just coming here to say that i pushed for 6 hours denied the episiotomy until i had no energy left, once the doctor completed it my almost 10lb baby girl came out in two pushes with no extra tearing and recovery was a breeze. women need to do what is right for them, don’t feel bad if you do or do not get one!
Agree. I pushed for an hour and my baby’s heart rate dropped and wouldn’t come back up. While they were prepping the OR for an urgent c-section, the doc gave me an episiotomy and I pushed baby out in 1 push. And I know everyone had a different recovery, but my second degree episiotomy healed faster and with less pain than my first degree natural tear I got during my first delivery.
@@haley2542Hi i’m not sure what the point of your comment is? your comment is the exact point i was making- women should do what is right for them and it feel guilty for either choice, which it seems like you are trying to make me feel here. You won’t bully or make me feel guilty for doing what was right for me at the time. your sister is a rockstar and i hope she had the birth she wanted!
This makes me sad because I got one and I knew it wasn’t right but was so vulnerable at the time. However, there is a silver lining! I did use your techniques for my second baby and pushed him out in 90 seconds with no tearing and it was the most incredible experience ❤ I recommend you to everyone!
Thank you for sharing this! They also quickly cut me with my first and I’ve been scared to is was my fate for all births in the future. I’m glad there’s a chance for a better birth next time! ❤
@@AprilT72 I wish they asked me! They just cut me with no guidance. I only knew what happened after I screamed from the cut. Had months of PT to help me recover.
I wish I would have had a doula and had my wishes written down for this exact reason. When I was ready to deliver a different doctor that I didn’t know, came in to deliver me. There was no medical reason to get my child out fast. She let me push for 20 minutes before deciding that I was pushing perfect but the size of his head was too big for me. It was my first baby, at that point in pregnancy, I wasn’t in my right mind exactly. She said that I needed to do an episiotomy to get him out. She did this to prevent a fourth-degree tear. The push after the episiotomy is when my 4thdegree tear happened. And as a first time, mom, having something like that happen, mixed with all of the emotions, the struggles of breast-feeding, judgments of others, postpartum depression, and anxiety and mom guilt I can only hope that this video is seriously taken into consideration, while planning to have a child. I had a hard time getting the tear to heal so at my six week, check up and multiple visits after that, they cauterized certain parts to get myself to heal. It was at least a half a year before I could have sex again and my pelvic floor is still struggling even after having therapy. A little hope though for mama’s who have had a fourth-degree tear with their first and want to have more children. My second child was bigger than my first. I had a midwife who knew about the problems with the first time and thankfully, she was there for the birth of my second son. She supported my perineum and coached me so well. I also suggest using a mirror to watch your progress. Other than the spinal headache that I got from the epidural and healing to blood patches, I had zero tear. It was amazing!
Positive natural birth experience here despite an emergency epistiomy. Had a last minute vacuüm delivery with episiotomy three weeks ago after my son's heart rate and oxygen levels kept going down during pushing at home. I pushed for 1.5 hours by myself in vertical positions to no avail. Had to be rushed to the hospital where the gyn gave me the choice: either go with the episiotomy and increase the chance of him coming out quicker (which was needed) or risk full tear front to back as my pelvic floor had already had so much stress on it and my pushing contractions weren't that strong. Decided to go with the cut because I just felt he needed to be born then and there. He was out in two pushen and his values instantly went up, so we should not have waited any longer I think. It turned out he had the cord around his neck twice and the cord was short, depriving him of oxygen every time I would push him down. Healing worried me a lot because of friends' experiences, but they did a good job down there and checked on me weekly. It seems to definitely be on the mend so despite having a lot of fears and reservations about the procedure beforehand it feels ok - all was done in full consent and it definitely felt like a situation in which it was needed / helpful. Every birth takes it course so don't feel bad either way, the main thing is feeling you've been kept in the loop about it all and that whoever is helping you out knows what they're doing.
Same here! I think it's a bit unhelpful for the thumbnail to say episiotimies are not needed because it can create shame and disappointment in those of us who had to have one to get our babies out safely.
I got one. Physucal recovery wasn't too bad. Not too painful. I got a 2nd degree tear. I had made it clear to my provider that I didn't want one unless necessary and she ended up giving me one without consent which was traumatizing. The episiotomy itself didn't hurt. It just felt like pressure. The part that was uncool was the doctor doing something pretty altering to my body without my consent.
