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!

[bryanarae]

I had an episiotomy with my son, but it was because I was pushing for 2 1/2 hours with him. I didn't get cut too much but I can't blame the dr. 2 1/2 hours of pushing and an 8lb 14oz baby... ouchies. But I healed pretty quick. All the stitches were gone by 6 weeks. I only got 5 stitches. But my dr told me he was doing it, and I was all gung ho! I just wanted the lil sucker outta there!

[cminamyer]

I think that most dr.s let you tear rather than cut.  But in some cases they might think you need to be cut and tell you rather then ask.  The Drs I had let me tear.  I had a second degree, only tore in one spot but she had to stitch that one spot about 20 or so times, just over and over again.  It took me about a good 10 weeks to heal, but like some of these girls that had the episotomy I don't have any problems with it anymore.  One reason I think I tore though was because my nurse's shift was ending and she wanted to be there when I had the baby so she had me start pushing a little early, I think I could have waited another hour or so before I started to push so i had a little more time to streatch out.  Good Luck!

Bottom line, tear if you can.  Get an episotom only if you really need it.

[GRose]

I did want to add that yes, I do still have pain at the sight of my episotomy on occasion.

[GRose]

I was not given the choice, I was pushing for a good two hours and my contractions stopped, Noah's head would not come out. My OB had to cut very deep to get him out. I am glad she did it though, that way it was a clean cut and I didn't tear from hole to hole.

[JoyRenee]

I did not get an episiotomy and it was my personal choice. I only had tiny, little tears. I think the most stitches I got were... 5-7 and that was with my 8 1/2 lb daughter. I've heard, from many doctors as well, that it is better to tear naturally than to be cut.

My SIL had an episiotomy and he cut her sooooo deep that she was in pain for a couple years after her daughter's birth. When she delivered her second child she had to get another episiotomy because of the previous one, but this doctor (a diff. one) was more pleasant and was annoyed by the other doctor's incompetence because he cut her so bad.

My opinion is to not get cut. It's totally YOUR choice unless it is emergent.

[sweetangel7]

Yeah...none of it sounds pleasant...do they decide if they are going to cut or do you decide?