To tear or to be cut?

[jellybean]

Just wondering what the best is as I have heard such contradictions on both, some people say it is much better to tear naturally as healing is better, but them some say to be cut is better as it is easier to stitch?

 

[Rosie's Mummy]

From what I understand there has to be a definitive reason for an episiotomy these days so you would only have one if there was a problem or needed a forceps delivery. I would say that a natural tear would be quicker to heal as a cut would be through deeper tissue I presume

 

[kiki]

I would take a cut over a tear, I had both with my son. And the cut healed nice and smooth and you can't really tell anything whas there where as the tear is all uneaven and doesn't have "smooth" edges. Sorry, I can't really explain it very well.

 

[Laura_C]

I suffer from a condition called Lichen Sclerosus and I am trying to consider whether to risk a natural delivery - and this is a concern of mine with regards to tearing or being cut. This condition causes my skin down there to be very fragile an it tears easily, at it's worst it can just tear by touch!! My consultant has recommended an elective section as I have already had a repair op which was very effective and I don't really want to have yet another op after a natural delivery. I am wondering if they cut me in a controlled way whether that would aid a natural delivery with less chance of me tearing severely? Sorry to hijack your thread but this it too a big consideration as to whether I should risk a natural delivery!! Early days yet, i have plenty of time to go through all the options just interested to hear what people think...

 

[Terrie]

i had a cut the first time and a tear the next.. i had stitches with both, although the stitch for the tear was for 'cosmetic reasons' as the midwife put it lmaooo!!

 

[becks20]

I had a 2nd degree tear with my daughter and tbh i didnt even know id torn till she said iv got stitches to do. So if she would have said "iv got to cut you" i would have paniced myself so i think id rather tear then be cut tbh x

 

[inky]

neither!! At a push, I think I would rather have a cut, it's more controlled and (so I imagine anyway) easier to put right again! tbh the thought of either makes me feel really queasy - does anyone know how often tears / cuts actually are?

 

[kay126]

im not scared about labour or pain at all, except when i think of the possibility of being cut it just goes through me!!

 

[titch]

The thought of being cut makes me totally cringe, I saw it on youtube when I googled episiotomy in my innocent days where I didnt know about any of this stuff.

The way I look at it, if Im cut, Ive guaranteed injury whereas, there is a chance that I wont tear, Ill take that chance!! Also if Ive already been cut, could you also tear a bit beyond that cos youve weakened the area?

 

[matilda]

i had a second degree tear and didnt realise it had happened! got one stitch that has healed now. OH says he wouldnt have noticed it if it wasnt pointed out and all i can feel is the tiniest little bump. tearing is just a natural part of it so it would prob heal better than being cut i would think

 

[isobel84]

tearing sounds more scary!! thats the only thing that scares me about labour..

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

I had 3rddegree tears with both if mine! I honestly didn't know I'd torn til they examined me! I remember after #1 thinking there's not too much blood i mustn't have torn the thought of an episiotomy scares the shit outa me! I've heard tears heal easier cos they're more natural iykwim?

 

[isobel84]

do you have the option? they wouldnt cut you if they didnt really had to?

 

[jellybean]

LauraC it is a difficult one as there are so many mixed opinions, somebody did once tell me though that if you had a piece of material that ripped, depending on how it ripped, ie if it ripped perfectly or all jagged, then that would make stitching it back together quite tricky as opposed to a perfect cut? I am still rather confused to the whole thing really as I can see both sides!

 

[titch]

but then again, if you take a piece of material and pull, its unlikely to tear unless youre really strong. But if you cut a small bit of it and pull at the same strength you could probably tear it in 2!!!

Its standard practice to give every woman an episiotomy in some parts of the world. Mind you they are the places where a woman is expected to lie on her back and everyone focuses on her floo and noone bothers to talk to her head end!

 

[Tasha89]

I've heard tears are meant to heal quicker too. I'd rather avoid both but i'd only have an episiotomy if I REALLY had to! x

 

[isobel84]

whats a episiotomy?

 

[titch]

its where they cut your vagina open with scissors to make it bigger. Not common practice anymore cos your vagina is designed to stretch but its used if they need to use forceps or if baby is stuck for some reason.

 

[kiki]

To be honest if it comes to the point that you need the cut you will probably want it anyway. I had been in labour for over 24 hours and pushing for 1h 40min and was told that I needed to have ventouse delivery. So they did the cut before they where going to start that and with that I managed to push my son out on my own. So I was very pleased and at that point a cut seemed like no big deal.

 

[titch]

^^ yeah exactly, if youre in a situation where you need it, you'll know about it. I just worry about being given it too soon without having a chance to get on with it myself.