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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Anyone not need stitches?

100 replies

dabihp · 15/04/2005 18:35

There is a scary post on here at the moment about stitches and pelvic floor...

Just wonderign if anyone didnt need any stitches first time around. And if not what do you attribute it to?

Frame/hips/shoe size/weight/ perenial massage???

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

littlemissbossy · 16/05/2005 11:10

No stitches for me too and I didn't try anything to avoid it, just followed the midwifes instructions, had an epidural, ds born with no complications after just 10 mins of pushing and he weighed 7lb

dinosaur · 16/05/2005 11:17

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

jessicasmummy · 16/05/2005 11:18

no stitches here!

Tinker · 16/05/2005 11:19

I didn't first time (will tell you after this one). Had small tear and was told to sleep with my legs closed - worked. Deffo no massage, have slimmish hips ie not your trad childbearing ones, so think it's just luck. 7lb baby but 98th centile head.

jessicasmummy · 16/05/2005 11:21

by the way, im 5'1, size 4 feet! hth!

Easy birth - epidurals are fantastic! Hoping for the same this time round!

robin3 · 16/05/2005 11:22

If you're worried about the stitches hurting or the embarassment...trust me...it won't hurt and you won't care what people think by then. I had exactly the same fears but by the time you get to the stitches bit you have a baby and you're too tired to care about the stitches.

Tinker · 16/05/2005 11:23

God, I've already posted on this haven't I?

Lonelymum · 16/05/2005 11:23

Had stitches the first time around as I had an episiotomy and forceps delivery. All I wanted to say to anyone reading this expecting their first baby and worried about needing stitches is this: it is a darn site more preferable to not having stitches and ending up with no baby!

triceratops · 16/05/2005 11:54

Stitches are a pain in the bum (sorry ) but really not as bad as you think they will be.

Everyone in our family has enormous heads and so did ds when he was born. Newborn baby hats would not fit him and we had to buy hats meant for 3year olds. I don't think it is the size of the baby that makes the difference, it is the size of their head!

eldestgirl · 16/05/2005 12:33

DS1, speedy delivery, slight tear, no stitches. Apparently this has healed a bit messily with a slight shelf (according to dr) but this has never bothered me.
DS2, BIG head and just a tiny nick. Attribute this to perineal massage with olive oil in last week or so and an incredibly skilled MW who seemed to support my perineum at one point with her hands.
Both babies, over 7lbs.
Am slight, size 5 feet, 33 hips. Gave birth holding on to bed head board with my back to dr.
When the baby's head is crowning, the perineum has to "thin" and stretch to take the strain. At this point, MW usually says, DON'T push. Lots of blowing out imaginary candles/panting. If you manage to follow the guidance, I think you are much less likely to tear.
Also have heard that if you do tear, demand that the consultant does the repair and not a junior houseman as it can make a huge difference.

hana · 16/05/2005 13:03

have 2 children , no stitches with either
first - all down to midwife, I pushed when she told me to and held back when she said - but dd1 had a smaller than average head

second - I did perineal massage in last few weeks ( when I remembered!) but I was v v luckly to have the same midwife again,!! and I did what I was told
lots of luck

bee3 · 16/05/2005 13:05

I'm just 5 ft 3, and have size 3.5 feet, so fairly small (though I do have a huge bottom and hips).
My ds was born after about a 5 hour labour using gas and air and a bit of pethidine. Gave birth on my knees, leaning up against the bed's headboard. Ds 7 lb 1 oz, no stitches but a bit of a 'graze' (which was VERY sore for a couple of days, then fine).
MW and dh really helped by encouraging me to pant and slow down final pushes as his head was crowning.

ButtonMoon · 16/05/2005 21:26

Had stitches with DD (nearly 10lb)and was dreading it...but to be honest by then you have your new babe in your arms and you couldnt give a monkeys about having your legs in stirrups and various people putting their fingers up your bum!! Sounds as if stoppig pushing and panting seems to do the trick...my mw failed to advise me on that....then again think she probably thought "big baby, long labour, Mum not coping too well...let's just get it out" Hoping for different mw this time!!

pleaserewind · 16/05/2005 21:49

I am 5ft 1 and small build. didn't have stitches with either ds1 or ds2, didn't do the massage thing or anything, probably just good luck.
ds1 was 6 lb 5, ds2 was 7lb 5

bambino1 · 16/05/2005 21:50

My dd was 8lb 14.5oz and I didn't need any stitches. At the end of the pregnancy I took Raspberry leaf tablets (health stores) and rubbed warmed olive oil down below to soften up area.
Worked for me so try.

bambino1 · 16/05/2005 21:53

Oh also had waterbirth which I think helped alot!

barrelina · 26/05/2005 22:11

i had my little girl six months ago.. she was 8 pounds i didnt have any stitches but i really think it was down to me really listening to the midwife telling me to stop pushing towards the end and allowing it all to stretch,.. yes it hurt but worth it. We were back at it two weeks after!!!

mummy23 · 10/06/2005 17:46

Ds1-i needed stitches, but i didnt listen to the midwife much, i pushed when i had the urge and i started feeling it tear as baby's head was crowning.
Ds2-didnt need stitches, was listening to midwife this as i didn't want stitches this time, pushed when i had a contraction and then midwife would tell me to breath the rest of contraction of whilst taking gas and air, and i didn't tear.

So my advice would be LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR MIDWIFE IS TELLING YOU WHEN ITS TIME TO START PUSHING!

Good luck!

weesaidie · 10/06/2005 18:32

I didn't need stitches but I have to say I just pushed when I felt the urge!

We were obviously getting there (fully dilated etc) but they agreed with me when I started pushing and were encouraging me so I figure I did it at the right time!

Mirage · 10/06/2005 20:14

No stitches here-despite dd2 coming out with her hand up by her head-like Superman.I put it down to pure luck as I am a size 8,don't have childbearing hips ect.I did have stitches with dd1 though-loads of them.

weesaidie · 10/06/2005 20:35

My midwives said I 'grazed' though... eek.

Bloody nightmare peeing. Again... eek.

logic · 10/06/2005 20:50

No stitches the first time but had a 7lb baby after pushing for nearly two hours. Also did what the midwife told me to.

Had a bad 2nd degree tear with lots of stitches 2nd time round because I had an 8 lb 11 oz baby and she flew out. Also, she tried to wriggle herself free violently which probably caused it.

I didn't massage either time and I am quite a small person. So IME, the bigger the baby and the faster the 2nd stage, the more likely it is to cause damage.

Tipex · 10/06/2005 20:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thomcat · 10/06/2005 20:58

I've of average build had a 7lb 7oz baby and didn't need stitches.

Leading up to birth I used oil and applied it to the whole down below area. I also did active birth classes inc gentle yoga exercises.

During birth had no pain relief so was very aware of my body etc.

When head was out I a 2nd midwife joined us and got on the bed with me, put her face in mine and said 'right, copy me, now pant and just keep panting', so that's what i did, I panted out through my mouth and while I was doing that Lottie slithered into the arms on the 2nd midwife and job done.

I thank the midwife profusely for this.

18mumtobe · 17/06/2005 11:41

im a average build with size 5 feet. i had my frist 11 days ago and i didn't need any stiches. they thought id need a episiotomy but i never did and didn't even tear. i never done anything to pervent it whilst pg like perenial massage or anything. i guess i was just lucky. my ds was 7lb 11oz. i did have some grazing on the labia which is quite common i think, which stings when you go to the toilet but its already got better.

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