local anaesthetic for episiotomy

[Pippa1703]

Can you not request this anyway, episiotomy or not?? Surely numbing the area would make the process easier to bare for any woman whether she needs to be cut or not?

 

[SpinSugar]

I was prepped for a cut but they didn't do it in the end. I remember thinking that crowning was no way near as painful as o expected and I was suprised to learn I had a 2nd degree tear as I didn't feel a thing! I put that down to the local anaesthetic I'd had half hour previously!

But I doubt they will just numb it without clinical need!

 

[Pippa1703]

I think that it's barbaric! If there's every chance of a woman tearing, which there is with all vaginal births from what I figure, then surely that IS a clinical need? I'll be sure to bring it up when I next see midwife. If women can choose to have epidurals and sections then I sure as shit should be able to choose a local in case of tearing.

 

[knopk@]

I had an episiotomy and a local. Not sure they can do it for tearing as there is no way of knowing where it will tear? I dont think they will be giving you 10 doses of local just in case.
G&A does numb the pain but you honestly do forget the pain.

Tapatalking so cant see signatures

 

[J_Anne]

I had an episiotomy with a local anaesthetic and I honestly think it did bugger all. I think it was all to much of a rush, they did the injection and it felt like immediately after that they cut me so i dont know if it had time to work. I'm not going to lie, it hurt like a bitch. I think it was a combination of the episiotomy, tearing and her head coming out. I then had 2 further shots for the stitches and I still needed the g & a because I could feel her stitching up, not nice. I kept shouting to her "why are you stitching my leg?! Did you cut my leg?!"

In the grand scheme of things, if you tear, it's such a tiny part of the whole process, so if you've got that far you'll be fine!!

 

[Linzie2012]

I think that it's barbaric! If there's every chance of a woman tearing, which there is with all vaginal births from what I figure, then surely that IS a clinical need? I'll be sure to bring it up when I next see midwife. If women can choose to have epidurals and sections then I sure as shit should be able to choose a local in case of tearing.

Agreed ! Was thinking the same ...

 

[Tigger87]

I had a local in anticipation of an episiotomy I didn't have. Without the local, I probably wouldn't have torn as badly (2nd degree tear that was very close to going right through). The extra room taken up by the injection makes you more likely to tear than without having it.

 

[ChloeNat]

I had an episiotomy without any local because there wasn't time and baby's heartbeat was dropping too low. More painful than the actual birth if you ask me

 

[Loula]

I had no local for my episiotomy and ive never felt pain like itq.
I even tried to escape out the stirups. Gas and air is fab though x
I dnt agree using local willy nilly as it only lasts a couple hours x

 

[BunnyN]

I don't know about the answer to your question, I see your point about why not if you can have an epidural but I suspect there are reasons that it's better not to like that it causes swelling? Although tearing is common most tears are very minor so try not to be too scared by the horror stories. If you had a worse tear a local might not do much for it anyway because locals only numb a small area. . I had a tear that required 4 stitches. The stretching sensation was very intense during crowning but no where near as painful as the contractions and i wasn't aware that I had torn untill after. I had a local for the stitches. Crowning is usually a pretty short time in the process of the labour and birth and by that time you are so concentrated on pushing it's unlikely you will be too worried about tearing, even if it happens. One thing that kind of surpized me is how much I liked being able to feel what is going on, feelinf the head then shoulders being born was amazing.

 

[titch]

You are more likely to tear if you can feel what you are doing. You nees to try and take the crowning stage slowly to allow it to stretch and reduce the risk of tearing. If you cant feel it, how would you kniw

 

[Pippa1703]

If you cant feel it then surely you'd have to listen to the midwives? That's what they're there for!

 

[BunnyN]

Even the best MW can only make an educated guess they can't feel what your body feels. Which is part of the reason womem who get epidurals are more likely to tear.

 

[titch]

Honestly the midwife is not an expert in your body and what you're feeling. A lot of their assessment of the situation is by asking you how you feel.

A lot of people I know who did tear didn't actually feel it at the time. The baby is moving down your entire pelvis and yoyr contractions are strong you wont be specifically focused on it at the time I don't think. I think this is why they use an epidural if ladies want to be anesthetised, because you don't feel the contractions or anything.

I do know that a lot midwives wont top up your epidural when you're ready to push as you really need to be able to feel what you're doing. You are the one doing the work to deliver your baby, the midwives are there to support and advise you but unless something is going wrong with your health or the babies its all up to you. Us women are totally amazing, you will feel like super woman after you've created a life and brought it into the world. Try not to spend huge amounts of time worrying about things like tears

 

[kirsty27]

I had a local and then no episiotomy as I clocked them prepping the table of forceps, gave an almighty push and he came flying out lol. Second degree tear for me! Didn't feel it at the time. I would describe crowning like when you try to fit your fist in your mouth - similar sensation but a bit more intense. To be honest the relief of pressure when it happens makes the pain almost welcome. Tearing can be better than episiotomy as your body tears where it would naturally x

 

[twinkle90]

I was prepped for a section and was numbed, but because i was 10cm by the time i got to theatre they wanted me to do it natural. Make sure they talk you through what they are doing down their. Because it was numb i didnt feel the tear or the stitches they put in. I didnt know what they were doing lol. Xxx

 

[Tara123]

I had no local, was cut twice and then tore :/ to be honest I cant quite remember the pain as it was on a contraction. Couldn't have been that bad to want to have another baby so soon though xx

 

[Babygiz]

I had local with episiotomy and to be honest the stitching up afterwards was worse thatn childbirth via forceps.