I'm scared to death of an episiotomy, how do they perform the procedure? do they numb you? does it hurt?
2006-07-15 05:40:12 · 13 answers · asked by obsession0524 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Girl, you are going to be thinking about other things when the time comes to do this. Yes, they will numb the area and then cut it with something that looks like scissors. Maybe your doctor won't have to do the procedure. It is not always medically necessary. I would talk to him or her about it.
2006-07-15 05:46:16 · answer #1 · answered by meegeesmommy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they do numb you and you don't feel a thing while it's happening. Later when the numbness wears off you may feel a bit uncomfortable. In the hospital they will offer you something called a "sits bath" to relieve the discomfort. The goods news is that they use dissolving stitches so you will not have to go through the pain of having them removed. Also, it's a minor and temporary annoyance compared to vaginal tearing, which is what could happen without the episiotomy. You should really talk to your doctor about all the possible procedures and let him or her know what your preferences are. I must emphasize here that YOU HAVE CHOICES. When I had my first I was only 22 and didn't question the doctor. When I had my second at 29, I grilled him and told HIM what I did and did not want. Be assertive. It's your body. Good luck soon to be new mommy! One more piece of advise: Epidurals can be wonderful.
2006-07-15 05:47:15 · answer #2 · answered by PDY 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have an good epidural, you won't feel a thing. If you don't they will numb you first. It depends on the doctor how they do it. Usually it is a small cut between the vagina and the rectum. But they can also do one where they cut the back and both sides of the vagina. I wouldn't worry about it, most doctors try to avoid it if at all possible. They will only do one if they think you will really tear when the babies head comes out. If all looks good, then they won't do it. A small tear is better then a large cut. But let me tell you that an episiotomy is a lot better then tearing all the way through to your rectum.
2006-07-15 05:46:14 · answer #3 · answered by odd duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was SO terrified of this procedure too! In fact I stated in my birth plan that it was ABSOLUTELY NOT to be done! Happy am I that it wasn't. I had a great nurse in Labor & Delivery and she agreed to massage and stretch my perineum while I was in labor. I gave birth to an 8 pound 4 ounce baby with no tearing or episiotomy!
I would recommend avoiding the procedure because sometimes what starts as a small incision can extend all the way into the anus - this happened to a few women I know. I told my doc to let me tear if that was what was going to happen...
The most important thing is discussing your feelings with your birthing team as soon as you are admitted to the hospital.
The female body was designed to give birth and it's a shame that more doctors don't allow women to birth without performing unnecessary surgery!
2006-07-15 06:22:33 · answer #4 · answered by The Ang 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you've had an epidural, absolutely not. I had an epidural and tore and still didn't feel it. (They say tearing is more painful than cutting.) One of my friends went natural (no drugs) and said she was so focused on getting the baby out and dealing with the contractions that she never felt the doctor do the episiotomy.
2006-07-15 06:18:34 · answer #5 · answered by jilliansmommy8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You dont feel it. i had one with the birth of my daughter last yr in may. i also had 2 epidurals durng my labor(the second was probly un nessicary....) I didnt feel anything..and afterwards..it didnt hurt that bad...it was just something to get used to..i was cut like over an inch. you just gota keep it clean.
episiotomys are a pretty regular now a days...very simple procedure that will hurt alot less then tearing!
2006-07-15 06:08:01 · answer #6 · answered by mommy2savannah51405 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had an episiotomy with my first and tore with my second and the healing process was less painful with the tear. Talk to your doctor and let them know which you prefer. Some doctors, like the one who delivered my first, will just do it without even telling you. I didn't know until he was stitching me up. Make sure you make your wishes known.
2006-07-15 06:11:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
okay ill be real w/you, it depends on the pain medications you recieve and how you react to them, honestly i didnt even feel it its almost the same as the baby sliding through the little bit of burning cuz the skin is stretching,its sore afterwards and takes a while to heal,depending on how many stiches you got.and yes they do inject a local anisteticto the area w/a shot(you dont even realize this,i didnt ,they told me later) but dont worry you should be fine,try not to listen to all the horror stories,you can so you can prepare for the worst but in the end find out it wasnt qiute like others had said, good luck and just enjoy being pregnant
2006-07-15 05:54:19 · answer #8 · answered by Vita 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do numb you & if you've had an epidural I've heard that you don't fell ANYTHING. For me, yes, it hurt & it was uncomfortable for a while as it healed but it was better than the alternative (tearing).
2006-07-15 05:43:43 · answer #9 · answered by Steph 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know it its done differently in other places but when i had my son i had it done and they usually numb you (with an injection to the area) and you feel nothing after. Until they stitch you up and for a few days the area tends to be sore the stitches tend to take 6weeks to heal completely
2006-07-15 07:23:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