I had an episiotomy followed by a 4th degree tear, up my son was wrapped around the umbilical cord and his heartbeat was rapidly dropping. It was either episiotomy or emergency C Section, and I’m glad I avoided that! My son was born quickly and safely, and surprisingly, my 4th degree tear recovery wasn’t too bad.
I always forget to come back and say thank you. My second delivery didn't go very well, so I promised myself I was never having another baby. When I found out I was expecting the third, I was really worried about how the delivery would go. Your videos gave me the confidence I needed and I went into the delivery room without any fear. Even though the delivery did not go as I thought it would, I had a positive experience and I'm forever grateful to you.
Thank you Bridget! I would love to see a video about how to build your “birth plan”, with tips that you have shared and what do you recommend in general! My hospital in Tokyo (I live in Japan) needs this and I feel a bit lost!
There was an unfortunate conflation in this video of routine episiotomies and episiotomies in general. While the evidence has indeed proven that routine episiotomies are unnecessary and harmful, they are still helpful as an emergency procedure (as seen in the comments). Some acknowledgement of this difference in the video would have made for a much more nuanced and convincing take.
My baby boy is 4 weeks old and I got an episiotomy after they waited and tried with massages and such. I did perineal massages when pregnant and even used the epi-no (I didn't get to 10cm tho). I didn't feel a thing, baby boy came out right after, the stitching up wasn't bad at all. My aftercare midwive told me the doctor did an amazing job. It's healing great. This fear of tearing or getting an episiotomy needs to stop tbh.
Hey Bridget, first of all thank you for the work you've been doing all those years! I have found your channel during my first pregnancy in 2019 and stayed :) unfortunately, my first baby was born by c section at 33 weeks, as I had developed HELLP syndrome. For my second, who had been due January 25th, I was given the okay to go ahead with a VBAC. I prepared like crazy with your videos. Then, I went over the due date and I prepared with your induction videos. On February 4th, right before I was scheduled to be induced, my water broke. I had strong contractions from the beginning on, they were only 30s to one minute apart and I felt like a goddess, breathing with your techniques and being in touch with my body. It was awesome! Unfortunately, baby's heartrate dropped the whole time and after 2,5 hours, it was decided to do an emergency C-section (meaning I was completely under anaesthesia). Turned out baby's umbilical cord was wrapped twice around his neck, so the emergency C-section was a good call. I am fully okay with everything, as I followed your advice to stay calm and be prepared for a different course of events. Thank you so much!!! Now to my question ;) I am a little bit disappointed that I won't experience vaginal birth. We don't want a third child and even if, after two C-sections, chances for a vaginal birth would be slim. Could you do a video on how to accept not having a vaginal birth? Or how to feel a vaginal birth without having one? I read somewhere that you could get into the bathtub and then someone handles you the baby or something like that.
@@s0846856 maybe it wasn't painful. And i'm not afraid of anything but, i will surely ruin my body because of a baby never never never. Please god. From all the blessings i get, from all the good things that i've done, prevent me from a pregnancy
@@s0846856 i mean i can't regret later if i ruin my body with tears stitches. Because, i've been protecting my genital area, i mean i won't let a wound to happen to that place and at the doctors cut it with a sharp knife which i've protected for years right 😂😂. I can't just regret it later sis. I want to protect myself cause i'm the one who has to protect myself right. If not doctors will just give the priority to the baby not for me. I'm not working hard to earn money (i'm from a family which i have plenty of money but, i work hard to earn my own money) and suffer at the end. So, no for kids. They are not gifts. (For me) 😂
First time pregnancy here so I don’t know yet how my story will turn out. But I agree with the question. My mother-in-law had all 5 of her children by C-section; my mom had all 6 of us vaginally. And I know they are both women and my mother-in-law didn’t have a choice. But something in me feels like I would be missing a part of my womanhood and especially my motherhood if I’m unable to have my children naturally. So I understand the question and feelings but I also don’t think you need to feel shame or guilt for having them C-section. Imagine if you hadn’t lived in this modern era and thank God for life and two living children.
I had a 2nd degree tear with both of my kiddos! Pretty sure it was in the same place too! My 1st was an induction with epidural, 2nd was in a birth tub unmecated at the birth center! Healing went much better the 2nd time around!
My husband and I were just talking about this being a possibility, so if they try and my husband notices he has to be my advocate against this procedure.
