Tearing/being cut

[degroote78]

I am 26 weeks pregnant and starting to think about birth and labour. I am very keen not to tear or get cut and was wondering how to give myself the best chance of this. I have heard about the perineal massage - has anyone tried this? Also, does either having/not having an epidural mean you would be more likely to be cut/tear. Would apprecite any advice/info/links.

Thanks

I second the point about an episiotomy not being that bad. The MW was concerned I was about to tear badly, so performed one - I barely noticed it or the stitching afterwards. And the aftermath wasn't too bad either. Certainly better than the post c-section recovery the first time...I remember my ante-natal teacher when I was pg saying a c-section was preferable to an episiotomy and if offered one to ask for a c-section instead. Am very about that advice now!

I didn't write a birth plan but the only thing I said to the midwife was that I didn't want to be cut.

But after pushing for 2 hours with no success she asked if I would agree to be cut. I did and ds was born after a couple of pushes. It wasn't the end of the world and by that point I didn't even care.

I didn't even feel the cut itself tbh although the stitches did smart abit but I got the gas and air back for that . I didn't have an epidural but was fairly long labour (just over 24 hours - I was 9.5 cms dialated when I arrived at hospital but ds wasn't born for another 7 and half hours) so I was tired by the end.