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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Does having an episiotomy in one labour mean you're more likely to need one in subsequent labours?

34 replies

YesIveNameChanged · 04/07/2012 13:48

Had an episiotomy with ds1 (not my choice, didn't consent, didn't know it was being done to me, literally asked the doctor after ds was out if i had torn and she said "i had to cut you")

now pregnant with DC2 and worried about having another epi. Mainly because my mum told me she had one with me and when she was in labour with my younger sister they told her she needed another was as the scar would be under too much pressure if they didn't cut her. (this was 21 years ago so i know my info may be a bit outdated)

really don't want another epi, recovery was really sore and painful and the scar still aches sometimes after sex etc (sorry tmi) just wondered if anyone had any knowledge on this.

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tiddleypompom · 04/07/2012 13:50

No knowledge sorry, but watching in case someone knowledgeable comes along. I am in same boat op. mind you I had assumed things would be, um, more roomy down there anyway??!

You don't have to admit to that by the way :o

Juule · 04/07/2012 14:01

I had an episiotomy with my 1st baby and was told a similar thing as your mum. I did have a small one with no2 but that wasn't that the scar wasn't holding but that the baby was distressed and needed to be out. The next 7 - no episiotomies and no scars giving way :).

So in my case having one epi didn't mean one every time. Hth

Fisharefriendsnotfood · 04/07/2012 14:02

I had one with dc1 but not dc2, but did have a small tear

nickelbarapasaurus · 04/07/2012 14:07

bloody hope not!!
I had one with DD, too.

I would, though, if I were you, make serious complaints about the Doctor for cutting you without your consent. that's common assault.

there's no reason why you would have to have another one with a subsequent birth, as your fanjo has stretched enough once to get the baby out

ElephantsCanRemember · 04/07/2012 14:09

Not in my case.
Had one with DS1, not with DD but had a slight tear, nothing with DS2.

besmirchedandbewildered · 04/07/2012 14:11

Well, I don't know (helpful).

But here is some TMI for you. Those of a nervous disposition, look away now.

I had an episiotomy with my first, stitched in theatre, and had all the symptoms you describe, it hurt for weeks and always during/after sex. I'm frankly amazed we managed to conceive DD2. I then had a 3rd degree tear with DD2, stitched in theatre again, and it was like having a new fanjo! No pain at all and much less like a wizard's sleeve. So not necessarily something to be afraid of anyway.

Also I'd be surprised if they made a cut to avoid a tear as IIRC tears heal better than episiotomies anyway (seem to remember the NCT lady drawing the parallel with tearing vs cutting a piece of paper, there's more to join up on the torn one, IYSWIM).

But as I say, I don't really know

ElephantsCanRemember · 04/07/2012 14:11

Juule Do you have 9 DC? Wow!

Kveta · 04/07/2012 14:17

I had a tear and episiotomy with DC1, and it has been sore ever since. Had a bigger episiotomy but no tear with DC2 3 weeks ago, and it has healed amazingly well - with DC1, using the loo hurt for ages, and sex was never quite right again. Can't comment on sex yet with the second one, but loo trip s are already fine again!

oh, and my spisiotomy healed better than my tear last time, think the 'tear heals better than cut' is likely to be a bit of a myth tbh, as although there is more surface area to marry together with a tear, a cut is much more controlled and tends to be at an angle away from areas which suffer the most pressure from bowel movements post childbirth I think.

Heavensmells · 04/07/2012 14:22

I had an episiotomy with dc1. The pain afterwards was horrid. Have lots of not so fond memories of filling the bath up to have a wee as it was the only way I could so without screaming!
Had smallish tears and stitches with dc's 2 and 3. Both were hardly sore at all after.

tiddleypompom · 04/07/2012 14:22

9dc?

PoppyWearer · 04/07/2012 14:27

FWIW, I had to have one for DC1 (I tried to avoid it but in the end it was the best option to avoid a c-section) but didn't need one for DC2.

I tore with DC2, to be fair I did ask the midwife if I needed an episiotomy when I was pushing and she thought it would be ok...turned out that DC2 has quite a big nose! .

With hindsight I might have opted for an episiotomy for DC2 as it was a lot more painful to tear.