My sister just birthed an 11lb 10oz healthy baby, at home, no tearing, 4 hours of total labor, including less than 30 minutes pushing (very strong fetal ejection reflex - she couldn’t not push). Shoulder dystocia was successfully remedied: midwife instructed her to get on hands & knees, try putting one leg up, then the other, then my sister felt she needed to stand up so they helped her up. Midwife instructed her husband to wrap his arms around her and apply some pressure and rest of baby came right out.
My OB was great is allowing me to push for 2 hours, but my son was stuck, his heart rate dropping and I was about to tear to me rectum due to also having to flip him. I got an episiotomy, my OB did ask me first if it was okay and honestly i'm very thankful for it. I healed up fine. We did end up using forceps to get my son out. I ended up with a horse shoe of stitches. I'm so glad my rectum was intact. Not all Episiotomies are bad, sometimes necessary and for some women a blessing.
I had an episiotomy with my first baby and a natural tear with my second. Recovery for my second baby has been so much faster & easier. I pushed for a little under and hour with my first but the doctors were concerned about baby’s response to contractions and pushed for about 14 minutes with my second. Both very different experiences but overall second time has been easier.
Hi I had one I went into labour with my first baby at 40 years old calm and relaxed and new my body would know what to do zero pain medication but at the end the babies heat rate got low and I no long had contractions and they said push and it was such a weird thing but after about 3 pushes they said they would need to cut I said yes worried baby wasn’t ok I would like to know why contractions just stop I can say the hole experience was a rollercoaster but over all amazing and recovery wasn’t bad I wasn’t in any pain after.
I specifically had it on my birth plan that I did not want an episiotomy and a doctor I had never met delivered the baby and performed an episiotomy without saying a word to me. I had an unmedicated birth an only knew she did it cause I felt severe sharp pain and saw her with the knife. I was very upset to say the least and suffered a 3rd degree tear.
That's absolutely horrifying that the doctor did that without so much as mentioning it to you - let alone actually getting your consent. So sorry you went through that.
With my first I was on epidural and pushing for a long time, babys heart rate was fluctuating so i didn’t really have a choice. Got an episiotomy with forceps delivery. Obviously didn’t feel any pain during but ALOT of pressure and as a result lost 2 pint of blood. After birth, I found out one side of my vagina was swollen massively which didn’t go down until after over a week. Even now after 2 years I still feel pressure down there and it definitely does feel uncomfortable sometimes. That part of the delivery was traumatic as I just about passed out (i’ve never passed out before) but i’m now preggo with my 2nd and i’m definitely leaning towards unmedicated/water birth. Grateful for these videos!
I had episiotomy with my 1st and 3rd baby, and I had quite a tear with my 2nd one because I pushed too quickly and the midwife did not expect it. I healed a lot faster after my 3rd labour, and I think that has to do with how the cut was stitched. I understand there is statistics, but why would midwives do it if they saw from their own experience there was a large risk of further tear?
Btw, at least in hospitals where I had my birth experience, they explained they don’t perform episiotomy up front, they wait and see and do it only if they see there may be a tear (e.g. tissues stretched so much that the blood flow stops and the tissues become whitish).
I’m 31 weeks pregnant and have to do a hospital birth because other options are unaffordable. My doctor unfortunately is adamant about me being on my back so she can “see what’s going on down there”. I’m upset about this but I don’t know what else to do.
Just here to offer some encouragement, I was very against pushing on my back, but I had a long natural labor (28 hours before pushing!) and my midwife let me try several positions but ultimately I ended up on my back and it was so much better than I thought it would be. They had the bed angled so that I was decently upright but fully supported and my midwife could see everything and help guide my baby. I was so tired after all the labor I was nearly falling sleeping between contractions so not having to support myself in a squatting or kneeling position was actually a relief. If you are unable to switch to a different provider (I did and it was a pain but worth it!) just know that no matter what happens, your and your baby's safety comes first and it's safer to have a provider do something the way they've done it a million times than to try something new on the fly. Good luck Mama!
I had one with my first, and had no complications, thankfully! However, since I already had one, will that increase my chances of tearing with my second birth? It will be almost 3 years apart since my first birth.
I had one that wasn’t necessary and I didn’t consent to it. It ended up not healing correctly and I had to have it chemically cauterized about 2 months after. It caused me pain for almost a year and still causes me discomfort at times.
Do you have a video on what station your baby is in when you’re 10cm dilated? I seen a short clip stating that just bc you’re 10 cm doesn’t mean it’s time to push. When a Dr says you’re 10cm, it should follow up with the question, what station is my baby at?
