Episiotomy or tear naturally

[maama0f3]

Had an episiotomy with dc1 due to meconium and distress and took a long while to heal however on our dc3 hoping it'll be like dc2 no intervention. However just wondering is it best to tear naturally with risk of only 1/2 degree tears or have a controlled episiotomy? Or have the episiotomy instead of risking 3/4 degrees tears.

Tear naturally
Heals more quickly
I believe- and was told at antenatal classes

I have two DC. I had an episiotomy with DC1 and tore with DC2. I didn't have any problems with the episiotomy but weeing stung horribly for a few weeks after tearing with DC2.

From my own experience, the episiotomy I had with the forceps delivery of DC healed much more quickly and easily than the tear I had with DC2's birth where there was no intervention. I was offered an episiotomy and I wish I'd said yes.

Same here. Episiotomy with dc1 and tore dc2. Healing was quicker and less painful with dc1 than 2.

I mean ideally no tearing or episiotomy. But.

@ememem84

Same here. Episiotomy with dc1 and tore dc2. Healing was quicker and less painful with dc1 than 2.

I mean ideally no tearing or episiotomy. But.

Eugh decisions we have to be faced with as women?! General consensus here seems to be episiotomy over tearing.

A natural tear isn't necessarily straight and has much more potential to go wrong. There's a reason doctors do an episiotomy rather than just leaving it.

I’ve had both and the tears (2nd degree) were so much quicker to heal.

No experience with episiotomy but tore 2nd degree with dd and healed quickly, stung a little when peeing but learned to angle my body enough to avoid drips lol. Spritz for Bitz was my biggest lifesaver.

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first - I really wish they had done an episiotomy.

I've only had an episiotomy so can't compare with a natural tear but my episiotomy healed well in a week and my first visits to the loo including for 💩 were absolutely fine and didn't hurt. I would accept it again if recommended rather than risk a worse tear I think.

I also found natural tear way more painful and took longer to heal too.

I had an epesiotomy (only given birth once so nothing to compare) and it healed really quickly, no complaints xx

I had an episiotomy with DC1 plus a 3rd degree tear as well. I healed fine.

2nd degree tear with DC2 and healing took longer. I was stitched up by a junior midwife as opposed to a surgeon like DC1 so that could have had an impact. (Not dissing the midwife, just there's obviously a difference in skill and experience)

I had an episiotomy with DS1 and it was just awful afterwards so I insisted on being allowed to tear with DS2. The tear healed so much quicker and I don't remember any pain or difficulty afterwards.

@OldTinHat

I had an episiotomy with DS1 and it was just awful afterwards so I insisted on being allowed to tear with DS2. The tear healed so much quicker and I don't remember any pain or difficulty afterwards.

Did you need stitches?

That's a point @Smeds mines was also stitched by a surgeon as I had to go to theatre due to a retained placenta and postpartum haemorrhage so maybe that is why it healed so well!

I tore naturally with DC1 and had an episiotomy with DC2.

The episiotomy was much less painful while healing and healed quicker than the natural tear.

I wish I'd had a small episiotomy cut.

Baby was stuck forever and burst out causing untold damage. Labia, clitoris too.

Tear naturally was in my birth plan but I wish a more experienced midwife could have advised me in my situation.
My midwife didn't try at all in any way.

I had second degree tears and never had any issues after. No stinging when I wee (and one was right by my urethra!). Never had an episiotomy so can't comment on that but no issues with tears.