Episiotomy vs. tear? - Page 3

EmmaDueInFeb · Mar 4th, 2010, 07:02 AM

I had a 3rd degree tear, and I have to say, it healed no bother at all.....I was advised they'd cut this time automatically but have made my consultant put it in my notes that I don't want that....an episiotomy can very easily continue into a tear, and since they've already cut the muscle, can then become a very nasty tear....

I would opt for a tear again b4 being cut, but thats just me !!

madasa · Mar 4th, 2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danapeter36

I had an episiotomy and tore further still. I had to have a forceps delivery and therefore a cut was needed to assist with the delivery. As LouLou said, an episiotmy is done medically and you can't really choose whether to have one. I had a borderline 3rd degree tear.
On the plus side, I did heal after a few months and am now back to having sex and my downstairs department is fine!

An episiotomy often extends the tear and creates more damage... the tear on its own would be superficial, but when the CUT tears, the muscles has been cut, so the muscles tears too. And YES, you should be able to refuse it if you do not want it. That is your right.

mamato2more · Mar 4th, 2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maytobe

Not a reply to the topic as such but is anyone else terrified of the pain of tearing? Or does tearing cause the amount of pain that I imagine it would? It freaks me out, the pain of contractions seem almost tame in comparison! This is my first baby, so I have no clue but if even a vaginal exam is uncomfortable, imagine a tear?!

Mothers who have torn in delivery, is the pain unbelievably bad as I imagine it would be?

I dont know if someone answered this, but you don't feel it. The baby's head cuts off the circulation to that area, and you cannot feel it..

Tasha360 · Mar 4th, 2010, 08:26 AM

I dont know if someone answered this, but you don't feel it. The baby's head cuts off the circulation to that area, and you cannot feel it..[/QUOTE]

I didnt know this but it must be true i didnt feel myself tear or anything. x

JennTheMomma · Mar 4th, 2010, 10:46 AM

Although many Doctors will perform an Episiotomy when one isn't needed or on request, it really should be only used when needed, which is rare. A tear is much better to heal from and it's likely to be smaller. An Episiotomy can often times go all the way to your anus, takes longer to heal, and can be deeper than a tear. There are different degrees of a tear, and you won't know which one you'll have, if you'll even have one. Not all tears require stitches, an Episiotomy does. Also, it really doesn't matter if it'll be neater or not, the scar fades and I doubt you'll be looking down there much. I do have a scar from my tear, it's straight line and you can hardly notice it.

There are things you can do so you don't tear. You can start doing perineal massage to help it expand in birth, you can do hot compressions or holding your pernieal while the head is being birthed (you're suppose to do that anyways, but most Doctors don't). You can push slight as the head comes out allowing your care giver to push back the vaginal opening over the head instead.

I would really do your research. It's rare to need an Episiotomy, and it's not the best route in my opinion.

Mervs Mum · Mar 4th, 2010, 10:51 AM

I have a ridge you can feel from the episiotomy scar and where I tore slightly with my second there is nothing - I couldnt even tell you where it was because they said it wasnt worth stitching

Mar 4th, 2010, 07:02 AM	#21
EmmaDueInFeb Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 947	I had a 3rd degree tear, and I have to say, it healed no bother at all.....I was advised they'd cut this time automatically but have made my consultant put it in my notes that I don't want that....an episiotomy can very easily continue into a tear, and since they've already cut the muscle, can then become a very nasty tear.... I would opt for a tear again b4 being cut, but thats just me !!

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Mar 4th, 2010, 08:26 AM	#24
Tasha360 Other BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: west midlands Posts: 3,046	I dont know if someone answered this, but you don't feel it. The baby's head cuts off the circulation to that area, and you cannot feel it..[/QUOTE] I didnt know this but it must be true i didnt feel myself tear or anything. x

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Mar 4th, 2010, 10:46 AM	#25
JennTheMomma Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,333	Although many Doctors will perform an Episiotomy when one isn't needed or on request, it really should be only used when needed, which is rare. A tear is much better to heal from and it's likely to be smaller. An Episiotomy can often times go all the way to your anus, takes longer to heal, and can be deeper than a tear. There are different degrees of a tear, and you won't know which one you'll have, if you'll even have one. Not all tears require stitches, an Episiotomy does. Also, it really doesn't matter if it'll be neater or not, the scar fades and I doubt you'll be looking down there much. I do have a scar from my tear, it's straight line and you can hardly notice it. There are things you can do so you don't tear. You can start doing perineal massage to help it expand in birth, you can do hot compressions or holding your pernieal while the head is being birthed (you're suppose to do that anyways, but most Doctors don't). You can push slight as the head comes out allowing your care giver to push back the vaginal opening over the head instead. I would really do your research. It's rare to need an Episiotomy, and it's not the best route in my opinion.

Status: Offline

Mar 4th, 2010, 10:51 AM	#26
Mervs Mum Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: somewhere over the rainbow..... Posts: 21,347	I have a ridge you can feel from the episiotomy scar and where I tore slightly with my second there is nothing - I couldnt even tell you where it was because they said it wasnt worth stitching
	Supporting birthing women in Yorkshire, Humberside, Manchester, Merseyside & the surrounding areas.
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