I had an episiotomy then had a third degree tearing. I also had suction as babes heart rate was rising and he wasn’t happy. He was also 10 pounds 1, born at 41 weeks and I am quite small. Not sure if his size is what caused all of the above to happen or not. I had an epidural with him too and I know I want another for my next birth. Hoping to avoid tearing like that again :(
I had the exact exact same birth story. I am not sure what to do second time around but want to avoid as much tearing as possible. Still want an epidural so doing these breathing techniques whilst pushing would be harder when you can't feel contraction.
My mom had four children. All fairly easy pregnancies and deliveries. But my mom is the kind of woman who jokes about “drug me up” so I don’t feel a thing… She had an episiotomy a few times. We are complete opposites. I won’t be having my children in a hospital. There’s no way anyone could get me to take any drugs of any kind especially when I’m giving birth. And there’s no way in hell I’m gonna be letting some doctor in a hospital cut my vagina up before it’s even torn. No fcking thank you.
Hi bridget, I watched each of your video during my second pregnancy and did as you mentioned and had beautiful vaginally delivery and felt I control. This pregnancy is my third and I'm 25 weeks into it with extreme varicose veins in whole lower body including pubic area ,vulva, front and back of thighs,knees and calf and back of calf and everything else...it is getting worse with every passing day with pain and limited movements and painful nights and day with two 5 and under kids. Can you please do a detailed video on management/treatment apart from allopathy. Also if it poses any probability of q c sec etx??
I had granulation tissue after my tear was heal the tissue was so raw and hurt extremely bad when I used the restroom or even moved a certain way. My doctor had to cut it off, she numbed me with a shot and it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt but once it was numb I didn’t feel a thing when she cut it off. Healing was super fast after that.
@@shantricebennett911 I’m glad you have healed. I had grantulation tissue but found another way to encourage healing. Every person goes through the grantulation stage of the healing process but many women are suffering through it from giving birth.
The only thing I am worried about vaginal delivery is tearing and episiotomy. I am ready to follow the advice of not getting tearing but the problem is that in my country episiotomy is standard procedure. And they do to all patients. I want to say No until medically required but I dont think we can say No here.
@@rajnimittal3815 I'm a South Indian and I asked for no episiotomy while delivering but the doctor asked me at my vulnerable moment that episiotomy will make it easier for me to push baby out. Unfortunately I agreed at that moment where I was lying down to give birth. Medical practitioners here is such a pathetic people that I'm thinking if I'm having a second it'll be from home birth
@@Visreena I am sorry that happened to you. But its true here. Even if we make any decision, they will scare that this will happen and then we won't have any responsibility. I can literally imagine that If I say no to episiotomy, they will say that it can lead to more tearing and they can't help then. They don't try for anything that involves more efforts or time. Watching these other countries videos make me feel so bad. I didn't even know we can have so much role in how we want things happen to us in the hospitals. And gynaecologists there help so much and involved so that person doesn't tear and neither the episiotomy is required. You know what, I know about episiotomy and tearing part bcs one of my friends had baby last year. She didn't watch many videos or anything. She didnt even know there are stitches in vaginal delivery. And dr didnt tell her anything just did episiotomy (she didn't realise bcs of labor pain) and then at the time of stitches she suffered so much pain. She didn't even know, they just started stitches. This is just so wrong. Were you given local anesthesia while stitching?
@@rajnimittal3815 Our medical practitioners lack Medical ethics even if our medical facilities improved a lot. I asked for no episiotomy no induction delivery,but both were done without my proper consent. They don't even ask consent for doing pv. I came to know that I was induced when i was looking through the report 🥴 yes they fo loval anasthesia while doing episiotomy. But we will barely know the incision and stitching because of labour pain itself. When I first asked no episiotomy my gynec was making me afraid by saying you could get a 4 degree tear and all. And for no induction she was like it is 'risky' to wait until then. I'm so done with the gynecs in india, whether it is a large scale or small scale, they're all same in this. So i was saying to my husband that if i want a second baby, it'll be either from home or from abroad.
My doctore did mine and didn't warn me she was going to I screamed so loud. She said if I didn't get the baby out they were going to give me a c section so I pushed so hard she came.
