First birth had episiotomy, subsequent births is it better to tear or another epi??

**MumDadBoyandGirl** · 27-02-2012 16:12

I've been doing alot of research of episiotomy, I was just wondering with subsequent births is it better to tear or have another episiotomy??

Ive been going through alot of research and from my understanding because I had the epi for my first birth I am at risk of having a third or fouth degree tear for subsequent births because of this.

**MyPossum** · 27-02-2012 16:20

I haven't researched but my ob told me that me having had an episiotomy during my first birth, doesn't mean I am more likely to either tear or have another episiotomy.. Maybe I'm just naive and like to believe him if you've found otherwise?

**J,K&L'sMum** · 27-02-2012 16:21

First (6lbs)I had an episi and tore (third degree), second and third (both 9Ibs) no episi and didn't tear with either of them.Guess I was lucky?

**Lil Bugs Mummy** · 27-02-2012 16:24

My first birth i had epi DD1 was 9poundone, dd2 didn't have a epi and had a 2nd degree tear which i let heal naturally and she was 10poundOne

**cindye** · 27-02-2012 16:24

My OB told me its better to tear than have an episiotomy.
I had an episiotomy (ventouse) for my first birth, 2nd degree tear for my 2nd and 1st degree tear with my 3rd.

**sweetseven** · 27-02-2012 16:26

I did not tear for my first.

I had an episiotomy with my second (breech).

The next five I did not tear with either.

I did have minor grazing with some (most?) of them, but no tearing.

**Hollywood** · 27-02-2012 16:30

DS (#1) was 4.4kg and I had an episiotomy/ventouse for his birth. With DD (4.2kg) I was more active and gave birth standing up (squatted right at the end) and only got a second degree tear, despite her birth being very fast.

**MumDadBoyandGirl** · 27-02-2012 16:31

Just a portion of the article..

"Women who have an episiotomy tend to lose more blood at the time of delivery, have more pain during recovery, and have to wait longer before they have sex without discomfort. An episiotomy also increases the risk of infection, and a recent study showed that getting an episiotomy for a first vaginal birth is linked to an increased risk of tearing in the next birth." Babycenter

**trishalishous** · 27-02-2012 16:34

im hoping to neither tear or episi this time

(after an emergency episi and ventouse with DD)

**MyPossum** · 27-02-2012 16:48

Originally Posted by MumDadBoyandGirl

Just a portion of the article..

"Women who have an episiotomy tend to lose more blood at the time of delivery, have more pain during recovery, and have to wait longer before they have sex without discomfort. An episiotomy also increases the risk of infection, and a recent study showed that getting an episiotomy for a first vaginal birth is linked to an increased risk of tearing in the next birth." Babycenter

I'd be interested to know who wrote the article?