Episiotomies?

Question

Here's a several part question for all you ladies who have had kids.
Did you have an episiotomy?
IF YOU DID:
Did your dr automatically decide to do one, or did he wait to see if you looked like you would tear?
Did he discuss it with you before hand?
IF YOU DID NOT:
Did you tear anyways?
Did you require stitches?
Also - I've heard of some massage technique where the DR massages that piece of skin to make it stretch so that you won't tear? Any ideas?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I had an episiotomy...My doctor thought the skin looked like it was stretching okay, and then I tore very suddenly, so he cut me a little bit so I wouldn't tear further. I'm not sure how many stitches I needed; I didn't ask. I was sore for a few days, but the worst for me was that I itched down there while I was healing. Luckily the hospital gave me some antiseptic spray that took care of the tenderness and the itch pretty well. He didn't discuss episiotomies with me beforehand, but I didn't bring it up either. I'd decided that I didn't mind if he had to cut me because I'm a pretty fast healer regardless, and I trusted him to make the best decision when the time arose. I had a very cautious OB and I figured he wouldn't perform an episiotomy unless it was necessary. I've read a lot of horror stories about them on the internet, but my experience and those of my friends and acquaintances have all been fine. If you want to lessen your chances of tearing, you can perform perineal massages yourself (or have your husband/boyfriend etc. do it) weeks or even months before your due date to help increase the skin's elasticity. I wish I had done it myself, but oh well. Several pregancy books I've read suggested using olive oil for the massage, but I don't know how much it helps.

Answer 2

Yes I had episiotomies. My Dr. waited to see if I needed one first, however, he did not discuss it with me. The time to discuss it is before you have the baby. When the baby is on the way out there is not much time to discuss anything so if you need to discuss anything you need to do it now. I did tear even with my episiotomy,and I did have stitches, and I've never heard of any massage technique. At what point would you massage? Certainly not while you are delivering but again I'm not sure of anything like that. Anyway I hope I helped a little and good luck. And by the way the recovery isn't pleasant but you will recover and have a beautiful baby also.

Answer 3

I have two children, both were delivered by a midwife using only "natural childbirth" techniques. I did not have an episiotomy with either child. With my first baby, I had a very slight, superficial tear which did not require stitches. I would not have even known it was there if I had not been told. My second baby was larger than the first and I did not tear at all. My midwife advised me of massage techniques, to do at home in preparation of childbirth, but I never tried them. If you visit a website about natural childbirth, you should be able to find out more about the massage.

Answer 4

I also had mid wives for my pregnancies. I have two children, and I have to say, I will go back to them rather than a doctor if ever I have another child. my first I had both problems. first I ripped, then they did an episiotomy, otherwise I would have ripped from front to back (almost did anyways) I had tons of stitches, and just like the one lady said, the healing of the stitches were the worst part (for me more than the 30+ hour labor). my second, I didn't have an episiotomy, I tore a small bit and required maybe 2-5 stitches. she was a bigger baby than my first daughter, but her head was more round than my oldest, so she was much easier to deliever. I haven't heard of massaging the area, but they do try to stretch the area, which hurts. they give you a "sitz bath" to take home, but those don't help much at all. tucks pads with an ointment spray does good though!

Answer 5

Well, I had a c-section, but I'll answer your question mostly with the knowledge I have of my neice's birth and the three babies my mom had.

My sister in law and I both went to the same group of dr.'s for our pregnancies, and I know that episiotomies were discussed before hand, and we were given a booklet full of all sorts of pregnancy and infant information, and there was a ssection that discussed episiotomies, how often the dr's office does them, and after-care. Routine episiotomies were not preformed by our group of dr.'s, nor by any other dr. that delivered at our hospital.

My niece was born Episiotomy-free, but her mother did tear. Not enough to require any stitches, and as far as I know, she healed up quickly.

That massage technique was discussed in that little booklet, but I can't say if it works or not.

When my mom had her three babies, episiotomies were preformed routinely, so she had three of them. All three were stiched up, and once she pulled the stiched out. She said that was the worst pain she'd ever felt, worse than delivering a baby. So take it easy until those stiches are out if you have to have one!

Good luck, and I hope that answered your questions pretty well!

Answer 6

I did not have an episiotomy and I tore naturally. I had about 6 or so stitches. They did try to massage my perenium during my labor but it didn't prevent me from tearing. Tearing caused going to the bathroom to be painful for about 2 weeks. Have a squirt bottle available at all times.

Answer 7

No episiotomy. Small tears but healed very quickly. Doctor said at 6 week appointment that it didn't even look like birth had taken place.

Episiotomies are not necessary and you CAN say no. Any GOOD doctor will know how to minimize tearing without slicing you open.

Answer 8

no i didnt have an episiotomy with either of my kids. i have two. i had a midwife with both and they usually dont like to do those things if they dont need to (at least mine didnt) the second time i was asked about one by a dr because they expected me to be having a large baby - she was 9 pounds- i said not unless absolutely necessary. i dont think ive ever heard about a dr doing the massage - it seems a little out of their scope of practice. but it could be useful to do this during foreplay - it helps loosen the area and is very stimulating as well. hey it cant hurt to try

Answer 9

Episiotomy is applied usually in first deliveries or wide period of time separated. there will be no time for discuss can't make it Cesarean any more as the head may pass closer.anesthesia needs time and risk for both mother and child .it doesn't need plastic surgery if the tear is properly cut only few stitches

Answer 10

the doctor advises you drink lots of water during your pregnancy if you accually drink what ur suppost to it helps with the elasticity of the skin
doctors usually dont do episiotomies unless they have to they prefer it to tear cause it heals quicker that way and its much more safe but most time your labour will allow you to stretch to the right size and the doctor will massage the area to help it stetch
the only time they make a quick decition to cut is when your delievery is to quick for the skin to adapt