My OB didn't even ask, she just went ahead and did it. When my baby came out the cut she made continued to rip and went all the way into my b-hole. I bled every time I pooped for months. They said I may have had fecal incontinence as a result. Thankfully that didn't happen to me. This is the #1 reason I will not be getting an epidural next time. If I had been able to get into a different position I'm sure I could have gotten my baby out without being cut open.
FUTURE MOMS! Please read this: I used to be sooo afraid and did everything I could in order to prevent an episiotomy. With my second baby (Vbac) I finally had one - he just wouldn’t have come out otherwise. Didn’t feel it at all and had no big problems afterwards. The midwife for the next birth knew about my history. She was very experienced and totally against episiotomies. She let me push for so long at my water birth, until she finally realized it just wouldn’t work and had to give me one UNDER WATER. I had so many problems after this one and needed a correction under general anesthesia when my baby was just 3 weeks old. The midwife later apologized to me, saying she had never seen such firm tissue before. With the next baby, I told my new midwife that she shouldn’t hesitate with an episiotomy in advance. Had a 3rd one indeed. Again, not a big deal. Do NOT be afraid!
How to avoid a genital area cut? For me the answer is "Do a c section". (Now don't reply me the disadvantages of a c section when normal delivery has many disadvantages too)
I had a fast natural delivery without epidural (we didn’t have time) and I was recovered by about 2 weeks I know for a fact recovering from a c section would be much worse and far more extensive. I had a 1st degree tear and it hasn’t caused any pain after the first few days and its healed now at 3 weeks post partum.
@@kutie216 good for you mama but, i'm not that type of a girl who gets fooled by what others say. 🙂 I love myself so, i don't wanna risk my beautiful life. Emergencies occuring from vaginal deliveries are unpredictable so, it's safe to have a planned c section. Thanks for the reply but, i don't have a single positive thought towards a normal delivery. I will never have a positive thought towards something that's always scary and toturing (from what i've seen). I will never have a normal delivery in my life. Even if someone says "oh it's the most beautiful thing that a girl can do" still i won't change mh mind because, i'm intelligent enough to choose what's the best for myself. If i ever have to do a normal delivery, it's better to suicide. But, i know i won't get a chance to do a normal delivery ever so, i don't have to live with stress about that.
just coming here to say that i pushed for 6 hours denied the episiotomy until i had no energy left, once the doctor completed it my almost 10lb baby girl came out in two pushes with no extra tearing and recovery was a breeze. women need to do what is right for them, don’t feel bad if you do or do not get one!
Agree. I pushed for an hour and my baby’s heart rate dropped and wouldn’t come back up. While they were prepping the OR for an urgent c-section, the doc gave me an episiotomy and I pushed baby out in 1 push.
And I know everyone had a different recovery, but my second degree episiotomy healed faster and with less pain than my first degree natural tear I got during my first delivery.
My sister just birthed an 11lb 10 oz baby, at home, standing up, no episiotomy, no tearing, 4 hour labor,
@@haley2542Hi i’m not sure what the point of your comment is? your comment is the exact point i was making- women should do what is right for them and it feel guilty for either choice, which it seems like you are trying to make me feel here. You won’t bully or make me feel guilty for doing what was right for me at the time. your sister is a rockstar and i hope she had the birth she wanted!
@@lizcencula66 Just sharing the facts of a recent birth, just like you are. Not trying to make anyone feel anything. You choose how to feel about it.
@@haley2542 then why wouldn’t you share it as a general comment? why would you specifically reply to mine where i’m stating i did get an episiotomy?
This makes me sad because I got one and I knew it wasn’t right but was so vulnerable at the time. However, there is a silver lining! I did use your techniques for my second baby and pushed him out in 90 seconds with no tearing and it was the most incredible experience ❤ I recommend you to everyone!
Thank you for sharing this! They also quickly cut me with my first and I’ve been scared to is was my fate for all births in the future. I’m glad there’s a chance for a better birth next time! ❤
Same 😪 they asked me before doing it but I felt like I had no choice in the moment.
@@AprilT72 I wish they asked me! They just cut me with no guidance. I only knew what happened after I screamed from the cut. Had months of PT to help me recover.
