episiotomy - what does it feel like???? scared!!

[tinnedspaghetti]

the thought of being cut down there terrifies me, more than actually pushing the baby out! can anyone tell me honestly what does it feel like? will I feel anything at all? do they use an anaesthetic or something to numb it?
If they do need to cut me, does that mean I won't need a ventouse or forceps? or might they still need to use these? do they hurt?
Please help as am preparing for worst case scenario and trying to take the devil you know approach!

You do not feel the cutting - honestly, don't trouble yourself about that side of it.

The worst bit is the soreness afterwards, and going to te loo for a few days, but by then you will have a baby which is such a wonderful thing, so your mind is not entirely on your own discomfort!

I had an episiotomy when I had my first child as he was stuck and needed to be delivered by forceps. People have episiotomies (or tear) for all sorts of reasons so it would be hard to generalise about what might happen to you.

The thought of them is not nice, but believe me, I would have had my arm cut off to get that baby out of me! When the doctor tried to pull my baby out, I shot down the bed instead, so he was delivered in the end by the doctor pulling one end, and my dh and MW pulling me the other end! not dignified, but the pain no worse than what I was undergoing with labour anyway. And the relief at knowing the baby was finally coming out was indescribable.

What I am trying to say is, you will want whatever it takes to get your baby out if it ends up being stuck. Don't worry about it!

Have just re-read my post and feel I might have scared you more! Honestly, sitting here in cold blood thinking about it is far worse than the reality. I think that is what I meant to say.

Good luck!

I would second what dumbledoresgirl has said. I have had 2 episiotomies, first becasue dd had the cord wrapped around her neck twice so the needed to use ventouse and get her out quickly and againwith ds because at ten pounds he had such a big head he was stuck and I was beginning to tear. The worst bit was afterwards I used a "doughtnut" cushion when sitting down, plenty of arnica tablets and salt in the bath to aid healing. It wasn't severe enough for painkillers first time round but was second. I would also advocate the use of lactulose to aid in the toilet department.

Tinned
I'd echo what DMDG says here. I also had one for a forceps delivery and didn't feel it all because they numb you with an injection (which you don't feel either). It was sore afterwards, but I found a brilliant lotion - Zita West Down Under cream ( I seem to remember some divided opinions on MN once on this, but I thought it worked liked magic) is sooo soothing.
One thing I would say - I did find the being stitched afterwards quite traumatic and it might help to know this in advance. You can say 'I'm very nervous about this, please make sure you use a lot of local'.
And DMDG is absolutely right - when it's in context it's just a relief and not something awful. Best of luck!

I had an epidural, but, if you dont you get a local anaesthetic. I had a ventouse and episiotomy. During the birth its totally fine, didnt feel a thing, but, it does hurt abit afterwards. Best thing is 1) buy a ring cushion 2) salt baths (but dont overdo them as youll dry yourself out and it will hurt abit more) 3) dont be scared. 1st time I washed the area, I knelt down, legs apart and patted with a warm, wet flannel. (after a shower, but didnt shower the actual area for a day or so). Sometimes, getting DH to wash it gently with cotton wool in warm water is nice. Dry with a hairdryer on cool setting, dont rub. Take arnica aswell. And dont try and bounce out of bed! but, honestly, its not as bad as I thought it would be. DH says its only about an inch long.

agree witht he other girls - the thought is worse than it is, I didn't feel anything with mine, althou after when they came to stitching up and I saw what was going in down there - I wasn't happy - althou u soon forget about it all, and u have this little bundle to contend with.

going pee pee wasn't too bad for me, the no 2 I ate a lot of dried apricots and also had bran flakess and stuff for my breakfast still took about 3 days to go thou - I think it's cos u expect to pop the stitches out but you don't - a horrible dr gave me an internal the day after I had Joey and they were fine so I think a lot of that was fear iycwim.

