Tearing and episiotomy jargon

[Mildez]

Linzy I agree on the man thing increasing the size of the whole in his ball bag.

As for how many stitches for an episiotomy that is a difficult one to say. I haven't seen any vaginal suturing done is seperate sutures so to speak (for birth trauma) the dr's were I work all do a continuous suture like a coil if that makes sense. Because they loop from one to the next it would make it difficult to count them and perhaps why you can't find an average amount of sutures in any research you might have looked for. Depending on how deep the laceration depends on if you need more then one row of sutures. Like one for the muscle and then another for the skin on top of the muscle. You can also tear inside and have what is describes as an intact perineum so no tearing from the exit of the vagina to the anus. Thats why after birth the Dr or midwife usually inserts a finger or two and a clean clothe to look for internal trauma that can't be seen from the outside.
I think in comparison to the birth the sutures or trauma usually aren't bad. A bit uncomfortable. I know with mine they were very tender and it really stung to pee but mine were up around the urethra not down the bottom.

[Linzy]

Linzy I agree on the man thing increasing the size of the whole in his ball bag.

As for how many stitches for an episiotomy that is a difficult one to say. I haven't seen any vaginal suturing done is seperate sutures so to speak (for birth trauma) the dr's were I work all do a continuous suture like a coil if that makes sense. Because they loop from one to the next it would make it difficult to count them and perhaps why you can't find an average amount of sutures in any research you might have looked for. Depending on how deep the laceration depends on if you need more then one row of sutures. Like one for the muscle and then another for the skin on top of the muscle. You can also tear inside and have what is describes as an intact perineum so no tearing from the exit of the vagina to the anus. Thats why after birth the Dr or midwife usually inserts a finger or two and a clean clothe to look for internal trauma that can't be seen from the outside.
I think in comparison to the birth the sutures or trauma usually aren't bad. A bit uncomfortable. I know with mine they were very tender and it really stung to pee but mine were up around the urethra not down the bottom.

Ahhhhh this makes sense now! I don't know where I got 36 stitches or 3 rows of 12 from, must have been my ex partner as it's not on my records either. Thanks for that

[*TripleJ*]

i had 15 stitches or thats wat DH said lol he counted 15 times obviously lol i had a second degree tear through my perinium and a graze upwards i think the graze hurt more especially to pee lol Ural works wonders coz it nutralises ur pee lol i would have torn upwards but the middie pushed him down as he was coming out there was a lot of blood but they say it wasnt much lol

[Linzy]

Ah yes I remember drinking Ural! I had boxes of the stuff lol you just reminded me

[Nelle]

It's good to be informed, but try not to worry, it sounds horrific, but it was surprisingly okay for me. I can't comment on a 3rd degree tear, which I understand can be difficult because in some cases a bit of reconstruction can be required.
But the reason grazing hurts is because, like a carpet burn, it stings. Some people don't graze at all! For those who do, peeing with hands on the floor and butt in the air helps (and you also have the benfit of looking super classy while peeing), and URAL can help take the sting out of peeing too.

With stitches, I think the worst part (because it's unexpected) is that healing itch. Showers help, salt baths help, as well as the flushable toilet wipes you can get. Ice helps with swelling. I think the midwives used to cut into the stuffing of a pad from the end and fill it with ice.

I hope you feel more informed now, and not that scared. Many women tear (many women don't!) and in the great scheme of things, while inconvenient and uncomfortable, usually isn't as bad as is sounds in theory. xo

[Inanna]

Emma gave you a great run down. As Nelle said it's great & necessary to be informed - but don't dwell on it!

I had a second degree tear with my first baby & I made an informed decision to not have sutures. My peri healed beautifully in a very short amount of time. It was stingy for a few days but it certainly wasn't agonising.

[Jellymaker]

Thanks very much for all the advice ladies.

I was a bit concerned about the whole tearing/epi thing (which is strange when you think about the pain of labour as a whole) but hopefully if it does happen it won't be too bad, and like Linzy said, i'll have other things on my mind to distract me

On a related note, can anyone extol the virtues of Perineum massage coming up to labour? I guess the theory is sound as far as preparing the area, but considering the vagina etc are so stretchy in the first place, wouldn't any massage just bounce back IYKWIM? Has anyone done it and noticed a benefit, or is it a bit of a myth?

[M22]

I had a 3rd degree ( 2nd stage 2 hrs)with no.1 the got infected and had to be restiched. (blurgh)
still went natural again with number 2 seconds stage 10mins! ( 2nd deg tear) I only tore cause cord was around her neck and they had to pull her out.

no peri massage or anything like that.
doc siad lots of scar tissure form first birth- but so glad i didint get a c. OB siad i still did right thing going for a fufu birth!!

HTH