I had an epi with DD1. I didn't have an issue with it. She was in distress and by the time the on call OB got to me for a caesar it would have been too late. Sure it hurt afterwards but it was only for three days. I healed fine down there and we were DTD 6 weeks later. I could lift things, I could drive. I was so grateful to my midwife that she made that call and at the time I didn't care what they did as long as my baby was safe. My friend who tore had a worse time recovering than I did and all my friends who've had CS had a much worse time recovering than I did. Each to their own though. Like a PP said, do your research and don't go by people's experiences because different people if put in exactly the same situation will experience it differently. Pain thresholds differ etc. The actual process of the epi wasn't a problem for me. I had local down there and didn't feel any pain. Two pushes and she was out after four hrs of pushing prior to that (she was posterior).
PakRakMG my hubby burst into tears when he saw the midwife do mine. He really shouldnt have beem looking hehe. I was perfectly fine with no idea what was going on. And he does not cry easily.
Arimeh's Eden made a good point though. Epi = may happen with no guarantee of scarring (I have no scar there, I've looked ) versus c-sect = will happen and will scar. good luck with whatever decision you make. Birth is such an individual thing x
I had an epi with my second birth.. I was very young, and no idea about changing positions etc... so after almost 2 hrs of pushing, I was put on my back, feet in stirrups and an epi, then forcepts.
It was stitched up, and I barely noticed it again.
I had salt baths in the hossy, only stayed one night, and healed fine.
The thought of a c/section scares the crapola outta me!!
Since then I have had 5 more births, all natural, no tearing at all.
4 full terms, all over 8 pounders,(one almost 9) and a stillbirth.
So the epi hasnt affected me at all.
Last edited by Traveller; February 8th, 2011 at 10:36 AM.
: spelling :)
The only other thing to consider is your future birthing options. After a csec it can be hard to go for vbac...I also urge you to consider the risks to your own health csecs cause, such as an increase in hysterectomy.
Vaginas are made to stretch, tear and heal. An episiotomy should be a last resort and asalready mentioned, by that point, a csec might take too long or be too difficult (since bub is in birth canal).
i was induced for DD's birth (at my request) and things progressed well BUt my heart rate shot through the roof and DD's kept dropping, both of which caused a lot of concern to my OB....
he said he needed to "help" me to get her out and asked to use the forceps and i said no, he then told me i had torn and would need stitches and would i consent to a episiotomy....
i had epidural so it didnt hurt, actually i didnt feel a thing when it was done.
once the cut was made my DD literally fell out, my OB told me not to push, and as far as i was concerned i wasnt, my body might have been i dont know, but she just fell out!!!
i was obviously stitched up and to be honest the ligament pain i had ( i was in stirrups for over a hour at a time, 3 times in the 5 days leading up to and including delivery) was sooooo much worse!
i was tender, but i really only noticed it when i went to stand or sit, once i took panadol on the day after she was born and that was it, i didnt need the ice packs or anything.
its definitly a personal choice and honestly before DD's birth i was terrified of being cut and having my fanny stitched but i hardly noticed it....
and TMI but i was sure id be in agony DTD but there is no pain from that either.
good luck with ur decision, do your research and choose the option you feel is right for you!
I had an epi and vaccuum with DS due to he was presentiing and it was unlikely he was coming out on his own ( he had his hand well above his head kind of like superman lol) I ended up with PPH (not due to epi) and had to go to theatre to find the bleed so I had been stitched up after the birth then unstitched and restitched back in theatre and I needed two blood transfusions so my recovery was a bit jaded by that. I couldn't get out of bed for a few days due to the catheter and being too weak. But within a week apart from being a little sore, I was back to my normal self. We resumed DTD after 6 week check up, I think the first time was a little painful but I honestly think that was all in my head as I knew what had gone on "down there". I took only panadol for pain relief and had some salt bathes and felt generally pretty good.
Good luck with whatever you decide, but ultimately it is your choice xxx
Hi!
I think I would prefer not to think about what is going to happen the next time round. I had an episiotomy and then ended upp with nearly a 4th degree tear as my DS waved his arm at a crucial moment and I remember feeling the 'pop'. My doctor was amazing and I was stitched up for what felt like forever. I had abit of discomfort over the next few days but I used those iceblock things that really helped lol. By my 6 week checkup all was fine and I look and feel 100% normal. I am so grateful that I didn't have a c/s. That would have meant extreme difficulty over the next 6 weeks and who knows for how long. My DH could only stay home with me for 2 weeks then I was solo. I can't imagine doing that with a C/s. For me I'd take the epi anytime but with a very good doctor who knows what they are doing!
