Getting ahead of myself but...

mcsmyth1 · Feb 19th, 2012, 08:16 AM

I know there's still a long way off before any of us have to think about labour...but have many of you ladies thought about the aspect of tearing vs episiotomy?

When I first found out about the chance of tearing during labour, I admit, I was petrified, and there and then thought I would opt for the cut instead of tearing naturally...

But as time goes by and the more I read about women's own experiences, tearing isn't always as petrifying and painful as I thought.

Most women who have both tore naturally and had the cut say they preferred (for lack of a better word) tearing natually as they healed quicker and didn't even notice the tear as they were more focused on actually giving birth.

It would be interesting to read other's thoughts on the matter... for those of you who have thought about this, what do you think you will end up doing?

alliebabyfeve · Feb 19th, 2012, 08:18 AM

I still don't know how I feel about this at all. Thanks for making this thread. It'll be nice to see others thoughts.

TTCnum2 · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:01 AM

didn't want to read and run, but, tear.

bubbles777 · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:07 AM

I didnt know about it until someone told me I might end up with a 'bumgina'. That freaked me out a bit. There is always the perinneal massage (i think thats right) someone posted a thread about it before with a link to the literature and a lovely picture of what looked like a crude drawing of a half avacado with a beard. boke.. anyway i think this makes you more supple down there. might be worth a look in? X

LisaL79 · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:10 AM

If I'm able to give birth vaginally.. I hope to tear naturally (so long as it's not an extremely bad one lol). I plan on being numb from the waist down though so really, either one happening would be ok. It's just the thought of a doc cutting me down there that kinda freaks me out. If it happens though then *shrugs* So long as I have a healthy baby in my arms I don't really care too much

themaybaby · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:12 AM

I remember posting something about this when I was in the first semester.. I am also petrified, I mean who wants their junk to tear? that just sounds horrible!! I looked up some ways to prevent it, though, and will be practicing things such as perineal massages before birth, maybe the last 2 weeks or so, and I also do my kegels, that's supposed to help as well! I guess I'd rather be cut, though.

themaybaby · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:13 AM

http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/episio...erimassage.htm

lianne82 · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:28 AM

OMG, I did not know we had to chose?! I thought it jut sort of happened and if not the dr would say we need to cut? I don't really like the thought of either but I think I'd prefer the cut than tear

mcsmyth1 · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:36 AM

thanks for all the replies! hopefully more people share their thoughts as its seems pretty evenly split at the moment...

ive read up on the perineal massage and although it doesnt seem to make a HUGE difference... on a sample of people, 25% tore who didnt do the massages compared to a lower 15% who did, so it seems to work for a few anyway.

im not sure if its a must to choose to tear naturally or not, i guess i kinda just thought that ya had to lol...

i would imagine you would have to get someone to do the massages for you considering you start them around 34 weeks so bump would definitely make things difficult to get at lol

i would feel comfortable letting OH do them for me but i dont imagine everyone feels the same.

at the moment, i think i would prefer to tear naturally and not be cut, so i will be keeping an open mind about techniques to use to prevent needing cut at least

Indigo77 · Feb 19th, 2012, 09:46 AM

OMG.....I don't even want to think about it....

Feb 19th, 2012, 08:16 AM	#1
mcsmyth1 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 672	Getting ahead of myself but... I know there's still a long way off before any of us have to think about labour...but have many of you ladies thought about the aspect of tearing vs episiotomy? When I first found out about the chance of tearing during labour, I admit, I was petrified, and there and then thought I would opt for the cut instead of tearing naturally... But as time goes by and the more I read about women's own experiences, tearing isn't always as petrifying and painful as I thought. Most women who have both tore naturally and had the cut say they preferred (for lack of a better word) tearing natually as they healed quicker and didn't even notice the tear as they were more focused on actually giving birth. It would be interesting to read other's thoughts on the matter... for those of you who have thought about this, what do you think you will end up doing?

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Feb 19th, 2012, 08:18 AM	#2
alliebabyfeve Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 957	I still don't know how I feel about this at all. Thanks for making this thread. It'll be nice to see others thoughts.

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Feb 19th, 2012, 09:01 AM	#3
TTCnum2 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: USA Posts: 496	didn't want to read and run, but, tear.

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Feb 19th, 2012, 09:07 AM	#4
bubbles777 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Glasgow Posts: 531	I didnt know about it until someone told me I might end up with a 'bumgina'. That freaked me out a bit. There is always the perinneal massage (i think thats right) someone posted a thread about it before with a link to the literature and a lovely picture of what looked like a crude drawing of a half avacado with a beard. boke.. anyway i think this makes you more supple down there. might be worth a look in? X

Status: Offline

Feb 19th, 2012, 09:10 AM	#5
LisaL79 Trying to conceive (TTC) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,316	If I'm able to give birth vaginally.. I hope to tear naturally (so long as it's not an extremely bad one lol). I plan on being numb from the waist down though so really, either one happening would be ok. It's just the thought of a doc cutting me down there that kinda freaks me out. If it happens though then shrugs So long as I have a healthy baby in my arms I don't really care too much

Status: Offline

Feb 19th, 2012, 09:12 AM	#6
themaybaby Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 495	I remember posting something about this when I was in the first semester.. I am also petrified, I mean who wants their junk to tear? that just sounds horrible!! I looked up some ways to prevent it, though, and will be practicing things such as perineal massages before birth, maybe the last 2 weeks or so, and I also do my kegels, that's supposed to help as well! I guess I'd rather be cut, though.

Status: Offline

Feb 19th, 2012, 09:13 AM	#7
themaybaby Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 495	http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/episio...erimassage.htm

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Feb 19th, 2012, 09:28 AM	#8
lianne82 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,308	OMG, I did not know we had to chose?! I thought it jut sort of happened and if not the dr would say we need to cut? I don't really like the thought of either but I think I'd prefer the cut than tear

Status: Offline

Feb 19th, 2012, 09:36 AM	#9
mcsmyth1 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 672	thanks for all the replies! hopefully more people share their thoughts as its seems pretty evenly split at the moment... ive read up on the perineal massage and although it doesnt seem to make a HUGE difference... on a sample of people, 25% tore who didnt do the massages compared to a lower 15% who did, so it seems to work for a few anyway. im not sure if its a must to choose to tear naturally or not, i guess i kinda just thought that ya had to lol... i would imagine you would have to get someone to do the massages for you considering you start them around 34 weeks so bump would definitely make things difficult to get at lol i would feel comfortable letting OH do them for me but i dont imagine everyone feels the same. at the moment, i think i would prefer to tear naturally and not be cut, so i will be keeping an open mind about techniques to use to prevent needing cut at least

Status: Offline

Feb 19th, 2012, 09:46 AM	#10
Indigo77 Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 15,822	OMG.....I don't even want to think about it....

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