Episiotomy with First, Experience with 2Nd?

Updated on January 31, 2013
K.L. asks from Fort Stewart, GA
20 answers

I had a minor episiotomy with my first born. It really was not a big deal for me . . . made it so much easier to deliver and the recovery was really a breeze compared to other mothers I know. That was 26 months ago. I am due next week and the hospital stance is no episiotomies.

Did you have an episiotomy with your first, and not your second? How did everything go for you? I m curious about other women and their experiences. Thanks!

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

Episiotomies have been proven to be more damaging then helpful in most cases. Its sad that doctors are a decade out of date with the latest research.

My tear with my second was very minor. I'm hoping my third is even less.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My first baby was 5lbs 13oz and I had an episiotomy--they cut a lot! Baby #2 was a c-section. Baby #3 was a VBAC. I was terrified because the baby was bigger than #1. My doctor said, "Once that trail's been blazed, the next one will slide out". She was right. #3 was 7lbs 3oz and he slid right out!

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C.G.

answers from Augusta on

I am a nurse midwife at an academic medical center. The reason they have a "no episiotomy" stance is because research has shown for many years that women who have episiotomies are more prone to pain, infection, the cut extending to a severe tear (called third or fourth degree) issues with intercourse, urinary problems later in life, and many other issues. It was once thought that episiotomy saved the pelvic floor from trauma but it has been proven that it is much worse. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) sets the standard for OB practice in the US and recommends episiotomies only be done in cases of severe fetal distress. For the most part, docs still doing routine episiotomies are older and have not changed practice to keep up with recommendations.

In general, mothers who have had a baby before are less likely to tear. Having had an episiotomy in the past will make you slightly more likely to tear than the average woman due to the scar tissue. Chances are though, that you will not tear at all. Best of luck with your birth!

5 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Seattle on

I had an episiotomy with my 2nd baby, a VBAC and did have problems as the internal, supposedly dissolvable stitches, did not dissolve well and then I had an infection that led to a weird scar tissue that later had to be surgically removed...well, it was an interesting recovery.

Baby #3, no episiotomy and only a very minor tear and I healed just fine.

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L.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I had an episiotomy with my first two and no problems. I am kind of curious as to the "no episiotomy" stance of the hospital since if it is left up to ripping the healing can be much more difficult. I would talk to your ob to get a clear idea of what to expect. Good luck and best wishes for a healthy baby and easy delivery!

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M.R.

answers from Miami on

I tore with my first and nothing with my larger 2nd. If you try to deliver upright (squatting) your chances of tearing are much less. And tears do heal better than cuts and cutting can actually cause tissues to tear further, that's why so many Drs/Hospitals are going away from cutting. Check out the ACOG recommendations: http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/News_Room/News_Releases/20...

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B.F.

answers from Dallas on

Terrible experience with first but the second was much , much easier.
I think you will be ok.

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I didn't have one either time. I asked that I not get one "as a matter of routine, but only if it was deemed medically necessary" and my doctor agreed wholeheartedly. Said that most doctors do not automatically do them anymore. That it can cause worse tearing than would otherwise occur---like if you cut the side of a piece of paper and then pull on it: it rips more easily where it was cut already. But if you do not cut it and apply the same pressure it is less likely to tear at all, or not as much/far.

I had I think a 2 cm tear both times. 2 stitches. No big deal. And no episiotomies.

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C.C.

answers from Orlando on

I did have an episiotomy with my first, almost 10 years ago. It was a deep one, a "level 3", whatever that means. I just remember the nurses walking into my room and looking at my chart and seeing the degree of episiotomy I had, they would cringe and ask me how I was doing. The nurses put ice in a baby diaper(so it wouldn't leak as it melted) and put that up against it to help w/ swelling. It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable and my doctor gave me all kinds of things to deal with it. I had my 2nd child 8 years later and he came so quickly I did tear, but didn't feel it at the time. It was fine, no complicatons. The nurses at this hospital didn't use the diaper trick, the strongest thing I had for this delivery/recovery was Motrin.

