Were you aware of your episiotomy?

[bumperlicious]

I am just writing my birth plan and wondering weather I should advise the MWs that I only want an episiotomy if absolutely necessary and if it comes to that just to do it and not tell me?

It's the only part of labour that I am really worrying about - along with having stitches, and I think the anticipation may make it worse. I wondered if any of you had episotomies and weren't aware at the time.

The dr asked a similar question of me when I went for my last anti D and I just couldn't decide whether personally I am better if taken by surprise, or knowing and being in control, so would appreciate anyone else's opinions.

Agree with Dumbledoresgirl and Spagblog (rofl at 'slackness in the old foof').
Had an episiotomy both times as DS eventually had to be helped with forceps and DD was face-to-pubis. The mw's explained each time and I consented. Didn't feel anything either time as was given a local first. The stitches were mildly sore for the first few days and I was given painkillers but had loads of baths and they healed well both times (i.e. was having sex again before 6-week post-natal check, sorry if TMI!)
Don't have any incontinence or 'foof slackness' problems compared to friends who had minor tears that weren't stitched, so agree with Spagblog that it isn't a bad thing.
Hope all goes well for you - best advice is to go with your instincts and be as calm as poss.

haven't read thread bit io would suggest you don't have too many fixed ideas beforehand - good to have an idea of the type of birth you want (e.g. as natural as possible) but to some extent you have to go with the flow

with ds1 i was determined to manage without any intervention

after 2 hours of pushing i asked for help, and had my waters broken then had a sizeable episiotomy

stitches and healing? no problem whatsoever

piles as a result of pushing for so long? painful and stubborn (i.e. still lurking 2 years later)

so - this time i'm going in fully intending to ask for an episiotomy if the alternative is pushing to the point at which my innards become my outards (sorry)

Hadn't a clue it was happening. Got a big contraction, tore and got cut all at once according to Gyno. I think I had had a local down there and was still coasting on some diamorphine.

I too was more worried about having an episiotomy than the birth - so much so that I wrote in my birth plan "PLEASE DONT TELL ME if you need to cut me" - so what did the midwife do??? Say "Im going to have to cut you now!!!!!!!!!!!!! agggggggghhhhh""

However I'd had an epidural (which had only half worked -) and I didnt feel a thing. In fact one of the worst bits was feeling the cathetar going in as the epidural hadnt worked. Strange that...

I was aware. I heard it.

But I wanted the baby born so much by that stage that I was ok with an episiomety. It is much much worse thinking about it beforehand.

yes, jura's jogged my memory. A bit of a sting during the jag but the actual e did not hurt and I healed well.

I was told that they were going to do mine. I didn't have an anaesthetic and I didn't feel a thing. For 1st baby and 2nd baby.

They told me but didn't feel it either time tbh. Now afterwards...

Tutter - very similar experience to me. I'd rather it happened sooner rather than later if it was inevitable IYSWIM.

I had already had a local as I was going to have a ventouse, so I was unaware of the episiotomy (both in terms of pain and hearing anything) I don't think they warned me they were going to do one beforehand, but can't be 100% positive.

I had one and it was one of my top things I didn't want to have (that and an epidural - ironically one of my reasons for not wanting an epidural was to reduce the risk of needing an episiotomy!).

When it came to it, I had been pushing for a couple of hours and couldn't seem to get that last bit further to get ds out. The midwife suggested an episiotomy and quite frankly she could have strung me up by my big toes at that point with my complete blessing if she'd said it would help.

She did it in the middle of a contraction and I won't pretend it didn't hurt but it was really not that bad and ds was born very shortly afterwards. I had a local for the stitches so they were ok too. My recovery/healing was fast and uncomplicated.

Don't worry about what hasn't happenned yet if you can avoid it but I do think it's a good idea to talk your fears/wishes through with your mw if you can though.

I had one with dd. No epidural, no anaesthetic. The midwife told me she was going to have to do one and said "You won't feel a thing, you're as tight as a drum"

She was right - and dd shot out out straight away.

It's afterwards that it's uncomfortable tbh; you have to be careful when sitting down!

Good luck!

bumperlicious - can i reassure you that midwives do not like to do episiotomies unless absoluetly necessary.

It is impossible to just do it and not tell you because you need to know what is going on. If you don't have an episural then you need to have local anaesthetic and the midwife needs to explain what she is doing so that you can co-operate.

If an episiotomy needs to be done then the baby is going to be born within the next 1 or 2 contractions so you need to know that you will be asked to stop pushing veryu soon and to start panting the head out.

Please do not worry about it - when you are in the throws of delivery it really is the last thing on your mind. You will be desperate to meet your baby

I'd had an epidural that part worked so I didn't feel a thing, I did hear it though - that sound is ingrained on my memory! They had kept telling me she was almost there and 'keep trying or i'd need any episiotomy' for at least half an hour before I gave in and had one, then she was born really quickly, little poppet had her hand on her head which was keeping her in. This might be TMI but they also commented that I had very thick pelvic floor muscles which didn't help, probably from loads of riding and cycling when I was younger, so much for pelvic floor excercises! Don't regret it though, dd needed to be born and I was shattered! Healed up quickly enough too. I'd just say keep an open mind when you go into labour!

Mears- are you a midwife? if so i need to ask you a question but don't want to highjack thanks!

beforesunrise - yes I am a midwife.

Mears- i have started a new thread called "MSG for Mears"

I was blissfully under the influence of an epidural so I didn´t feel a thing. The midwife told me she had to do it, I said okay, and then she did. No worries.

It was the ONE thing I was most scared of when thinking about the birth beforehand, I really really didn´t want one.. but in the end it really is as everyone says - you don´t really care what they do as long as they GET. THAT. BABY. OUT!

I didn't have an episiotomy, but I was aware when I tore, and that hurt, lots, but very briefly.

When my ds was being born they had to perform an episiotomy & to be honest during pregnancy it was my worst fear but when they did it i was busy having a contraction so didn't know they had done it.