In labour, they inject your vagina with some type of numbing agent, then they may cut you so baby's head can come out.

Please give honest answers

My birth was unmedicated so I did not even feel the cut… I was in too much pain. They did not use any numbing agent though. They used one to stitch me up but I felt the needle just a little bit. (7/10)

That sounds like an episiotomy. It doesn't always need to happen - loads of other options! Remember you can ask for something else.

Never heard of a numbing agent but they also never cut me.

Local anaesthetic probably? Then the cut shouldn’t hurt at all as it should be numb

Episiotomy should be last resort. They’re no longer standard practice. I tore naturally and it was fine

They gave me a spinal block when I had an episiotomy (forceps delivery) so I couldn’t feel anything. It was very sore for the first few weeks afterwards. I was given a lidocaine injection after I had a tear the second time around, I could feel them doing the stitches, the needle going in was the worst bit. I’d avoid an episiotomy if possible, it’s not usually necessary unless you’re having an instrumental delivery.

I’ve never had this happen after 2 vaginal deliveries ?

I was in labour, they gave me the local anaesthetic (numbing agent), then went to cut me but my body language (closing one leg, facial expression) told them no so midwife didn't do it. I was never given the impression that I should consent to it. They didn't talk me through what was happening, just started to do things and I just happened to be aware enough to respond with body language

I had an epidural so when they said they needed to do the episiotomy I couldn’t feel it 😅 Super glad I did because I then had to have my placenta manually removed too 🤦🏼‍♀️

Not everybody has an episiotomy x

You can opt out of this in your birth plan. I requested to "tear naturally". I think generally they do it if you're going to tear to make it easier at least at the hospital we delivered at. Your midwife should have mentioned it to you as a possibility beforehand so you could make the decision then, I'm sorry they didn't.

Where did you give birth? This sounds like the kind of thing they would have done 40 years ago in the UK, I’m pretty sure they’d ask for consent first now!

I had an unmedicated birth, I didn't tear , didn't have an episiotomy neither. My hospital policy was to first allow you to tear naturally anyway, it's better recovery. A cut shouldn't be standard

They didn't use a numbing agent, but compared to the excruciating pain of labour a little cut was nothing.

The shot was more painful than the cut for me. Though in these days they like to let you rip so they don't cut too far. I wasn't given an option with my oldest they just numbed then cut without even telling me anything.

I didn’t get cut but I did tear and it was sore but nothing major, I was numbed when stitched up but don’t really remember any of it as I was focused on my baby and relief from labour being over

I went into labour early than expected so there was no birthing plan. I was at Coventry hospital

I was cut and didn’t have any numbing ad it was a emergency. I felt the blade cold on me and as they cut I pushed and baby come flying out. Was too late to go for c section if baby didn’t come out then we would of been in a whole different situation. I don’t remember any pain (as I was in so much pain anyway in Labour) but I felt everything.

At that point, you won’t care about the pain of being cut…believe me.

Based on what you described, they should ALWAYS ask for your consent before doing anything! It’s actually better if you tear naturally than to get an episiotomy. This sounds like a lawsuit to me 😂

I honestly didn’t feel the cut my mind was elsewhere

This sounds very strange - Episiotomy is usually done only in an emergency situation. They wouldn’t take the time to numb effectively, so probably pain level 6-10 for most women. But if baby’s head is stuck and the doctor is shoving their hand up to try to get baby out, the episiotomy pain would likely be minor compared to that.

I had an episiotomy (a cut) didn’t feel a thing. The only slightly uncomfortable part was being stitched back up

I had an episiotomy and had to sign like 3 pieces of paperwork to consent to it. I had an epidural, so I could t feel anything anyway, but it didn't hurt too much once everything wore off.

I had emergency forceps and episiotomy without any pain relief (there was no time, so I was told by the NHS review board when we complained after his birth). I barely noticed the episiotomy amid the pain of contractions, but the forceps without pain relief was the worst agony I’ve ever felt in my life. I was very traumatised by the forceps and woke up with a jump, sometimes screaming, every time I tried to fall asleep for the first few weeks after birth 😢 I was very sore for a couple of weeks after, needed help in and out of the shower etc. I will say that the stitches healed well and I can barely see my scar now at 8 months pp.

