How do you avoid an episiotomy?!

Question

My last birth ended with an episiotomy :( it was at a birth center but it was def necessary. Any tips of prepping my body so it doesn’t happen again?! The recovery was so awful 😞😭

Answer

Episiotomy is never necessary. Your body will open up and stretch and was designed to give birth. You just need to not push once the head is crowing and allow time to stretch. Also your spincters are trained to open up but you have to believe it will. Keep saying you will open up big out loud to yourself and breathe deeply and allow it to happen. 
Some women push out 13lb babies with no tearing. It's all in the mind and it being connected with your body. 
Also different positions help. A lot of midwives like the pushing on all fours (hands and knees) because you open up more that way too.

Answer

Let your body adjust to babies head size, so don’t just keep pushing and pushing and pushing instead push, breathe and adjust, push again. Smaller pushes help. 
During pregnancy you can do perineal massages and they are said to help prevent tearing.

Answer

For one, have it in your birth plan and make sure your support team knows NO EPISIOTOMY! 
I didn’t tear with my first at all. I pushed with my body, never forced. I didn’t feel contractions, just the pushing sensation. Small little bursts of a reflex and I never fought it. I pushed for an hour and it worked out really well. 
I also gave myself perineal massages in the bath in the last trimester and my midwife used olive oil to coat baby’s head as it came out (slowly) and supported my perineum with an olive oil soaked rag when I pushed my son’s head out all the way. 
I’ll be in a hospital this time and I’m bringing olive oil and a rag so my mom and/or doula can support my perineum while I push. 👍
If I tear, I tear. If anyone sees scissors I expect someone to tell them to back off. Although I don’t plan on anyone catching my baby but me!

Answer

I've heard "have a lot of sex before baby"! Semen helps soften cervix and penetration helps stretch!

Answer

I read a lot of Ina May Gaskin books before I had my two boys. With my second son, I gave birth naturally at a birth center and had a very minimal tear. I remember reading to keep your face relaxed and your mouth relaxed (loose) and to breath deeply, that this will automatically relax your entire body. I tend to tense my whole body when in pain. But found the relaxing my face and mouth allowed for easier pushing and such a minimal tear that I’d didn’t even realize I had and didn’t need stitches.

Answer

Episiotimies are pretty much obsolete. It takes longer to heal than letting your body naturally tear at the weak spots, if it needs to. Lay down the law with your provider, say you want your body to tear where it needs to IF it needs to. Also if you can get them to consent to NO touching or massaging of your perineum.
Think about what you would do if you were taking a poop and someone touched your butthole or vagina, you'd tense up, and while pushing out a person, being stretched to the limit, tensing up can cause your body to rip.
Do lots of research and bring it to your doctor! Remember that you may be the patient, but without you, your doctor wouldn't be getting paid, and in that sense, they work for you. You're the boss.

Answer

I didn't need one and didn't tear either. I almost needed one because they thought they would need to use the vacuum as I had been pushing for over an hour and I was extremely exhausted because I was in labor for three days, but I got him out on my own.

Answer

I had an episiotomy because the babies heart beat was dropping to much and they needed out ... 
I would much rather have just torn myself but I don’t think that would have happened 🙈 
I think the slower the pushing stage, the less likely need one ... I had to get her out but I would state you don’t want one unless baby is in distress!

Answer

My midwife says that second time mamas very rarely need one. I had one with my first also but I’m hoping to birth at home this time in water so that would significantly cut down the risk of having one.

Answer

I had one with my first but didn’t with my last 3. I didn’t even need stitches with my last 3. so you probably won’t need one.

How do you avoid an episiotomy?!

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