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L.M.

answers from Peoria on

I had one with my first, but not my second. No problems - no tearing or additional pain or anything. In fact, with the second I never thought about the episiotomy with the first (until now :) - it was a non issue for me.

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L.O.

answers from Detroit on

my dr let me tear with my first. was a rough 7-10 days while I healed. with my second (18 months later) the dr made a small cut. it healed up fine..and was much easier..

first baby was not in a good positiion.. (her head was sideways.. ) I pushed for over an hour. second baby was perfect position.. head down.. came out in 3pushes.. oh and second baby was a pound and a half larger...

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S.A.

answers from Chicago on

I had an episiotomy, but still tore all three times. The second one was the most painful. I could hardly sit down for five days. The donut was my friend!

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E.G.

answers from Atlanta on

With my first I had one. Contractions for 2 days, think I had been pushing for hours (seemed like hours) before the episiotomy. No easy recovery for me... It took weeks to feel almost 100%. But the second was entirely different. Very fast, like wheeled in the downstairs ER type room because there was no time to get checked in. Wheeled in at 12:02, came shooting out like a slimy gross bullet at 12:08. But this time around, I felt great. Was up and walking in only a couple of hours. Begging to leave, but they didn't let me. Good luck! Whatever happens you'll be fine.

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

That was me. Episiotomy with the first, piece of cake. Second one, they let me tear. I would choose an episiotomy any day! No contest. I ended up with a ton of stitches with the tearing and recovery was far more painful.

Sorry, wish I could say "yay!" to tearing, but it boggles my mind why hospitals go that route.

1 mom found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I have four kids and only had an episiotomy with the first. Like you it was just a nip to make sure I didn't tear. Never tore with the last three. :)

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N.C.

answers from Rockford on

Why would a hospital have a "no episiotomy" stance? They'd rather you tear and have more damage? Hmmm...anyway, I had a doc who was irritated when he delivered me because I threw off his schedule (and he was the ONE doc I didn't want because I had heard of others having issues w/ their episiot. after birth. Well...he didn't do mine correctly and until I delivered my son, 14 months after my daughter, I was in pain and even had a bad varicose vein "down there" while prego w/ my son.

After I had my son, I had my regular doc, who thankfully, stitched me up properly! It's been almost 13 yrs and have had no problems! (although, from what I remember, right after birth, I was so afraid to go to the bathroom for almost 6 weeks because it did hurt and I always felt like I was tearing!) LOL! Best of luck on your birth experience!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from Fargo on

First baby- episiotomy from hell
Second baby- no episiotomy. Still tore, but only a few stitches and healed super fast.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Chicago on

I had one with my first and it was awful, and i was in pain for close to a year before it finally started feeling better. With my second (7 years later) I did not need one and did not tear either and both girls were the exact same weight and length. Not sure why, as the second one went a lot faster than the first one and I was induced with both babies too.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Atlanta on

God, this would be nice to know. I had a tear the first pregnancy and only WISH i had received an episiotomy! I'll be checking back to read the responses, because I too am curious. Too bad I got the tear... multiple OB's now suggest I get a C-section because the likelihood of tearing in the same spot is so high. I almost tore my rectum! AH! Good luck, I'll be reading!

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yep and I tore with my 2nd and 3rd. Not horribly but did tear nonetheless but not in the same place as where I was cut for #1. I have a tiny area of scar tissue from my episiotomy (looks like a scar with a tiny line in it) between holes 2 and 3 that, to this day (and my last baby was 4 years ago) gives me issues and will even open back up slightly if I wear certain thong underwear or have frequent sex in certain positions. That might be tmi lol, but perhaps it has something to do with why the hospital does not do them (natural vs artificial wound healing or something ???) It is very annoying. I have no issues from either of my tears (had like 4 stitches with one and I think 7 with the other)

1 mom found this helpful
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