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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Episiotomy - what happens in the next birth?

16 replies

TeenyTinyToria · 19/01/2009 00:04

I had an episiotomy and forceps delivery with ds, and it then burst open, became infected and took weeks to close up and heal.

I'm terrified that when I give birth to dc2 later this year, that my episiotomy will open up again and I'll tear really badly. It's sometimes still sore in that area after sex (TMI) or after a bowel movement.

Is this likely, or am I being totally paranoid?

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IdrisTheDragon · 19/01/2009 00:06

I had an episiotomy and forceps with DS and DD's birth, 22 months later was fine. I don't have experience of it bursting open though - that must have been horrible .

electra · 19/01/2009 00:18

Poor you - I have been in the same position. I had an episiotomy that didn't heal up well at all and ruined my sex life.

You are not being paranoid at all! However, I took some measures the second time which I hoped would helped;

I asked for a home birth so that the risk of intervention would be less.

I massaged the area with oil for about 8 weeks before baby was due to make the tissue more flexible.

I spent some time in water when I was in labour to help soften things up.

When dd2 was born I had only a tiny tear which healed very well by itself and which I would not eve have noticed, had it not been written in my notes. I would say that the discomfort I had actually got better after I had dd2.

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TeenyTinyToria · 19/01/2009 00:18

That's reassuring to know.

Yes, it was pretty horrid. I had a huge swelling which the midwife said was bruising - she was rather shocked when she saw me in hospital the next day. They wouldn't stitch it though, as they said it would be better to leave it to heal naturally, so I got married with an open episiotomy sorry, way TMI lol!

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Original poster

TeenyTinyToria · 19/01/2009 00:20

I'm planning to try the perineal massage, and also to have a water birth in hospital if possible - I hated the intervention I was subjected to first time around, and want to have the natural, active labour I wanted with ds.

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electra · 19/01/2009 00:22

Good luck - I hope things are better this time. I had nightmares when I was pregnant with dd2. Now I'm pg again and mildly panicking again!

Hawkmoth · 19/01/2009 23:03

My mum tore all along hers but it healed in about a third of the time and was nowhere near as bad.

I'm trying hard not to think about it!

Northernlurker · 20/01/2009 00:19

Well I had an episiotomy and a tear with dd1 which was sewed up and healed fine - then with dd2 I had another episiotomy and a bit of tearing because the scar tissue wasn't stretching very well and was about to go very badly wrong! So with dd3 I told the midwife that I fully expected to need another episiotomy. She was very upset as she hadn't done one for ages - when we got to the critical point yes I had another one - but this time no tearing

I am not telling you this to cause you panic and horror but rather because I've had three with good healing and no after effects. That's whats supposed to happen after an episiotomy - what happened to you was not typical. I think you should ask your midwife to get your notes and go through with you what happened and what you might want to do differently. If you have any stitches again ask for the most experienced midwife on the shift to do them - because ime that can make a difference. The midwife who did my third lot was quite an artist!

FAQtothefuture · 20/01/2009 00:21

I had an episiotomy and bad tear (and ventouse delivery) with DS2.

3yrs later DS3 came out the same exit and I had 4 small stiches, none of which were where the episitomy and tear had been previously

Grublin · 20/01/2009 00:23

Episiotomy and Ventouse with DS1.
2nd degree tear up and down with DS2.

solo · 20/01/2009 01:01

Epi and forceps with Ds, badly healed and tore with every attempt at sex.
I did the oil and massage thing when pg with Dd. Waterbirth, but only about 20 minutes in the pool before delivering her and just a 1st degree tear. Absolutely fine(even with very much older skin!).

Original poster

TeenyTinyToria · 20/01/2009 01:03

I had a consultant do my stitches because she delivered me - so no complaints about the quality. I think it was blood collecting behind the stitches that caused them to burst, but not really sure.

I can't really talk to the midwife about it, because she was my mum's midwife, is pretty old, and treats me a bit like a silly little girl. She told me off for not knowing my blood group off hand and because I refused some of the blood tests on the grounds that they aren't strictly necessary and I hate having them done. She didn't deliver me last time either.

Tbh, I think I still have quite a few hang-ups after ds's birth, and am a bit terrified about the whole thing. I want a natural birth with no pain relief except for water and hypnobirthing, because gas and air makes me ill, and having an epidural was probably what caused me to need intervention in the first place. I'm just not sure how best to get what I want - and at the same time being totally realistic and realising that any birth is probably ok as long as baby and I are both fine.

Blaaaargh. [meh emoticon]

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Niecie · 20/01/2009 02:10

I had an epidural, forceps and an episiotomy. It healed up quite well although only after the midwife took the stitches out the second week.

I had only a tiny tear along the scar of the episiotomy with DS2. I had an unplanned home birth and had nobody to deliver DS except a paramedic for the last couple of minutes so it was not a controlled birth in any way. I don't know if I was lucky but I don't think a tear or an episiotomy are a definite just because you had one the first time.

Can you find another midwife to talk to? Maybe ask at the hospital rather than the one you normally see who sounds a bit dismissive of your concerns? Would you consider a home birth?

I hope it works out for you.

Astrophe · 20/01/2009 03:53

Interesting that so many people here have had episiotomy - I had one in the UK (healed fine), and am now pg in Australia and my midwife is shocked they still do episiotomy in the UK - she said she hasn't done one since the mid 90s as they sem to think healing after tear is better. I don't know what the evidence is either way, but maybe talk to the midwife about this - see what they say?

My midwife has talked to me about tearing (I tore babdly with no.1, episiotOmy with no.2) - she sugested perenial massage, although she said there is no strong evidence for it, it can't hurt) - also that she will probably tell me ot to push in 2nd stage, and that the slower we can make that stage the better it will be in terms of tearing. She sugested labouring in the bath, but not delivering, as it will be harder for her to monitor tearing and help me to control the pushing if she can't see things properly.

I hope that helps. Can you try and find another midwife to see you? Yours doesn't sound very helpful.

FAQtothefuture · 20/01/2009 04:04

Astrophe I think they only give episotomies if they're going to be assisting delivery with Ventouse or Forceps, certainly that's why I had mine (and then tore very badly as well )

alipiggie · 20/01/2009 04:28

Well with DS1 they gave me one as they thought they'd be helping him out, he popped out all by himself at third push. DS2 - all went fine, no tears and he literally flew out poor little man. Good luck I'm sure it'll all be fine.

Astrophe · 20/01/2009 08:54

FAQ, had one with a perfectly straighforward birth (no forceps etc) -not really complaining - it healed fine - just interesting that they seem far more commonplace here.

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