Episiotomy and second birth questions

[JB86]

Hi all,
I had an episiotomy in May 2018 and now expecting my second baby. I'm 6 months pregnant and noticed the side they 'cut' me for the episiotomy is beginning to throb / feel heavy.

Has this happened to anyone before? Or have you had an episiotomy and second birth? How was it? Did you tear again? Thanks!!

Hi OP, following as curious too!! Had episiotomy Nov 18 and due next week. I feel myself tender when wipe after toilet and Im now panicking this is a bad sign for impending labour!

Sorry, I am just going to follow too. I had episiotomy and ventouse in November 2018. I am now 22 weeks pregnant. It would be interesting to see if people tore or needed another episiotomy, or interventions on DC2.

@keepinghopeful @SqidgeBum let's hope someone can answer. I too feel sore and wondered whether it's just the added pressure 'down there' .....

Hi, I had an episiotomy and a 3rd degree tear with my first baby (induction and forceps) in 2017. With my second in 2020 (also induced) I had a 1st degree tear along the scar. I worried a lot I would tear again so was very relieved!

OP in pregnancy I didn´t have quite what you describe but i had some feelings of tightness along the scar from the tear and also some heaviness from the mild prolapse i got after first birth.

Doubt this is what you want to hear but...
Episiotomy with dd1 in 2015. Dd2 born late 2016 and a substantial tear though not along the episiotomy scar narrowly avoided needing it sewn up,in theatre but they did fetch the consultant to do the stitches.
I also had the aching whilst heavily pregnant.
Worth noting dd2 was 11lb7oz

I had it with both ds1 and ds2. During ds2 pregnancy, I had a bulge for most of it. No one seemed too concerned!

It's a long time since I had my babies but I'll comment anyway. I had an episiotomy with DC1 because I needed a forceps delivery. DC2 arrived 16 months later, and I do remember an achy feeling at the site during pregnancy. During DC2'S birth for some reason I said I didn't want an episiotomy and would rather tear - I don't know what got into me! Anyway, I did tear, unfortunately, and kind of wish I'd agreed to the episiotomy as the tear took weeks to heal. With DC3 it was a different story, no tearing and no stitches.

Not currently pregnant but had episiotomy and kiwi cup delivery after induction 2019 (DD is 14 months). Actually a lovely birth!

Since periods have returned I’ve been getting the very heavy feeling on the side the scar is a few days before period arrives. Got checked out by GP a few weeks ago as I was worried it was a prolapse but actually she said it’s quite normal? Has anyone else had this after episiotomy? She gave me some pelvic floor exercises and sent me on my way.

It’s made me really worried for giving birth whenever that might be in the future though!

Oh so glad I’ve found this thread! Me too! Episiotomy and forceps first delivery and now have some aching along the scar line at 21 weeks. Nice to know it’s not just me!

Episiotomy, forceps and 2nd degree tear with my first (prolonged labour, OP baby).
No issues in second pregnancy 3 years later. Much quicker second labour, unassisted delivery with only a very small tear that didn't need stitching.

I had an episiotomy and tear with my first and when I had my second, just short of 3 years later not even one stitch!

Good luck to you.

Thanks for starting this thread OP, I also had an episiotomy first time and am wondering about the risk of another episiotomy or tearing second time.

I had an episiotomy with my first and had the achey feeling along the scar in my second pregnancy, everything got a bit swollen down there anyway so I just put it down to that. Had a 2nd degree tear with my second but only because he had his hand up by his face and the tear was in a completely different location to the scar. DS2 is now 3 months and everything has healed up nicely.

Had episiotomy and ventouse with both my births (2017 and 2020).

Had a forceps delivery with episiotomy , large blood loss and loads of stitches with birth 1
Needed a transfusion , and took a long time to recover
2 nd baby popped out with a tiny tear , no stitches required
Back on my feet in no time at all

I didn't have the aching second time round, but I did have to have another episiotomy due to the scar tissue not stretching and preventing the head from being delivered.

I had an episiotomy with my first, it was huge and awful. I begged not to be cut again when in labour with my second, however my midwife cut me anyway because he said he could see me beginning to tear along the episiotomy scar and it would have resulted in a bigger injury. He did make a very small cut compared to my first and I'm now grateful that he did. There is 2 years between the births. I should point out I seem to make giant babies, both in the 10 pound region and my second had his hand on his face.

I had an episiotomy and third degree tear with my first 22 months later had a second degree tear with my second.

I had a bloody massive episiotomy during my first birth. I don't remember a sore/heavy feeling on my scar during my second pregnancy but I do remember being terrified of tearing along the scar. It was all fine in the end. A totally straight forward labour, no tearing, no need for a second episiotomy. Fingers crossed for you.

I had an episiotomy and also a 2nd degree year with my first baby, it took me months to recover from and I can still see and feel the scarring. All in all it was a very traumatic experience.

20 months later I gave birth to my second baby, no problem whatsoever. No cuts or tears. In fact a perfect birthing experience all round.

Both were big babies, both well over 9lbs.

Every birth is different. Best of luck OP! x

Forceps & episiotomy in Nov 17. I found the recovery really difficult. Couldn't sit down or do more than a shuffle walk for a week.

Once healed, I've had no issues with my scar even when pregnant again.

However, I didn't want another forceps birth so I opted for an ELCS for baby no 2. It was the right choice for me. Recovery was so much easier. I wheeled the baby over to the ward 4 hours after the section and was in the park with my toddler 48 hours later.

Not exactly what was asked but throwing the CS out as an option as I didn't think of it until I was 28 weeks pregnant 😂

You're all so brave going for another natural birth!!
I had episiotomy and forceps with my first and I literally cannot face another 'natural' birth.. I'm due my second next month and I've gone for an elective section.
The idea of going through that again makes me so anxious I couldn't sleep at night. X

I suppose you mean vaginal birth?

Mine didn't feel "natural", I was in a hospital being monitored and poked and prodded, surrounded by lots of HCPs at various points. The episiotomy wasn't exactly natural (although I had asked for one if it would prevent a worse tear).

So yes I'm going for a vaginal birth second time around but I am not holding out much hope that it will feel particularly natural if I'm in the hospital!

I had an episiotomy with my first, second degree tears with my second and third which healed so so much faster and easier than the episiotomy, I couldn’t believe it.

I had an episiotomy and forceps birth in May 2018 too, I had my 2nd baby in December 2019 so only 19 months between them and yes, I had that achey heavy feeling along the scar during pregnancy.

I ended up with an emergency c section for the 2nd baby and still had some problems with the scar afterwards even though the baby didn't come out that way I think all the pressure and starting labour caused it to open up a bit again, so I'm imagining I would have torn if it had ended up being a vaginal birth. It got infected behind the scar and I had to go on antibiotics.

All fine now though!