Episiotomy
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29101
Printed Date: 27 August 2025 at 6:10am
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Topic: Episiotomy
Posted By: RinTinTin
Subject: Episiotomy
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 4:48pm
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Hi All Not looking for any stories or anything. (Please oh please oh please keep any horror stories to yourself. SOOOOO don't wanna know)
But can someone please confirm or deny for me, is it true that midwives prefer to leave you to tear naturally than to cut you?
See the thing is, I have written in my birthplan that I'd prefer to be cut than to tear naturally if the need arose. But I've got quite a few people telling me that midwives won't cut anymore. True or False? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 4:55pm
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I've heard it's true - the reason being is that the jagged edges heal better than the smooth cut. I think MW's will cut if they have to but prefer to let you tear.
Haven't had it done myself though. -------------  
 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 5:09pm
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I think it depends on the MW...
I had one.. Daniel was stuck (he was posterior) and it was either I push more and tear or she cuts me. Now I have an absolute fear of being cut and she knew this but said it was better to be cut than tear, and tear bigger than what the cut would be. I think I'd opt to be cut again TBH. I've heard too many nasty stories about some awful tearing and tearing right up inside.. bugger that. |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 5:56pm
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My friend was cut , that was three years ago tho, so things may have changed since then ? ------------- 
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 6:31pm
| From what I have been told some of the worst tears are actually from episiotomies tearing further so some midwives won't cut. However some belive cutting is better than tearing so it pays to see what your midwife's viewpoint is. |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 6:41pm
Oliver was only born last Saturday & I was cut (not by my MW but by the hosp registrar). Baby just slid out after that 
From what I've read/heard, some believe that tearing 'naturally' is better rather than cutting. -------------    
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 7:04pm
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Yeah totally depends on your mw. Mine doesn't cut if she can avoid it. Shes only done 2 in her like 15 odd years of practice and she keeps it as shallow as possible. I have a total fear of being cut so I'm really glad! -------------   
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Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 7:24pm
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I had both while Joel (cut and tears) and the cut healed much nicer and quicker than the tears, but then I also had an epidural so didn't "feel" either till much later and neither felt like much fun!! -------------  
 
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Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 8:31pm
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I think it depends on your midwife. Gabrielle got stuck and after 2 hours of pushing (and her starting to go into distress) my midwife cut me. I think she said afterwards that hospital policy is to do it only if there is a good reason for it coz she had to write down the reason for it on her paperwork.
I have a horror story about healing but since you said you don't want to know I'll leave it at that  I think my story is not the norm anyway coz I've heard of people with just as many issues who tore instead of being cut.------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 8:39pm
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I think they only cut if they think that you tearing will cause more damage.
I was cut by the OB/GYN because of having a vontouse delivery, I also had torn on the inside though. Both healed really well though, and I didn't know I had torn and never did the OB until she went to stitch up the cut and found the tear. I also didn't know that she had cut me until she told me after baby was out. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: Caniry
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 8:44pm
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I was cut (18months ago) so not sure if it has changed or not, they did need to get the baby out in a hurry though. Might pay to check with your MW to see what her policy is. Although I can't compare a cut with a tear I would definitely opt for a cut again - made the pushing a lot easier
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Posted By: RinTinTin
Date Posted: 01 October 2009 at 10:06pm
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Ok thanks guys. I asked my MW about an Episiotomy yesterday as I was unsure if she was able to do them at the birth centre. She never mentioned not wanting to do them and told me that yes, she could do them at the birth centre. I will double check with her next time I see her.
Personally, I would much rather be cut than left to tear. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: JessDub
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 11:08am
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AmStaff, perhaps you should call your MW to get peace of mind before the next appointment as it sounds like an important issue to you. She wouldn't mind I am sure. (I think we had the same one - CH?)
I had a ventouse delivery which didn't require cutting or tearing externally. I had MW and OB down there and trusted them implicitly.... they were clearly doing what was going to be best for me and baby. (I did tear internally however, early on in the pushing, which required stitches. Nothing that anyone could have prepared for.) ------------- 
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Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 3:48pm
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I think it's to do with ho deep the cut is - the episiotomy is deeper so a cut will heal better and more evenly as it will be stitched. But if its superficial, then a tear will heal better than a cut.
I had the cut and also tore - both healed really well within a couple of weeks. But I had an OB, so he did the cutting and the stitching ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 4:03pm
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My understanding was that a tear is more likely to heal quicker and be 'shallower' ( only on the skin) . A cut is more likely to cut into muscle tissue - hence the longer healing time and resisitance to cut unless needed (i.e they know you're going to tear, and tear quite badly). But why focus on the negative....it's not like *you'll* need one... ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: _Deb_
Date Posted: 02 October 2009 at 4:14pm
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Yep I've also heard that tears heal much better than a cut. I tore twice (internal and external) and didn't even know i had. Both healed really well too. But i think it would freak me out if they were going to cut me. I'd MUCH prefer to tear naturally. ------------- 
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