How does a baby come out after a repaired episiotomy?

[pash]

Any experience here would be appreciated.

DD1 was born vaginaly, with forceps, and with an extensive epi that went internally as well. The epi stitches came apart a few days after birth and I was left with a gaping hole where I didn't want one. 16 weeks (and a bit of pain) later the epi was repaired and all has been good since.

I am now happily UTD again and am yet to see an ob, but my mw tells me that the obs may recommend an elective CS because of the repaired epi. She didn't know whether another epi would be a good idea, or whether tearing naturally would be too dangerous.

Has anyone out there had a baby after a repaired epi? Was it a VB or elective CS or emergency CS? If it was VB, did you have another epi or were you allowed to just see how you went? I just want to be a bit prepared before I see the ob.

thanks...

[Arcadia]

No advice but

Hope you get some people sharing positive experiences

[HotI]

A friend of mine had an epi first birth, and had a vaginal birth 2nd time. She decided she didn't want to be cut and worked on ways (positioning, support, having same midwife for pregnancy & birth) to avoid tearing. She did tear, but says he much preferred it to being cut. The decision was hers, and the healing was easier.

I was cut at my first birth and really don't want to be this time.

[onthefly]

I also had a forceps delivery for my first. My episiotomy tore, but not internally, so different circumstances. There was never any discussion of c/s for me. I did end up with another episiotomy, but for totally different reasons.
I would talk to some other midwives and see what they say. You'll likely get very different advice depending who you talk to. See what sounds right to you

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i am curious also.. i had an episiotomy on 09 and am now seeing a gyno in regards to painful intercourse still!! they want to cut and restitch the area. i am wondering how another birth would go with that also. i realise its not exactly the same as your situation but will still be reading the replies to this thread. :-)

[Pretz]

I'm in the same boat as Hollo and am also curious to know/hear some answers on this. My situation is a bit different again, but I guess comes down to a similar thing in the end. I had a vaginal birth and tore naturally with my DS, but it didn't heal properly and caused some scar tissue which I had to have a procedure for and my OB cut it and restitched the area (had that done in February 2011). It is still painful with DTD, although not as bad, but I'm also wondering how another birth would go with everything... I would choose to tear natually again and would do anything in my power to have a natural, vaginal birth again.

Good luck to everyone!

[2CheekyMonkeys]

pretz, was that the fentons procedure? that is what i am meant to have but i dont like the idea of it. i keep putting them off!

[littlelara]

I had an Epi. it didn't re- tear, but there is a scar
With my second birth I didn't tear at all, even with a full on really fast labour (ds was out in just over 2 hours)
Not sure if that helps.

[Feijoa Mum]

I had a forceps and episiotomy birth with my first son. Although it did heal it took a while. He was 7lb11oz and only 19 months later I had a 9lb15oz baby with no tears or stitches ripping. I have had another three babies since my baby whopper (two over 9lb ers) and have never had am issue with my scar. I did have a small tear after son number 4 requiring stitches again but then nothing after my daughter was born. Hope this helps

[tarsh1]

I had a epi and 2nd degree tear with DS and had to have the cut repaired 1 week after his birth due to epi breakdown (so they called it but thats another story) and i had a vag birth with DD and had the worst tearing the ob had seen due to how fast she came out but didnt tear anywhere near the epi scar. And healed 100 times better.

Sent from my GT-I9000

[tarsh1]

Oh and i had the vaccum with DS and he was 10lb3oz and DD was 8lb11.5oz with no help.

Sent from my GT-I9000

[Pretz]

pretz, was that the fentons procedure? that is what i am meant to have but i dont like the idea of it. i keep putting them off!

Hollo - Yes, it was the Fenton's Procedure. TBH I was very nervous about it too, especially knowing that I'd be having surgery on my vajayjay IYKWIM! lol But it was really not that bad at all. Mine was done under general anaesthesia and I was under for about 35 minutes due to having to make a deep cut to get all the scar tissue. My OB also injected me with some local anaesthesia after the procedure to help with the pain and I was in recovery for about an hour and a half after I woke up (I was exhausted as my baby didn't sleep well and I mentioned this to the nurse so they gave me an extra bit of "sleeping" time!) lol. I got to the hospital at 8:30am for admission and was discharged that arvo at 1:45pm. Pain wise afterwards was so much better than my recovery after the birth, but obviously the birth was different when I tore naturally (2nd degree tear - deep tear they told me, with 5 stitches) and had no pain relief at all during my labour (plus bub was born via ventouse suction (vacuum exctraction)).

My OB couldn't even do a proper examination when I went back to see him about it due to it being that painful before I had the procedure, but since having the procedure, DTD for me now is getting better and less painful, which is great, especially when wanting to TTC again later in the year.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to PM me if you like.

All the best!

[nickle730]

I had an extensive episiotomy with DD1. She was distressed (wedged against my pelvis with her head turned to the side) and was eventually delivered by forceps after a failed attempt with the ventouse. She was 5lb 10 oz and my ob said had she been any bigger he would have had to CS. As it was, he wanted to get her out as fast as possible (she had a sustained heart rate of 40bpm) and didn't want to waste time getting to theatre. So my episiotomy was large and performed in a hurry. I had some issues with healing and an area which needed further treatment.

DS was an unassisted vaginal delivery and I had a minor tear which required suturing. Recovery was easy. He weighed 7lb 14oz.

DD2 was a very fast unassisted vaginal delivery. My ob missed the birth, much to his disgust, and I'm sure he only sutured my minor tear so he would seem to have earned his fee! Recovery was easy and nearly painless. She weighed 7lb 6oz.

Never was a CS discussed after my first delivery. Good luck!

[Kirley64]

i am curious also.. i had an episiotomy on 09 and am now seeing a gyno in regards to painful intercourse still!! they want to cut and restitch the area. i am wondering how another birth would go with that also. i realise its not exactly the same as your situation but will still be reading the replies to this thread. :-)

I didn't have an epi so i can't help with that OP but i'm just wondering if you had tried the hormone cream that is offered post birth. Sometimes it's just the hormones are out of whack and it makes DTD painful and this cream helps with it. Just a thought

[M22]

ds1 37 weeks 7lbs 3rd degree tear , failed ventouse and forceps used, infection , and restitching 1 week later -----DD 42 weeks 7Ibs 7, cord around the neck (as the only reason i tore had to stop pushing un hook cord) just a few stitches no probs what so ever, Ob did say lots and lots of scar tissue form my boy though. so so glad i didn't have a cs but would have done what ever they told me tho keep bubs safe

[pash]

Thanks everyone. So maybe it isn't definitely a cs for me. Just didn't want to be bullied by the ob.

[Crystalwings]

I think it's very individual and comes down to circumstance.
I had a third degree epi and forceps with DD1.
with my second baby i was very scared about tearing the old scar. Unfortunately with DD2 i was induced and she had shoulder dystocia and was 10lb 7oz and i sustained a third degree tear which has caused me a lot of problems. i have been told i have to have a c-section next time as i also have some prolapse as a result of the damage which i have been seeing a pelvic floor physio about. i've been told to get my tubes tied if i have another via c-section. I also have had painful scarring but my gyne wanted to avoid fentons and thankfully it has settled down heaps on it's own
I know someone who is very young who had a third degree tear with her first and then had an ultrasound to check her muscle tone and she was advised to have the next via c-section and have her tubes tied.

Maybe ask your ob if you can get an internal ultrasound to check how everything has healed and make your decision from there.
Good luck

[M22]

you mite find that you r pain threshold for labour mite be higher so i noticed a huge diff because i had no epidural- i wish someone had talked me out of epi the first time too..