To cut or tear...that is the question...

[sweetangel7]

For those of you ladies who have given birth...did you take the cut (episiotomy) or not...did you tear?  Did you make the decision or does the doctor make the decision for you?  At what point is the decision made?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

[NicMom]

Take the cut!!! WIth my son I didn't want them to cut so I tore. Woah big mistake. I gave birth to charlie brown! His head was huge. I had to have surgery after to repair the damage. I had 3 4th degree tears. Next time I plan to cut away.

[leighanne143]

i am pregnant with my first right now and i am cringing as i read this.  i am so scared now.  please someone reassure me that the healing process is quick or something to calm me down.

[jdamico]

well me personally  i have doneboth i had episiotomy with my daughter and it hurt  for a  good  ten weeks with my son  i  ended up tearing down the  original  scar line and then more some i ended  up with about 56 stiches altogether the  doc  told me when  she was  done sewingthings up  granted it didnt hurt as  bad due tot he  fact by lucki tore down  scar tissue   but  the  rest of the tear  hurt to the heavens either way i think it is uncomfortable either  way cause man that is  place stitches  dont need to be :)
but either way  i think  at the  time the the doctor will make the  right  choice  at the  time when needed and  also  respect ur decisions if  the have the chance to

[ashiepooh]

Sweetangel7- .

I will tell you a good story about the episiotomy.  My friend had one, and is healed within 2 weeks, and she hasn't had pain from it what so ever.  Didn't even have pain when she got home.  It was just uncomfortable for a few days, and when she went pee it stung a bit, and when she had a bm is hurt a little, but they give you stool softeners for after baby.

Of course I have heard people say they would rather be torn, because most of the time you don't feel it.  

I think if you tell your doctor how you feel about it, and then tell him what you feel about the c-section he'll accomedate you to make you happy and make you feel comfortable!  

[sweetangel7]

I have felt the same way about a c-section my entire life...I've had doctors who thought they were fine electively and I have had doctors who think it is a major surgery and a last resort.  DH is strongly against c-section and so isn't my new ob (unless it is needed) I have always been afraid of labor even before we started ttc!

[Lissyloo]

omg :( i wish i didnt see this board i have watery eyes and now i am more scared about labour then i was before lol i hope i dont tear :( id rather a c section!