needed one for my other 4, i did tear with no 2, but was fine with no3 ,4 and 5 and they were all big babies, one was 10lb 13oz, not even a graze, i had him in birth pool which i think helped and yes i think position of baby is important :)

Can only speak of my own experience. First delivery I had an episiotomy as DD attempting a Superman impression with hand up by head. Second time no episiotomy or tearing of any kind. Both were around the 8lb 8oz mark.

I had an episiostemy for the DS due to forceps, but two years later I only had a tiny little tear which healed itself. They were both the same weight 6lb 9oz

Again from experience, no1 was induced, and ventuse delivery - 10lb. Episiotomy.

No 2 straightforward delivery, 9.5lb tear and stitches but no episiotomy.

sorry should add that waterbirth is not an option and i really really want an epidural but am planning on refusing forceps/vacuum if possible!

can you tell the position of the baby before the birth or is it there position right at the moment of birth that counts?

To be honest I had an epidural first time, which ended up in theatre with the forceps. If they failed it was going to be an emergency cs. For DD i had no pain relief whatsoever as gas makes me sick. I did prefer the second birth, yes it hurt but I was so much more in control of everything.

you can encourage the baby to get in a good position before the birth, google optimal fetal positioning and that should help but some babies can turn in labour, and if you are on you back the whole time then they baby may turn to be back to back, but not necessarily and thinkgs like 'superman hands' as my friends and the above poster have had, are not something you can do anything about.

plenty of people have an epidural and still manage without forceps vacuum and no tearing so yes it is possible but you do increase your chances of interventoin with an epidural, does your hospital do mobile epidurals? they may be a good option or letting it wear off when you need to push should also help lessen the need for forceps etc :)

oh and birth i had the episiotomy with i had an epidural and i just couldnt push him out, pushed for 3hrs! the episiotomy was last chance before forceps and thankfully it worked, he was 8lb 7zo my other babies were all bigger, much bigger and delivered without pain relief, well gas and air! and much better deliveries and recovery afterwards.

I had an episiotomy and ventouse with dc1

Dc2 (last night!) 1 1/2 lbs bigger, no episiotomy but 2 fairly small tears and a few grazes too as she decided to come out waving! I think it depends on position and speed of delivery more than anything.

From my experience, head size rather than weight is everything!

dd 1 - episiotomy & ventuose - 5lb 13 .
dd2 - gas & air & no tear/cut -7 lb 7.

DC1 - Episiotomy and a tear . A lot of stitches including the consultant coming to help with stitching (ensuring the right bits were sown back together).

DC2 - Waterbirth And very quick pushing stage (sub 5 mins). Another tear and a lot if stitches again. Less stitches than first time though.

I see to be the exception to the rule because I've had an episiotomy with all three of my births. In retrospect I think the only one that was avoidable would have been the first one. I keep meaning to get my notes but as far as I remember (it's 13 years and 363 days ago!) she came out very quickly at the end, catching the midwife totally by surprise (they'd just woken the doc up to do an epidural as it would be 'hours') I started to tear and they did the cut to limit the damage. With a better managed delivery I suspect that wouldn't have been necessary. With dd2 and dd3 the scar tissue just didn't hold up to it very well and an epi was done in both cases to limit the damage. So whilst I have more stitching down there than the bayeux tapestry alls well that ends well More than one episiotomy is not the end of the world.

Ds,s was so small it didn't fit on the charts, dds was normal size.

That was their heads I was talking about.

Nope. I had one for DS, nightmare birth, forceps etc. he was 8 pounds and 31 hour labour

Dd was 9 pounds, easy birth and no episiotomy or tearing.

Can I reccommend that when you get out of the water pool to deliver the placenta, you do NOT sit on the forceps where they cut the umbilical cord . I never relished they were still attached....ouch!

no1 episiotomy and forceps (undiagnosed back to back)
no2 2nd degree tear (dd2 with another superman impression!)
no3 simple tear

DD was 8lb 2, induction, epidural, episiotomy, forceps, extension of episiotomy into 3a year

DS - planned HWB, transfer to hospital, episiotomy and forceps. 11lb 7oz. No tearing though

Oh, both were badly positioned.

DD head circumference was 36cm...DS was 40.5cm!