I don't think the UK usually does any anaesthetic. Unless you have a super easy labour you're not going to care much about a cut they make, as it's not really noticable compared to the contractions and your focus on pushing. I didn't feel it and had 10 stitches. And a slight tear the second baby, again didn't feel it. They give anaesthetic for sewing up.

This is what i had exactly, almost 24 hours of labour and slowing contractions. I didn't feel the cut because the area had been numbed. I also didn't feel the stitches for the same reason. But, I consented to that because they explained what was needed and what was going to happen before they did it I'm also UK but in Hertfordshire

I had an epidural so when they said I needed an episiotomy, I was already numb from the waist down. They had explained to me that baby’s head was stuck in my vaginal canal so they needed to make extra space for her head to come out. Her heart rate was going up so they wanted to do that so that she wouldn’t become distressed. Once I had been cut I had a ventouse delivery, one suck and she was out. The stitches were painful when healing and I had to sit on lots of cushions for the first week or two and take painkillers, but they healed well and I don’t have any issues with it post birth.

UK based too. If you’re talking about an episiotomy which is believe you are, yes they used a local anaesthetic to make sure it didn’t cause any further pain, so no it didn’t hurt. And was stitched up right after and far less painful than a tear. I was asked for consent which I gave as I knew it would help the final stage (heartbeat dropping a bit) and had already psyched myself up for the possibility.

I had a cut as baby needed to come out asap, (cord around neck and shoulder stuck), the doctor still asked for consent first but I literally shouted at her to just get the baby out whatever way at that point 😂 I didn’t feel anything

I had episiotomy honestly I didn’t even feel it, I was so set on just getting the baby out I didn’t care, I honestly didn’t feel a thing for the injection or cut although I could hear them cutting,

Honestly, 0/10. I had an unmedicated birth except for the local anesthetic when they cut me, and then I think they injected me with something to get the placenta out after. I remember feeling a little scratch when they stitched me back up but other than that no pain

@Claudia you must have been an angel in your past life or Arnold Schwanegger is your dad!

Both pregnancies was vaginal deliveries and unmedicated. First pregnancy, I was induced. I had a minor tear, couple stitches. I didn’t feel the tear but felt my doctor stitching me up though. It hurt.. 🥲 Second pregnancy, no tear or stitches.

i did not have an episiotomy but i did tear, and they gave me injections before stitching it up. honestly that was the worst part of my whole labor. it felt like fire in my vagina, literally worse than the ring of fire when pushing

The idea of an episiotomy is horrifying to me. I had both my kids years before I ever even heard of the word. I decided long ago that I would categorically refuse an episiotomy unless it was the only option to save baby's life.

I had an episiotomy twice, both for forceps. They first time, they just cut me, and I was in so much pain with labour i didn't feel it. The second time, I was given a spinal block. I was very sore for a few weeks afterwards and could not sit comfortably at all.

Hahaha the birth was painful, I just mean in the big picture I didn't even know I'd been cut or torn cause I didn't feel it. I get the impression maybe you are preparing for labour? There's a peroneal massage that I never did that I wish I did that is supposed to prevent tearing, and water births supposedly prevent tearing too

@Claudia I did the water birth and the massages and still tore despite a relatively small baby … I feel like it’s just luck

I had this and I didn’t feel the cut at all because of the pain relief I was on.

@Marième yeah it could be! If I was pregnant again though I would 100% do the massages as it makes sense to try to reduce the risk. I couldn't have a water birth with my daughter as she had pooed

U dnt even feel them cut you, and the cut heals faster than a natural tear does

Had an episiotomy as vontouse. Couldn't tell you if I had a local anaesthetic. Didn't feel the cut but I was I only on gas and air so think it all merged into a blur... felt bring stitched back up though!

I had an epidural that worked well for me so I didnt feel any of it until after when it was healing. Mine was done because baby was in distress so it was kind of a must.

Episiotomies aren’t standard and should be used only in rare situations. They’re much more likely to happen if you don’t stay active during labour.

You can say no. It’s not necessary, and in some cases, it’s actually better to tear naturally. More so, it depends on positioning. If you are lying on your back in a position that is convenient the doctor, yes, much higher chance you’ll tear. Squaring, hands and knees, water birth, can all help. Also, perineal massage!

@Famz this isn’t necessarily true.

@Tatia sorry you’re right, everyones experience is different, I should’ve mentioned it was my experience, my sister’s episiotomy took a very very long time to heal and also got infected