No you're not the only one wincing!

I'd prefer to tear but only because I've heard you heal far quicker.

This is my biggest worry!

Yeah I had that experience LOL Friend of mine was over and figured she would get something to eat and low and behold lol... my ice pads! So easy to make though and honestly works wonders! I laughed so hard when the nurse brought some in for me to wear after I had my son as they are just normal Always or other brand maxi pad and you saturate them with water and place in the freezer! I thought they would melt and leak everywhere but actually they didn't! I know I know, there are probably women on here laughing their ass off at me and wondering where the hell I came from but I am so serious! Anyone else try them??? Or do I sound like a total nut job? LOL

As for the whole "wiping" hehe sorry you had to suffer through that one! I did that once and ouch! I had my perennial care bottle and was told to wash over the toilet with that first, then always pat dry I did forget at one point and wow... never happened again lol. I also had to have the salt baths but I had to have them after my c-section as well and use the perennial bottle too.

tears can be hard to suture whereas a cut can be stitched easier.

^^ Thats true, midwife said putting me back together was like an 100 piece jigsaw lol

O and it really isnt that bad. I was absolutely dreading tearing or being cut but tbh when its that moment you would do ANYTHING to get the baby out.

Also depening what type of painrelief you have you might not even feel it. I pushed on gas and air and felt it stretch but after the first contact with water it doesnt really sting or hurt

I had to have an episiotomy with my first due to needed an assisted delivery and i will be avoiding it at all costs this time if possible! The fact that the actually cut was agony the healing took a while, i had quite a few stiches and for two weeks i found it difficult to walk as i was so sore, i'm sure natural tearing can't be as painful! Having an episiotomy is the only thing that is worrying me about this birth! xx

Mine too! I have had 2 episiotomys and the thought of that and or tearing just sends shudders down my spine.


Good reason to start the perineal massage right now to avoid both IMHO

I think i am the odd one out here lol but i had an episiotomy and didnt feel a thing being stitched and i had no trouble with it either! I had a ventouse delivery to and people was saying to me ohh its gonna hurt when you poo and im on iron tablets it never did and people told me to have a jug of water when ineeded to wee but its not stung either. As long as you take care of it, like any other wound, it will heal nice and fast.

hey hunny i had both (in the one birth!) my episiotomy healed within about a week and a half.. my tear.. im 12 weeks PP and still not right!
You dont feel the episiotomy atall, i didnt know id had it until a mw let it slip later on lol!
All the best xx

I would totally think they would thaw out and leak but i guess they wouldnt be very good pads if that happened haha