Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

episiatomy

I had an episiatomy with my  daughter.  The pain was so bad. When I left the hospital decided I don't need pain meds if I was gonna take anything I would use ibprophen ... BIG MISTAKE I seriously was in tears for 3 weeks after I had her could barely move, sit Down ,laugh,cough anything!!
I'm 26 weeks pregnant now and the only thing I'm scared of is having another episiatomy ughhh my daughter is two years old now and still my scar hearts sometimes while having sex. I can imagine getting cut twice down there!! How many of you lady's had a second episiatomy and how bad was it compared to the first one.
Just writing this out makes my stomach turn!!! I hate thinking about it!!
12 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I cannot comment on my second as I still haven't been able to conceive :( but with my first I had the same hell. It was a very quick labour of just 4 hrs from start to finish, the hospital were adamant I wouldn't give birth for at least another day, so I was put in pre-natal as they'd catheterised me (baby had pushed my bladder above her, so I hadn't been able to wee for 3 days). Eventually I gave up and began pushing, I was young alone and frightened, and tye receptionist found me and demanded they checked. Of course I was fully dilated. So whilst they faffed arguing over who would deliver, I started pushing my daughter out in front of the waiting room. I was moved to delivery, but still not one monitored my baby. It had been 4.5 hrs since I'd been checked and catheterised, and they knew I was overdue and having light inconsistent contractions when I arrived. Anyway, they realised something didn't seem right, and I before I knew what was happening, they'd made a large cut. It was agony, I'd had no pain relief whatsoever and still wasn't given any. I mean, I still had my catheter in. My mum made it in, just as head was out (thankfully she was only several mins away), and they realised she'd pooed in distress and I was full of meconium. I pushed her out and she was completely wrapped up in the umbilical cord and wasn't breathing. Of course their priority finally was her. They got her breathing and gave her to me, but I lost consciousness due to blood loss. When I came to moments later, the midwife was stitching me up with a bloody huge needle and still no pain relief. All I had was the lovely receptionists hand (which I think I nearly broke). It was awful, it really was. I was then left in the room with a bed and floor of blood for 3 hrs before anyone came back in to clean, and it was a further 2 hours before I was transferred to post natal. The midwife that moved me began tutting and telling me off when I was transferred to the wheelchair because I started bleeding significantly again. She even stormed out and gave my socks covered in blood to my dad. Idiot!

My stay never improved in post natal either. I asked for some help to lift my daughter and was shouted at to do it myself. I would have done if I could, but they'd put her to my left, and on the right, I had my catheter, my I.V drips, antibiotics etc. Oh yes, and I forgot to mention, I also had a broken back and pelvis due to an accident when pregnant, with acute sciatica causing lose of feeling to my left leg. I was kept in two nights because of the bleeding etc. Then in the morning, they told me I'd have to stay avain, because the snow was so bad, I couldn't safely get home. (She was a Christmas baby, born in the worst snow we'd seen in years), I panicked and rang my dad who has a land rover. Thankfully I was allowed home.

It was very difficult dealing with the pain I was in, a newborn, my fiancé worked every hour and I had this bleeding agonising episiotomy. Sadly I developed post natal depression, but my mum was my rock.

Anyway, over three years on, and I am very disabled. My back wasn't fixable and they found out I had Fibromyalgia, 12 slipped discs (7 of which they removed), permanent numbness and scarring to the spin cord, and the list is endless.

My point is this... It took two years for me to consider trying again due to everything. I didn't think i ever would, but then i thought back to where i'd be now if i'd thought like that. I could have opted for abortion and had my spinal surgery, and I would be fine now, but I look at my amazing daughter and know I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I now have the courage to try again, I'm scared of course, I'm scared of what damage physically it could do, I'm terrified of the post natal depression returning (I could never have imagined something so unbelievably cruel to follow such a precious time) and of course I'm bricking the labour, but I'll do it. To complete my family, to give my daughter a sibling, to do it for me. The pain is not nice, but I've now done four years of adject agony, and I figure I can take some more to bring another very precious little one into my world.

Try not to focus on the negatives, what will be will be. You will deal with it if it happens, so try not to stress and upset yourself.

I wish you all the luck xx
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yeah I've been told if you need to tear somewhere itwill more than likely be along the same spot. But in saying that they say the chances are less likely (unless for some reason labour turns difficult ) second time round as your body has done it before etc. But I've been told to do the perinial massage and stuff to warm and stretch the muscles beforehand. Also labour positions impact as well, try not to birth on your back or sitting directly up and down - on your back you can't get that extra leeway and up and down the gravity makes the extra pressure and forceful strain.
I had a 3rd degree tear with my first and I'm lucky it never has affected me, I didn't even know until they sent me to surgery. So im worried about the same thing ! But my midwife and Dr have given me all this info :) also some drs and places are considering letting people tear as opposed to cutting as its "natural" and they believe it heals better and cos your body only tears where it needs to. But try relax and I'm sure all will be fine :)
Helpful - 0
6007249 tn?1394900105
Make sure you're doing your Perineal Massages. Spend some quality time with your Vagina, and you will truly appreciate knowing that you did what you could to help her Stretch. I'll be 35 weeks tomorrow,so iit's time for me to start playing in my Honey Pot with a purpose. Lol
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you take a narcotic or drink and are breast feefing they now say to take it WHILE feeding so that by the next feeding it has worked through your system already. Its not uncommon to need a pain med after birth, and the doc even prescribed my friend hydros too
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Episiotomies are usually preferable to tearing because they are a clean cut. When they stitch the tissue back together it will heal cleanly, with minimal scarring. Tearing causes weird jagged edges which are more difficult to stitch and create more scar tissue when healing. The scar tissue doesn't stretch like normal tissue, which is why you experience discomfort during sex. If you allow yourself to tear, there is a high probability you will have more scar tissue and thus will take longer to heal and experience more discomfort in the future. If I have a choice, I am going to ask for a clean incision rather than being allowed to tear. It will heal faster and cleaner and cause less scarring.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
At least that's what every single dr and dentist has told me
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Omg seriously? You should not take any narcotic while breast feeding. Unless you plan on carefully watching your baby as they sleep it can cause them to stop breathing. Jeez. Wow I'm sorry they had to cut her out that's so scary!  My dr likes for things to go naturally so I didn't even have to ask her to just let me tear.
Helpful - 0
5098230 tn?1430974779
Since you were cut chances are if you rip it will be in the exact same spot
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I breast feed to and you can still take hydrocodone. I tore with all of mine but I didn't remember the painas unbearable
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was breast feeding and theybwer still gunna give me norcos lol. And the reasion the did last time was the baby's heart rate was dropping on and off and was gonna put stress on her so they just hurried and cut her out also she pooped inside of me and was worried she was gonna breath in the moconium .... I hope I tare naturally this time ughh I'm so scared to be cut ...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You can make the doctor not give you one and tell.them.you would rather tear. If you make aure they know that it would be illegal for them to cut you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The dr let me tear, and I was i. Serious pain like you for over a month. All she prescribed me was ibuprofen though because I was nursing. This time take the pills! Lol if you're not planning in breast feeding that is.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Pregnancy Community

Top Pregnancy Answerers
13167 tn?1327194124
Austin, TX
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Get information and tips on how to help you choose the right place to deliver your baby.
Get the facts on how twins and multiples are formed and your chance of carrying more than one baby at a time.
Learn about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
What to expect during the first hours after delivery.
Learn about early screening and test options for your pregnancy.
Learn about testing and treatment for GBS bacterium.