Oh, and KY jelly GP told me to use as if it isnt... lubed enough down there, it can hurt. (not for sex - just day-to-day). And you can buy gel filled cooling pads, but never used one.

I had one with my first child and I didn't feel a thing! dd shot out immediately after it was done.

But yes afterwards it can be pretty uncomfortable when sitting down. With ds I had a second degree tear (completely unaware of it) and I did not have any discomfort afterwards.

ooh yes agree with q - keep the area clean, I didn't wipe - ahem I patted in both the shower and loo. and wiht a towel to dry - wear skirts where poss, and keep the air getting to the area - ie no knicks and a long nighty, they told me laying down was better than sitting up. (that hurt at times to sit up but I didn't have a ring thingy, nor much in the way of pain killers. the discomfort was all gone within a week for me thou.

thanks ladies.
from what you;ve said I gather that if I do have an epis, it won't stop them from having to use the forceps or ventouse, right? I kind of thought that once the gap was wider (crossing my legs just thinking about it) the baby would just slide out. But that's not the case is it? They might still need to pull it out. So does that part of it feel weird or hurt? Do you have to push at the same time as they pull?
LOL what's the bet that after all of this stress I end up having a totally straightforward birth? I always over-prepare for everything!
But would still appreciate your insights.....

I tore both times giving birth, and had had absolutely no pain relief so I felt everything. ANd it really wasn't that bad! A strong burning sensation that lasted only a moment. COntractions had been far more painful. They only do episiotomies after giving a local aneasthetic, so try not to worry too much.

Hi there - I know what you mean since the thought of being stitched down there was probably my no.1 childbirth fear as well. I did end up with an episiotomy for a forceps delivery and can honestly say I didn't feel a thing. They used a local anaesthetic injection. For "after-care" I did try the gel filled cooling pads, but they kept slithering out of my knickers!!! Best thing I found was lots of warm baths (with a couple of small drops of tea tree essential oil). Oh and it helped to cushion the area with one of those giant sanitary towels. You know, the kind we snigger at in these days of "ultra slim with wings"...!!

TS - with regard to a forceps delivery (my experience), no you don't have to ush anymore. I vividly remember the whole of my first baby's birth - I pushed and pushed for 2 hours and all I did was exhaust myself and reach the point where I had given up hope of the baby ever being alive .

When the doctor finally came, I will never forget his words. All I had had from the mw (a bitch I would happily have punched if I had met her again in the street) was "Stop making that noise, that won't get the baby out" (Bitch! and untrue too, as my other children were all borm to the sound of my primeval screaming!) The doctor on the other hand, said to me, "You can stop pushing. Just lie there. You don't have to do anything. We will get the baby out for you". Those words are the sweetest I have ever heard in my entire life!

I also want to emphasise the hair dryer for drying between your legs after a shower. If you have an episiotomy, you really can't rub down there for a few days/weeks and it is not hygienic anyway. A hair dryer is a lovely, almost sensual (!) way to dry your nether regions, very gentle, and totally hygienic. I used it for all my subsequent births, even though I did not have another episiotomy and only tore slightly (no stitches). Do make sure you have a hair dryer!

Hi tinnedspaghetti,
I was exactly the same as you, I was more worried about the pain and state of things down below than the thought of labour. It is not the way you expect it to be - please don't worry, I had a 2nd degree tear with ds and I didn't really have any pain. Everything healed really quickly, I took photos about a week after birth so I could see (deleted immediately!!) and everything looked fairly normal, the body is really an amazing thing. My other concern was how it would affect my sex life, and I can assure you it didn't (well apart from being knackered!) We are now expecting again and ds is only 6 months.
You will have an amazing time, the pain isn't really as bad as you expect you become very focused on your baby and like dumbledoresgirl said you would do anything to make sure your baby is safe and a small cut/tear is really nothing compared to the safe quick arrival of your baby.
Enjoy your last few weeks of pregnancy, it is a special time. Big hugs XX

