I had an episiotomy with Sean (not a problem at the time but recovery is longer) and with Kate I was determined to avoid one. The midwife was great and just as the head was crowning she whipped out a pot of vaseline and smothered my perineum in it and hey presto, baby popped out -no episiotomy and no tear. I'll be hoping for the same experience this time. Oh, and I don't actually remember any burning or anything at the time of crowning, like Lucy said, I was too focused on getting my baby out to notice the pain. (I had no pain relief either.)