Silly question

I didn't understand this word from the midwife discussion: 'episiotomy'. What is is?

Thank you

Thats when durring labor the doctor notices that you are about to tear ( from your V*a*g*i*n*a* to your anus.. SORRY) so he makes a small cut for you becuase if he does it.. it heals ALOT quicker.
When you tear without the cut.. it hurts more afterwards and does not heal as quick.
Most doctors are quick enough to do this for you as the baby starts to come out

Alina, a lot of women do not want to be cut b/c contrary to what Jodi posted, episiotomies do take long to heal b/c the doctor is cutting through many layers of skin. Sometimes, a natural tear may only be on the inside and takes MUCH less time to heal. I had a very, very small natural tear during my son's birth, and it took a couple of weeks to heal. My Mom, on the other hand, had an episiotomy when she delivered my brother, and she couldn't walk for weeks!

One technique that doctors and midwives use to avoid tearing and cutting is called perineal massage. It involves massaging the area of a woman's anatomy (between v-gina and anus) during labor, to help 'stretch' the skin and allow the baby's head to deliver without tearing.

Some doctors may even recommend that a women begin perineal massage with her partner sometime in the second half of her pregnancy, as a way to prepare her body for the start of labor and delivery.

Im with you Erica!! Im feeling a little green after reading this thread!!

Lisa...its like a car accident though...I can't stop looking (reading)

Is this similar to a fistula - I read a book about that.

Wow, Erica ... I'm with you too!

Claud, thank you for clarifying.

I agree with all squeamish girls though, I am so scared of giving birth... I feel as if your whole body ruptures as you do that I need to get over this fear before TTC.

So many different opinions..
All I know for sure is that I opted for one when it looked like I was about to tear and Healed in about 2 weeks which I thought was a standard time.
I feel if you have faith in your doctor then you cant go wrong with what you both feel is in your best interest..
Either way...your home with a sore spot for a couple weeks!

ouch!

My GF and her hubby started the massages and she said it helped.

No matter how many massages and preparation I have this is still one of my many fears, that I might tear so bad. Then there is PPD The things women go thru, all a man does is show up

Cira NO! NOt the same as a fistula...a fistula is an anal absess - NOT The same!!!

I'm no expert on this stuff, but one of my friends tore aallll the way to her butt with her first kid. She much preferred the episiotomy she had with her second!

Oh My GOD! I am starting to think that cesarien is the way to go!

Ladies, I can understand that hearing about and reading about this stuff can make even the strongest person a little, but childbirth is a natural process that a woman's body is built to endure. Although it might be difficult to imagine, the body has an incredible ability to heal and things do 'go back' to the way they were before the baby!

Claud, you go girl ! MOMMY POWER !!

I hate this topic ... so skweemish! I guess this is why you don't know about it unless you know someone who went through it. I remember when I first hear about this .... I was like ....! I just hope its not too bad.

PS ... for those who had the epi & and epidural ... does the dr make the incision while you are still numb or ....

do you feel it happening?!

Does it make me horrible, that I don't even want to try giving birth naturally. I am scared to death and NOT EVEN CLOSE to TTC! I think a C-section is just much easier, I'll deal with the healing factor later...

Does anyone else feel like this?