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!

[amy0013]

I wish you would have had an option for BOTH!  They cut me and I still tore!  :(  I had a 3rd degree tear.  No fun!  30+ stiches (and 7 hemmrhoids to boot!)  I think they will be able to make a determination as your labor progresses.  The nurse had been manually trying to stretch me with her fingers and didn't think I would be "big enough".  That was when they made the decision to cut.  Good luck!  I hope you don't have to worry about EITHER!  :)

[KellyA74]

I'm 38 weeks with my first...so I can't answer the poll!  However...I have a bunch of friends who are nurses in Labor and Delivery and I asked them what they thought.....Basically all of them say that the incision (tear or episiotomy) heals better if you tear.......The way they explained it (and it makes sense to me) is that with a straight cut, there's nothing for the edges to attach themselves to whereas if you tear, it's jagged and there is underlying tissue that the top torn tissue will better adhere to and heal faster (does that make any sense...I can picture it in my mind but it's hard to put into words)....And people have mentioned that an episiotomy is "cleaner" but in reality....nothing down there is sterile when all of that is going on!  

[sweetangel7]

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

[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.

[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.

[GRose]

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

[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.

[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!

[Whitneylauren]

The reason doctors like to cut before you tear is because it is easier to sew you up afterwards. It is a clean cut.... not zig zagged messy edges. My doctor told me that he would not perform the episiotomy unless he had no other choice.
With my son I tore really badly as I had a 45 minutes labor- total. He came out so quickly that my doctor only made it in the room as he was crowning. I had a class 4 tear- I tore upwards through the canal in circles and all the way to my bum. Boy did that hurt! I could feel every bit of his head tearing my skin as he came out.... It took a while to heal.

[ashiepooh]

I didn't tear and didn't need to be cut.  But my doctor had told me to start to kegels around 3 months pregnant.  Makes your muscles down there stronger so you don't need to be cut and don't tear.

[K1990]

For those of you who were cut... next time around would you rather be cut again or would you opt for a c-section?

[GRose]

I did kegels everyday and it wasn't enough, Noah wasn't that big, 7lbs 7 ounces. He just wouldn't come out.

K1990- I don't think I would ever opt for a c-section, only in emergency or if I am pushing for 3 hours. Since my labor lasted so long and my contractions stopped I probably should have had a c-section with Noah but I am glad I didn't. Nothing could beat the amazing feeling I felt when he finally came out after all that work.

[sam75]

ive had both and id prefer to tear, the time i was cut it was painful to have intercourse right up until my next son that i tore with.

[motherofan18month]

i started tearing, but wouldn't tear anymore so doc cut me....omg it's been 2 1/2 years since i was cut and sometimes it still hurts!

[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!

[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!

[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!  

[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

[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.

[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.

[cminamyer]

I tore and I said it took about 10 weeks to heal, that means to completely heal and have sex comfortably it started to feel better after about 1 week to a week and 1/2.  Wheather you tear or have an episiotomy it is way better then having a c section.  Your body is made to have a baby and your tissues heal better and go back to normal better after you give birth vaginaly.  

I have not had a c-section, but I did have a tubal pregnacy that ruptured and they had to cut me open like a c-section, and that pain and scar are FAR worse than a tear or episiotomy.  You feel like **** afterwards are on pain meds that don't make you feel so hot and everything hurts, sitting up, standing up, coughing, sneezing, picking up your baby.  You don't really realize how much you use those lower abdominal muscles.  Plus they didn't even cut through my uterus or streach my scar out as much as they would if a baby was coming out.  It took a whole six weeks to start feeling better from that surgery and it has been 8 months since this surgery and I still get pain around the scar at times.  Also, it is really not pretty to have this huge scar across your lower abdomin.  DH says he doesn't mind it, but it kinda changes the view if you get what I mean.

Now I'm not saying I 100% against a c-section, if it's the best thing for the baby then yes get one, but don't choose to have one.  You heal better after a vaginaly birth wheater you tear or get cut way better then you do from a c-section.

[cminamyer]

Bottom line, your vaginal area is made to streach and if it tears or is cut can heal way better then your stomach muscles which were never ment to be sliced open.  DH told me to put this.

[babyscience]

My Dr was very good and lubed me up with mineral oil, everytime I pushed she would stretch...pretty crazy.  I only tore a little bit, didnt hurt and the stitches didnt hurt either.

[sweetangel7]

Thanks Candice...my husband feels the same way too!  He always tells me that a vagina is made for a baby to come out of and your body is never meant to be sliced open and muscles cut etc.  He is virtually 100% against a c-section UNLESS medically necessary.  It just seems so easy!  Cut and baby is out!  I guess I don't think of all the horrid healing your body has to go through...And jessyboy007 just had a bad c-section experience that kind of scared me too!

We trust and like our doctor a lot, so bottom line is, I guess we'll take his guidance but I wanted to know a little of other people's experiences so I'd know what could or couldn't happen...