Episiotomy/tear - what to expect in second pregnancy

[Elly88]

I ended having to have an episiotomy plus bad tearing with my ds. Will be 20 months between him and this one. When I got signed off from the midwife last time she said I'd healed fine but the stitches had come apart a bit so it means I'd tear again next time... Now it's come to next time and I'm dreading the stitches and painful recovery! Anyone have experience of this in their first labour and then go on to have another? Interested to know if you played by ear/ had an elective episiotomy/didn't tear(hopeful) /if csection was suggested?(want to have natural if possible)

How bad was the tear OP? I had second degree and an episiotomy. C section has never been suggested.

Due in the next week so can't yet comment on the actual delivery though!

Big episiotomy with DC1 (Kiellands forceps delivery). With DC2 I did tear, second degree, but I barely felt it and it healed so well. In fact, tearing with DC2 and the subsequent repair got rid of some really tight horrible tissue from my first delivery. I’d certainly not have wanted to consider a CS because my second delivery was so easy in comparison

I had a 2nd degree tear and lots of stitches with my first. I had a 2nd degree tear with my second but it must have been scar tissue that tore so there was minimal bleeding and didnt need stitching and healed fine

First baby emcs, second - forceps with episiotomy (horrid painful recovery), 3 baby 18 months later - no problems through the pregnancy, second degree tear because baby had his hand by his head and shot out! No problem with the healing and not really that painful tbh! Fourth baby no tears at all!

Ventouse and episiotomy with first, no issues at all with second!

Episiotomy with first, second was Emergency c-section, third had a couple of second degree tears.

Must say the tears healed better and quicker, don't know why.

I had a third degree tear repaired in theatre after a shoulder dystocia with my first baby. I was booked for a section with the second but never made it as I went into labour a week early and an emergency was being carried out when I arrived. I had a second degree tear this time but only a few stitches done by the midwife. Second baby was a pound and a half heavier too.

Thank you all, nice to hear some of you had normal deliveries without a tear or cut second time, here's hoping! Might try that peri prep your bits oil, anyone used it?

I haven't used any oils for the perineum but I consider doing this time as I hope it might help a bit.

I had an episiotomy with complications with DC1 - due to an infection the stitches entirely fell out and I was left with an open wound which had to heal naturally. Consequently I have a lot of scar tissue, which does not stretch like normal tissue. Knowing this, I requested and was granted an ELCS for DC2 as the scarring would have torn during a vaginal birth. I think a lot depends on how you have healed from previous deliveries and the amount of scarring that you have.

I had an episiotomy and tear first time round, second time my scar tore a wee bit, ds came out at uncontrollable speed, I needed a couple of stitches, my midwife at the time said I only needed them because the original scar tore, it wasn't painful and healed up in no time.

I had 3rd-4th degree tear left incontinent c section was suggested. I had one.

I was recommended to use raspberry leaf tea second time round- from about 36 weeks. Supposed to shorten the second stage of labour, strengthen pelvic muscles (?), reduce need for forceps/ventouse. Labour was significantly shorter second time, no ventouse or tearing, so don't know if it had anything to do with the tea or not !!!??? But I enjoyed drinking it!

I had an episiotomy first time, second time the baby was 1lb heavier, I had the tiniest tear ever that didn't even need stitching and I couldnt even tell you where it was. Due in a week and a half with my 3rd. I hope I'm just as lucky this time round!

Praying I manage to have this one naturally too and don't tear too bad. I didn't have assisted delivery, just episiotomy as he has shoulder dystocia very briefly. No forceps or anything though thankfully. I drank a lot of raspberry leaf tea with first and second stage of labour was 10 minutes 😂 pushing was 10 minutes. Would have been a dream if he hadn't have got his shoulders stuck and had to be cut 😣🙄 really annoyed it didn't heal well though as I told the mw I thought my stitches had come apart and she said they hadn't. Then when I got signed off a different one said they had but it'd all healed now but cos of scar tissue it would tear next time. I'll have to wait and see what they say this time

Haven't tried the oil myself but I've been repeatedly told any natural oil will do the same trick and it's more about the massage and stretching technique, don't spend a fortune on the particularly marketed oils!

Ah thank you @mynameisntlouise I already have some other oil for bump so I'll use that then :) not sure on massage/stretching technique and how it's meant to be done 🙈 any tips?

If you google perineal massage it’ll bring up shah you should aim to be doing!

I had an episiotomy with forceps with my DS.
DD was a very quick pushing stage and I did hear and need stitches but the Episiotomy pain was so much worse than tearing in my opionion.
Good luck

A consultant told me a high percentage of women have episiotomy’s with their firsts and very rarely have them second time round.. she also said people aren’t offered c sections for episiotomy’s but only if the woman had experienced a 3rd degree tear that, if torn again could cause long term damage or incontinence issues.