Birth Plan
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So I was against it going in to my first birth because I read so much negativity about it. But the attending OB for my first put it this way in the moment - you're going to tear either way, we can make a nice clean incision or you can let it rip open. I went with the episiotomy for both births. I do have bigger babies, 8 lbs and 9.5 lbs so far. I had no problems healing, very little pain postpartum. I think it's more about bodies just being different.
I agree with @Audrey. My birth plan is: "I don't WANT one, but if I need one, you have to explain why to me or my partner."
I personally would not ask for that! I tore with my first and my second I’d rather tear naturally if I’m gonna tear hopefully this time I will not.
@Melissa Moss is there a reason why you prefer a natural tear? The one thing I'm afraid of is if I tear naturally what if that's a really bad tear that could have been prevented with an episiotomy? But I've also seen people get an episiotomy who weren't numb for it and it was horrible pain which is what is making me scared of it too 😅
I personally would absolutely put no episiotomy. Tearing naturally truly is better and heals so much better. With my first I got both I tore and my OB gave me an episiotomy. Healing from the episiotomy was the worst part of my recovery! It took way longer to heal it also caused so much more scar tissue where sex was incredibly painful. I had to go to pelvic floor PT and she was like yeah I can tell exactly where your episiotomy was because of the scar tissue. So this time around I already told the OB under no circumstances will I be getting one. Also unless your baby is really big they tend to get done when they don’t need to. Whenever I watch my birth back I absolutely didn’t need one the OB just wanted the baby out faster. Cause my son popped right out after he made the incision to make more room. So anyways I vote big no lol
I would say no to them because tears heal faster and easier than a cut from a blade.
Here are a couple of good articles from Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. In theory, an episiotomy isn't being recommended any more unless the feels it's needed for a particular reason and the benefit outweighs the risk. The second one notes that the time of recovery is typically the same for both and "It’s important to note that the complications listed above can also occur with a natural tear." In my case, they were prepping for an emergency C-section if my first didn't get out quickly (had some heartrate issues during delivery), so that was probably a consideration as well. I'm not actually sure if I had one with my second, as I was induced and it all went much faster. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/episiotomy/art-20047282 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22904-episiotomy
This is a lot of good information thank you everyone!
@Lyrica being cut is gonna hurt healing and may take longer tearing naturally will heal faster. I always tell them NO! I will also not be cutting her cord until it’s completely white
I don’t have much of a birth plan apart from yes to an epidural but I have said I’d prefer not to have an episiotomy. Tearing is my biggest fear of childbirth so I’m hoping that labouring on my side will help alleviate any serious 3rd or 4th degree tearing.
@Amrita look at perineal massage - leading up to birth and during birth it says in one of the links I shared above
Just wanted to throw out another thought: always good to have a birth plan but never have your heart set on it, things get wonky during delivery!! My only ~birth plan~ with my first was get me an epidural asap and absolutely no c section…. Welp i made it to 5 cm and wound up with a good old c section 🙃 So good to know your plan but also good to be able to deviate from your plan if needed!
I don’t know if the others moms here have children but I had an emergency episiotomy done. It was not in my birth plan, but my son had a shoulder dystocia during labor and they had to cut. Like I said, it was an emergency so one moment I was pushing in the next moment they were taking emergency level measures to try to get my baby out safely. I honestly prefer this over a c-section every single time. Sometimes there’s just no choice. Things happen. I still got my drug free birth and everything else went according to plan. My son wasn’t huge. 8 lbs 1 oz. Just a freak thing that happened. Recovery sucked for the first couple of weeks but stitches dissolved on their own. I got pregnant at three months postpartum with my daughter and had another drug-free natural birth. The episiotomy did not negatively affect my delivery and she was out in three pushes.
I personally put in my birth plan that i dont want it. Sounds terrible. There are many ways to avoid tearing such as birthing on your side , squatting or on your hands and knees. Ive heard birthing laying on your back isn’t that good and really increases your chances of tearing.