Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

christine1221 Posted: Sep 04, 2003 08:20 AM

Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

Not the best topic, I know

I'm also looking for some good books or sites I can find info on these 'TOUCHY' topics ...

Anything you may have to share is appreciated ....

michele31 Posted: Sep 04, 2003 08:32 AM

Re: Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

I have never healed very well after any type of stitches so I am doing whatever I have to to avoid an episitomy. There are some massage techniques that you can use to stretch the v aginal walls. My midwife very rarely has to use an episitomy or has a tear because of this.
I know some women say that it is the hardest part of healing, others say it wasn't so bad.
But I know my body and I need to try my best to avoid it.

NIHA Posted: Sep 04, 2003 10:18 AM

Re: Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

We did the perineal massage and I had 2 very tiny tears that were stiched up. This was no big deal at all. I say try to avoid the episiotomy if possible. You will be sore to begin with, so I don't know if having one will increase the post partum healing.

mlp924 Posted: Sep 04, 2003 11:16 AM

Re: Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

I had three of them with no problems and my older son was 10 lbs. If it happens, they aren't that bad. You are sore down there anyway and it goes away quickly. I can understand trying to avoid them so good luck!

Claud2001 Posted: Sep 04, 2003 11:59 AM

Re: Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

I think the only reason a woman should EVER have an episiotomy is if the baby is in distress and already too far down in the birth canal to have a c-section. Only in this case will the episiotomy help the doctors get the baby out faster. Edited b/c Kathi is absolutely right - sometimes the baby is just TOO BIG!

Otherwise, I vote against it vehemently. Like Niha said, you are sore enough after giving birth - have an incision only makes healing longer and more painful. I too, used perineal massage to 'stretch' the necessary areas and ease the baby out. I had just one small tear and was fine (aside from the usual soreness) during my recovery.

My mother had episiotomies w/all three of us, and afterward, she could barely walk for days!

Kathi Posted: Sep 04, 2003 12:47 PM

Re: Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

I did the perineal massage, too... (granted, I probably could have been more diligent), however, I had to have an episiotomy (a rather big one at that), b/c my son was simply too big to be delivered w/o it. He was 9 lbs. 5 oz. and after nearly 2 hours of pushing, it was clear that he was stuck and it was either the epi or a c/s and there was NO way I was doing the latter!!
TMI: Quite honestly, when I *felt* my OB cutting I was relieved b/c I knew it was almost over! I was never so exhausted in my entire life!!

It hurt like hell the days after and took almost 3 weeks to heal, but, IMO it beats recovering from a c/s any day!!

christine1221 Posted: Sep 04, 2003 01:31 PM

Re: Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

Thanks girls ...

Claud ... FM!

BriarRose Posted: Sep 04, 2003 01:37 PM

Re: Mom's .... please post your opinion on having (or not having) an episi ...

I had an episotimy, I could not pee sitting down for 9 weeks after my son was born. That's how long it took for my stiches to heal.
I highly recommend looking into alternative methods of strechting.