FWIW I was vehemently anti-episiotomy Pre-DC1 and had done everything possible to avoid one, but the position she was in made it inevitable.

I've also had some scarring but do actually feel better after DC2. I think my stitches were too tight after DC1, what I have now feels more "natural".

I do have other ishoos though and am under gynae care - get yourself referred ASAP after the birth if things still feel bad.

lagartija · 04/07/2012 14:37

I had an epi with DS as he got a bit stuck and needed a ventouse. I also tore a bit too. It was painful afterwards (like I'd been whacked between the legs with a sledgehammer, really achey) and sex wasn't really back to normal for about 9 months. Then with DD 3 years later she came out really fast (but no intervention) and I tore along the scar line but wasn't cut. The stitches that time didn't bother me in the slightest and none of the aching fange business.
HTH

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 04/07/2012 14:38

Per my Obs, the tear vs episiotomy thing re surface area is a myth- it's about the doctor using their skill/experience to judge which will give a better outcome at that time, so a minor tear may heal better than an episiotomy if the doc goes overboard on the episiotomy, but a well timed/ positioned episiotomy might give a better outcome if it prevents a third degree tear. On that basis, you can't really compare because every delivery is different.

She also said that the quality of the stitching is a critical factor in healing/ post-birth discomfort, which makes sense so don't let them do a rush job

I had a last minute episiotomy and had a very good result, so would be happy to have that again.

besmirchedandbewildered · 04/07/2012 15:22

Apologies if I have been spreading old wives tales re: the tear/cut thing

mummylin2495 · 04/07/2012 15:29

I had to have this for my first child but with my second i didnt but tore just a little tiny bit.They just gave me one stitch which they sadi was for " cosmetic reasons " !

mamalovebird · 04/07/2012 15:35

9dc?

MrsBranestawm · 04/07/2012 15:49

Wow to Juules and 9DC. Golly.

Me, yes, episiotomy with DC1 and small tear with DC2, but nothing at all with DC3 and DC4.

WhosPickleisThatOnion · 04/07/2012 15:50

I've had a few people say that their foof went back more to normal after the second!

NoComet · 04/07/2012 16:10

Had one with DD1,
DD2 was a home birth born squatting not flat on my back.
Tiny nick, no stitches or anything.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/07/2012 16:15

I had an episiotomy with ds1, and like you, I was worried I'd need them with subsequent babies, but I can reassure you that I didn't, either time. I had a tiny tear with ds2, that didn't even need a stitch, and what the midwife called a graze with ds3.

It can help if you or your dh/dp massages your perineum, especially the scar, with a suitable oil, such as sweet almond oil.

I hope this has reassured you a bit.

bruffin · 04/07/2012 16:16

I had one for Ds as i ended up with forceps, but didn't need an epi for DD. I had the tiniest of tears that healed up almost immediately

Original poster

YesIveNameChanged · 04/07/2012 16:26

Thanks for all the replies, i guess as with most things its just luck of the draw. I mainly wanted to check there was no "policy" IYSWIM about subsequent episiotomys. I'm hoping for a home birth this time (although EDD is day after we're due to move house ) so hoping to avoid all the (non consensual) intervention i had with ds1. (On a completely different note my midwife has said she will go through my notes from last labour with me and has said that maybe there was implied consent! WTF?? )

did anyone else find that after their epi when they were pregnant again they got acheyness and a feeling of fullness "down there" quite early on? I'm only 16 weeks but have had quite a few aches again in the scarring since getting pregnant, always seems worse after work as well, but i am on my feet for 9 hour shifts so maybe not that suprising.

OP posts:

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/07/2012 16:31

I had home births with ds2 and ds3 - and I'm sure I was more relaxed, which may have helped. I can't think back that far to remember if I got the sort of achy fullness you are describing (ds2 is 17 and ds3 is 15), though as a theatre nurse, I was on my feet a lot, and do remember that being very tiring in general.

Rachog · 04/07/2012 16:33

I had an epi with ds, I also didn't know I had had one until they were stitching me up. However the whole birth is a bit hazy so maybe they did tell me.

I had minor grazing with dd, much nicer birth.

Fisharefriendsnotfood · 04/07/2012 16:39

The fullness feeling sounds a bit like a prolapse, might be worth a trip to the doc

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