I wish I would have had a doula and had my wishes written down for this exact reason. When I was ready to deliver a different doctor that I didn’t know, came in to deliver me. There was no medical reason to get my child out fast. She let me push for 20 minutes before deciding that I was pushing perfect but the size of his head was too big for me. It was my first baby, at that point in pregnancy, I wasn’t in my right mind exactly. She said that I needed to do an episiotomy to get him out. She did this to prevent a fourth-degree tear. The push after the episiotomy is when my 4thdegree tear happened. And as a first time, mom, having something like that happen, mixed with all of the emotions, the struggles of breast-feeding, judgments of others, postpartum depression, and anxiety and mom guilt I can only hope that this video is seriously taken into consideration, while planning to have a child. I had a hard time getting the tear to heal so at my six week, check up and multiple visits after that, they cauterized certain parts to get myself to heal. It was at least a half a year before I could have sex again and my pelvic floor is still struggling even after having therapy.
A little hope though for mama’s who have had a fourth-degree tear with their first and want to have more children. My second child was bigger than my first. I had a midwife who knew about the problems with the first time and thankfully, she was there for the birth of my second son. She supported my perineum and coached me so well. I also suggest using a mirror to watch your progress. Other than the spinal headache that I got from the epidural and healing to blood patches, I had zero tear. It was amazing!
Positive natural birth experience here despite an emergency epistiomy. Had a last minute vacuüm delivery with episiotomy three weeks ago after my son's heart rate and oxygen levels kept going down during pushing at home. I pushed for 1.5 hours by myself in vertical positions to no avail. Had to be rushed to the hospital where the gyn gave me the choice: either go with the episiotomy and increase the chance of him coming out quicker (which was needed) or risk full tear front to back as my pelvic floor had already had so much stress on it and my pushing contractions weren't that strong. Decided to go with the cut because I just felt he needed to be born then and there. He was out in two pushen and his values instantly went up, so we should not have waited any longer I think. It turned out he had the cord around his neck twice and the cord was short, depriving him of oxygen every time I would push him down. Healing worried me a lot because of friends' experiences, but they did a good job down there and checked on me weekly. It seems to definitely be on the mend so despite having a lot of fears and reservations about the procedure beforehand it feels ok - all was done in full consent and it definitely felt like a situation in which it was needed / helpful. Every birth takes it course so don't feel bad either way, the main thing is feeling you've been kept in the loop about it all and that whoever is helping you out knows what they're doing.
Same here! I think it's a bit unhelpful for the thumbnail to say episiotimies are not needed because it can create shame and disappointment in those of us who had to have one to get our babies out safely.
I got one. Physucal recovery wasn't too bad. Not too painful. I got a 2nd degree tear. I had made it clear to my provider that I didn't want one unless necessary and she ended up giving me one without consent which was traumatizing. The episiotomy itself didn't hurt. It just felt like pressure. The part that was uncool was the doctor doing something pretty altering to my body without my consent.
I had an episiotomy followed by a 4th degree tear, up my son was wrapped around the umbilical cord and his heartbeat was rapidly dropping. It was either episiotomy or emergency C Section, and I’m glad I avoided that! My son was born quickly and safely, and surprisingly, my 4th degree tear recovery wasn’t too bad.
same girl. same…but i def don’t wanna do the 4th degree again that’s for sure. due in 3 weeks. hoping for no cord this time and easier labor.
I always forget to come back and say thank you.
My second delivery didn't go very well, so I promised myself I was never having another baby. When I found out I was expecting the third, I was really worried about how the delivery would go. Your videos gave me the confidence I needed and I went into the delivery room without any fear. Even though the delivery did not go as I thought it would, I had a positive experience and I'm forever grateful to you.
Thank you Bridget! I would love to see a video about how to build your “birth plan”, with tips that you have shared and what do you recommend in general! My hospital in Tokyo (I live in Japan) needs this and I feel a bit lost!
There was an unfortunate conflation in this video of routine episiotomies and episiotomies in general. While the evidence has indeed proven that routine episiotomies are unnecessary and harmful, they are still helpful as an emergency procedure (as seen in the comments). Some acknowledgement of this difference in the video would have made for a much more nuanced and convincing take.
My baby boy is 4 weeks old and I got an episiotomy after they waited and tried with massages and such. I did perineal massages when pregnant and even used the epi-no (I didn't get to 10cm tho). I didn't feel a thing, baby boy came out right after, the stitching up wasn't bad at all. My aftercare midwive told me the doctor did an amazing job. It's healing great. This fear of tearing or getting an episiotomy needs to stop tbh.
