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Pregnancy

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Original poster

For those who had an episiotomy

41 replies

Namechange8471 · 08/01/2021 18:57

Hi there i am 16 weeks with my second baby.
My midwife mentioned the possibility of a c section due to previous birth.
I had an episiotomy, not straight down but on an angle (sorry i know there's a scientific term!)
Due to this i could require a section?

Has anyone else had this?

OP posts:

Flamingolingo · 08/01/2021 20:35

First baby: episiotomy, forceps, horribly tight scar, broken coccyx. Just awful. Second baby: water birth, tear along previous scar, old scar tissue removed, repair much neater, completely pain free on healing. Healed much quicker. Can’t see that the episiotomy on its own would be grounds for CS.

AlexaStop · 08/01/2021 20:53

I had a huuuge episiotomy at an angle that goes right out on to my bum cheek.

Had another baby vaginally 13 months later, another episiotomy but it was cut at a different angle. She could see the scar from my 1st and avoided re cutting it

AnjouPear · 08/01/2021 20:58

@happylittlechick

I had a 3rd degree tear and episiotomy with my first. I was told it didn't increase my risk of tearing again and I had a vaginal delivery with a first degree tear with my second.

Me too - exactly this.

alex1889 · 08/01/2021 21:13

Episiotomy and forceps delivery with DD1.

Tear along episiotomy scar with DD2 which took a little longer to heal. (Had babies v v close together).

No mention of c section though.

Summerrp · 08/01/2021 21:56

Nothing scares me more than the idea of a episiotomy. I feel like if I see that scissors I'll hit the roof with fear. Strange as c section doesn't worry me at all. Its like a phobia I have built up in head

ThanksItHasPockets · 08/01/2021 22:11

Episiotomies are always to the side. Their purpose is to control a tear. They aren’t usually an indication for CS for subsequent babies, but in my case I had a complex and protracted recovery with a lot of scarring and it was a factor in my request for a CS for DC2, which was granted.

Original poster

Namechange8471 · 08/01/2021 22:22

Thank you for your replies!

I did lose a lot of blood, i narrowly avoided a blood transfusion, that's the only other thing i can think of.

Dd was 8lb 6oz so a decent size, i am fatter now so having extra growth scans (my bmi is 38.7, was 40 at the booking appointment).

It was also 12 years ago, I was 18, so i assume risk of tearing would be a lot smaller now? 🤔

OP posts:

ThanksItHasPockets · 08/01/2021 22:28

It was also 12 years ago, I was 18, so i assume risk of tearing would be a lot smaller now? 🤔

Why?

Scar tissue doesn’t stretch so if you have a lot of scarring this can tear.

Missingthebridegene · 08/01/2021 22:41

Wondering if the midwife mentioned the possibility of a c-section for psychological reasons if this was (understandably) very traumatic for you xx

TenThousandSpoons0 · 09/01/2021 00:18

I had an episiotomy for both my birthday - unusual to need it the second time round though. Healed fine. The “off to the side” type is called a right mediolateral or RML episiotomy, standard practice in UK/Aus/NZ. A straight down one is more common in the US, slightly easier to repair and heal but increases chance of third or fourth degree tear (the purpose of the RML angle is to direct away from the anal sphincter). @Summerrp I know it sounds daunting but when it comes to the point of actually needing it generally you don’t even really feel it (and they use local anaesthetic) and you just want the baby out.
Previous episiotomy is definitely not a reason to suggest CS. But a traumatic delivery, or a difficult forceps, or significant tearing would be reasons.

TenThousandSpoons0 · 09/01/2021 00:19

That should obviously say births and not birthday!

felicitywishdoll · 09/01/2021 00:24

I think being younger actually makes you less likely to sustain a tear so I wouldn’t assume being 12 years older now makes you less of a risk, but I think second babies have a lower rate of tearing and other complications?

Did you have a tear as well as the cut?

musicalfrog · 09/01/2021 00:30

@Bamboo15

Go for the c section if you can.

Why?

Then you'd have scars in two places instead of one.

surreymum89 · 09/01/2021 10:19

I had an episiotomy for both my births (10 years apart) , the first was quite big they had cut a few times as wanted her out quick , the second time the midwife commented on it being a big scar, she cut some way down the old episiotomy but was a lot smaller , healed quicker and neater and feels better now than before.

Now pregnant with baby number 3 and a bit worried how will end up especially with two lots of scarring but fingers crossed.

Ickiness · 09/01/2021 10:28

I had an episiotomy with both of mine - more or less in the same place/angle as well and it was fine , healed up fine

2Cats3Kids · 09/01/2021 10:34

Had an episiotomy which tore into a 3rd degree tear with #1, then a complex 2nd degree tear with #2. Consultants have basically done everything to block my having an elective CS with #3, so I'm mystified here...

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