I had an episiotomy with DS. I really had no choice, he had to come out in a hurry and to me that was more important. Havent had a C/S. But in discussions with people i know who have had a c/s.. i would much rather a c/s any day. I dont think i will ever be the same down there ever again. I had a really bad recovery with my episiotomy.. to the point i couldnt stand for more than 10 minutes at a time for the first 3 months without being in pain... then needing to have a skin tag removed as i wasnt sewn properly. Up until i had DD i couldnt DTD without being in constant pain. I only tore with DD but was so thankful the doctor who stitched me was actually a plastic surgeon. He fixed me so at least i can DTD now and the majority of the time not be in pain.. but things just arent the same. Im a bit worried what will happen this time round and pray i dont require another episiotomy, but if they give me the choice, ill be taking the c/s.
I had an epi with my 1st one and swore never again. Not only was I disfigured they didn't even sew my pelvic floor muscles back together. I ended up having repair surgery in 2005 to bring the muscles together again. Sex was horrible as I had no control over the muscles and I thought I had been doing my PF exercises wrong. I have also had a c/s and it was so much easier. Yes initially it was harder but I had no infection and it healed really well. I have the faintest scar there now. I would do another c/s over an epi any time.
Next time I will DEF be demanding a C/S!!! I had an episiotomy after a long labour when my baby was in distress and stuck in the birth canal so was cut and had the vacuum. I had many discussions with my ob, who said he would only do an epi if absolutely necessary - if a severe tear was going to result etc. The recovery was insane - My daughter is 16 months and I still have not recovered. It was agony to sit down for 3 months and at times now it is still tender! I had strong painkillers in hosp for 5 days, they had to keep my catheter in for 2 days as the nurses said I "was so swollen down there, if I had probs going to the toilet, it would be hell and excrutiating pain to get it back in again!"
My sis had an emerg c/s and didn't even need panadol the next day. She could walk and move around better then I could. she has since had a vbac and regrets it after tearing and the recovery being much worse and painful!!!
So I know its major surgery to have a C/S but I have endometriosis and reckon I have a high pain threshold and noone can understand the pain that others feel (which is a good thing!!!) so I think it really has to be an individual decision!
Fiona, while I have agreed with you initially, it is probably really fair now for me to tell you that it was a decision I never had to make, and I am not speaking from any form of experience.
I had 6 VBs, all intact. I damaged the pelvic floor muscle with Diva by being impatient though (to avoid a cannula) and pushing before I was fully ready to. That is, I was pushing fully during those contractions that you can hold off on for a bit, iykwim. They are just meant to be little nudges to move babies head down and help with dilation, but he was putting holes all through my damned arm!! So the best advice I can give is to listen to your body and go at its pace.
I have been told its very uncommon to tear or need an epi with subsequent babies, esp if you didnt have one with your first. Obviously there are exceptions as always. I was always terrified of tearing/epi but in the end I worried for nothing - my first I got a graze, my second and third I had nothing. I can remember telling the OB when pushing with Ds2 that I didnt want to because I would tear. He laughed at me and said that if I didnt with Ds1 then I wouldnt with Ds2. He was right!
I think you need to really do your research on risks of both an epi/tearing and a C/S. Id rather take on the slight risks associated with an epi/tearing than with a C/S.
DD1 was born in a huge rush, ended up with a Epi after already having two tears and it was getting pretty messy down there, her HR was lost and she had to come out then and there.
DD2 was born via CS, due to no amniotic fluid, growth had stopped, breech and constant labour and being highly medicated and then not being able to stop them meds due to BP.
The recoveries were very different, DD1 it hurt to sit, it didn't feel "the same" for a long time, painful sex I would say for approximatly 12 months, it was very tight and I used a cream to help everything "stretch" again. BUT I was up and about from the start, I had freedom I wasn't limited with what I could do, lifting, driving, etc
DD2 the recovery from the CS was extremely painful for me, it was not walk in the park for me, it is major abdominal surgery, I couldn't get out of bed by myself, I experienced seering pain when I did, and if my bladder or bowels were full it made it even worse, once getting home 7 days post CS, I slept in a chair for another week or so, because I couldn't get up from lying flat without help. But four months on and I have no isses down below, my CS scar still hurts when kiccks or bumped by DD's unfortunately my uterus tore during the CS, so no only go across but up the side as well, and I have been advised that future deliveries would have to be a CS due to the damage.
If I had my choice...
I would still chose a VB with a tear/episiotomy, because I have been there done that and I know how to deal with the pain/treatment etc to get it all "working" again. I found the CS just too debilitating and to not be able to get out of bed was horrible..... I like my freedom
) versus c-sect = will happen and will scar. good luck with whatever decision you make. Birth is such an individual thing x
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