I also saw on TV (but not sure if anyone's tried it and found it useful) to get some witch hazel from chemist, put it on panty liners and stick them in the freezer to use as a soothing type compress.....

hi tinnedspaghetti, can I just say thanks for asking this, it has been terrifying me as well.
I had an awful dream last night of some huge male doctor stood between my legs, armed with a circular saw saying"its no good nurse, I'm going for an episiotomy" Like something from a James Bond film.
My current coping stratedgy is to expect the very worst when it comes to pain, hopefully I will be pleasently surprised - or at least not in mute shock for days afterwards.

If the stitching is distressing you (it did me, even with local anaesthetic) use the gas and air again. Ask the dr/midwife to warn you each time before they touch you or put a stitch in so that you can take a breath of G&A in time with them.

You don't necessarily have a local anaethetic for an episiotomy btw - but you should be offered something when you are being stitched up, even if it's just gas and air.

Tinned - it is extremely rare for forceps or venouse to be used if baby has not delivered AFTER an epsiotomy has been tried. I have seen that happen only once in 20 years!

If the baby is not coming then the epsiotomy is done after the forceps or ventouse has been appied to the baby's head. Episiotomy is often not needed with ventouse (proper name vacuum).

During a spontaneous delivery an episiotomy is done if it looks as though the perineum might tear badly or if the baby's heart beat is causing concern. Midwives avoid doing episiotomies as much as possible.
If one is needed then local anaesthetic should be used before it is done and local anaesthetic should also be prior to repairing it. In the 'old days' episiotomies were done frequently and usually without local when the skin was stretched. Women did not feel it being done because of the stretching (I had 2 last minute episiotomies like that and never felt a thing).

It is unconfortable for the first few days but I was amazed that it wasn't particularly painful. Paracetamol is usually enough although forceps/vacuum can cause a lot more bruising which can need stronger pain relief.
Everyone is different - i have seen women post forceps who have no pain at all.

Try not to worry too much in advance - it is the last thing on your mind when your new baby is in your arms

OOh, yes, must reiterate the arnica tip - even though I am sceptical about homeopathy in general, the rate I healed up after taking shedloads of arnica was nothing short of remarkable. Really - it was quite incredible, especially because I had forceps and was a bit battered around generally.

Also bathing in lavender oil diluted in a little milk - sounds weird, but the milk helps the lavender oil disperse, the lavender helps healing, and it smells wonderful! Also put a couple of drops of lavender oil on your pads afterwards.

I had an episiotomy - didn't feel it at all - felt the tearing much more! All healing really nicely after 5 weeks - the worst bit afterwards was the itching as it healed - so I kept hopping in and out of the bath and just showering myself off down there!

Had an epi with DS1, then ventouse delivery.

Echo everything the others have said. Didn't feel a thing for the epi or the stitching, although I also needed some packing for excess bleeding. It hurt like hell when they took that out (wince).

Peeing the first few times aterwards was the worst. If you can, do it in the shower or use a jug of warm water to pour over your bits as you pee. Helps enormously.

hi i had an ventouse which failed the episiotomy and forceps finally after 21hours. i had an epidural so i didnt feel a thing . also had pethidine before hand and was completly out of it (prob why needed ) didnt feel anything .

they use an injection (i think) if no epidural but icant answer what THAT feels like sorry

try to stay upright/do perinal massage and getting a pool is suppose to help

hth

should say, had ventouse which failed then an episiotomy with forceps which worked finally after 21hours

I tore quite badly when I had ds and had no pain relief but I didn't feel a thing. The stitches & sitting down were very uncomfortable for weeks afterwards though! The hospital gave me a squeezy bottle, which I filled with warm water & squirted on the stitches after I'd been to the loo & a couple of other times each day - it was heaven! These things are always scary to think about but when they actually happen, you're so concerned about the baby, you're not so bothered! Good luck...