To stitch or not to stitch

[Sluggers]

I would just like to seek others opinion as to whether it's better to be stitched or not if you tear during labour?

Are you always given a choice and if so what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Thanks!

I wasn't really asked, the mw looked and just said I "needed" a few individual ones (no major wound as such just a little bit of tearing in vaginal wall).
To be honest I would always take any stitches offered anywhere else on my body if a nurse/doc thought it best so it didn't occur to me to question them there.
I can't feel the stitches and the whole area seems to be healing well (day 15).

Thanks. I was thinking that probably the best thing to do would just be guided by the midwife at the time and see what they say.

But I just wondered if there were mega pros and cons to one or the other.

I posted this in a earlier reply.As a mw, I know that stitches are not always needed. If the tear is large and deep, awkwardly aligned or bleeding, then I offer stitching in the hope of better healing.

Its not the stitches that cause you to heal, its you! All the stitches do is hold the edges close together to encourage them to heal quickly. They also put pressure on bleeding points immediately after delivery.

In most people, the edges lie close anatomically because we tear in a crease in the body. To encourage healing, don't sit with your legs apart and keep the area clean. Plenty of rest and a good diet. Lots of women heal without stitches.

It depends how big the tear is. I had an episiotomy and so needed stitches but if I'd just had a tiny tear then maybe I'd have gone without.

I would want anything greater than a first degree tear to be stitched!

I didn't have have stitches. DD came out with head+hand first so I have a 1st degree tare on the pereneum and 2nd degree tare inside on vaginal wall. She also managed to graze both inner labia on the way out!

It's day 8 now and the swelling has gone. I'm sure I'm not 100% but MW check and I think it's healing fine!