Episiotomy Scars

[Rosduk]

I had forceps and episiotomy with DD 17 months ago- Healed well, no infection but was just wondering with 2nd births if the scar is likely to tear again?

Not looking forward to using the rubber ring again!!

I did tear around the same area, but couldn't say for sure if it was exactly the same place as the episiotomy, I can't say that I looked too closely.

One thing I will say, the episiotomy hurt much less than crowning without one! But I am glad to have done it both ways, with DC1 ihad no choice due to arm position.

DC2 has a big nose, as it turns out. No wonder crowning hurt so much!

I grazed when I had ds2 (had episiotomy and ventouse for ds1). They offered to put a stitch in but said it would heal fine without one. I thought a graze sounded like nothing. It did heal fine, but OMG the stinging when I weed was tear stingingly painful for a couple of weeks. I ended up weeing in the shower as the water stopped it from hurting. IMO it was more painful that the episiotomy healing.

So in answer I don't think the scar is more likely to tear again, but don't be as naive as me and think that a graze sounds like nothing!

My understanding is that the actual scar tissue is less likely to tear than the rest. I was also told that the more scar tissue you have from previous births, the less the opening can stretch and the more likelyhood of tears and grazes. My experiences have left me to feel that an epistomy is actually more comfortable afterwards than a tear or graze.

I had episiotomy and forceps for DS1 3 years and 9 months before the second baby 13 weeks ago who arrived with another episiotomy but without any instrumental help. I did not look but the second time took less time to heal and I did not feel uncomfy as the first one. No need for the rubber band either. Good luck !

I second everything NAR4 said. My tears and grazes with dc2 were agony compared to my episiotomy with dc1 (sorry)! I had been having some pain from my episiotomy scar but it seems fine now even though thats not where I tore.