Tearing Vs Episiotomy

[RIBS]

What are your thoughts?

after having a 4th degree tear, id said tear is till better as epi's sometimes cause bad tears.

Thanks for your advice. Having to sort out birth plan and im new to all this. Im trying to stay very relaxed about the whole birth thing as I think getting stressed out & tense will make matters much worse. Easier said than done tho! Have taken special notice to pant the head out not push. Ouch!!!!

goodluck and keep an open mind

Don't know about anyone else but the episiotomy itself did not hurt at all (only afterwards)

Hi. I had an episiotomy as needed ventouse and it healed really well (probably looks and feels better than before!). It was quite sore afterwards but as much and you'd expect iyswim. I had actually written on my plan that I really really didn't want to tear (as scared of 3rd or 4th deg tear) and if it looked like I was going to tear I would like an episiotomy. I kind of figured that a controlled straight cut would be easier to stitch and (vainly) would be more aesthetically pleasing! Also requested for the Registrar to repair it rather than the junior or midwife.

With Dd1, I had an episiotomy and a 2nd degree tear due to the fact that they had to get her out quick.

With DD2, I had a third degree tear.

I found that with the initial healing post birth - the first birth (episiotomy) was much more painful than the second birth (3rd degree). Although, I have had lots more problems since with the third, whereas after DD1, once it was healed everything was back to normal. Things are still not yet back to normal almost two years on.

Hi

Have only had epi because of ventouse and after a few days the pain is gone. Can still feel the scar but to be honest its the piles that bother me more. I insisted on consultant to stitch me up and i think that makes a difference.

Mindy

lota of perineal massage seems a really good idea to give us maximum possibility of no tear or episiotomy... i will be roping DH in to help xxx