Plz made a video on taking care after episiotomy. good position sitting ..lying ..hygiene..everything
Hey Bridget, first of all thank you for the work you've been doing all those years! I have found your channel during my first pregnancy in 2019 and stayed :) unfortunately, my first baby was born by c section at 33 weeks, as I had developed HELLP syndrome. For my second, who had been due January 25th, I was given the okay to go ahead with a VBAC. I prepared like crazy with your videos. Then, I went over the due date and I prepared with your induction videos. On February 4th, right before I was scheduled to be induced, my water broke. I had strong contractions from the beginning on, they were only 30s to one minute apart and I felt like a goddess, breathing with your techniques and being in touch with my body. It was awesome! Unfortunately, baby's heartrate dropped the whole time and after 2,5 hours, it was decided to do an emergency C-section (meaning I was completely under anaesthesia). Turned out baby's umbilical cord was wrapped twice around his neck, so the emergency C-section was a good call. I am fully okay with everything, as I followed your advice to stay calm and be prepared for a different course of events. Thank you so much!!!
Now to my question ;) I am a little bit disappointed that I won't experience vaginal birth. We don't want a third child and even if, after two C-sections, chances for a vaginal birth would be slim. Could you do a video on how to accept not having a vaginal birth? Or how to feel a vaginal birth without having one? I read somewhere that you could get into the bathtub and then someone handles you the baby or something like that.
Why do you love a vaginal pain that much? I'm so surprised. Vaginal delivery word itself is a nightmare to me
@@LaLoon17 😆 it wasn't painful, that's the whole point. Please look at her other videos if you are afraid of vaginal delivery.
@@s0846856 maybe it wasn't painful. And i'm not afraid of anything but, i will surely ruin my body because of a baby never never never. Please god. From all the blessings i get, from all the good things that i've done, prevent me from a pregnancy
@@s0846856 i mean i can't regret later if i ruin my body with tears stitches. Because, i've been protecting my genital area, i mean i won't let a wound to happen to that place and at the doctors cut it with a sharp knife which i've protected for years right 😂😂. I can't just regret it later sis. I want to protect myself cause i'm the one who has to protect myself right. If not doctors will just give the priority to the baby not for me. I'm not working hard to earn money (i'm from a family which i have plenty of money but, i work hard to earn my own money) and suffer at the end. So, no for kids. They are not gifts. (For me) 😂
First time pregnancy here so I don’t know yet how my story will turn out. But I agree with the question. My mother-in-law had all 5 of her children by C-section; my mom had all 6 of us vaginally. And I know they are both women and my mother-in-law didn’t have a choice. But something in me feels like I would be missing a part of my womanhood and especially my motherhood if I’m unable to have my children naturally. So I understand the question and feelings but I also don’t think you need to feel shame or guilt for having them C-section. Imagine if you hadn’t lived in this modern era and thank God for life and two living children.
I had a 2nd degree tear with both of my kiddos! Pretty sure it was in the same place too! My 1st was an induction with epidural, 2nd was in a birth tub unmecated at the birth center! Healing went much better the 2nd time around!
My husband and I were just talking about this being a possibility, so if they try and my husband notices he has to be my advocate against this procedure.
My sister just birthed an 11lb 10oz healthy baby, at home, no tearing, 4 hours of total labor, including less than 30 minutes pushing (very strong fetal ejection reflex - she couldn’t not push). Shoulder dystocia was successfully remedied: midwife instructed her to get on hands & knees, try putting one leg up, then the other, then my sister felt she needed to stand up so they helped her up. Midwife instructed her husband to wrap his arms around her and apply some pressure and rest of baby came right out.
Amazing
Thank God for ladies like you informing about the truth ❤❤❤❤
Thank you for the info! Would you be willing to provide a link to the statistics you referenced?
I was given an episiotomy without my consent. It was extremely hard to recover from and still hurts at times… almost 5 years later.
What my sis tells me is a C section cut is much easier than a genital area cut
My OB was great is allowing me to push for 2 hours, but my son was stuck, his heart rate dropping and I was about to tear to me rectum due to also having to flip him. I got an episiotomy, my OB did ask me first if it was okay and honestly i'm very thankful for it. I healed up fine. We did end up using forceps to get my son out. I ended up with a horse shoe of stitches. I'm so glad my rectum was intact.
Not all Episiotomies are bad, sometimes necessary and for some women a blessing.
I had an episiotomy with my first baby and a natural tear with my second. Recovery for my second baby has been so much faster & easier. I pushed for a little under and hour with my first but the doctors were concerned about baby’s response to contractions and pushed for about 14 minutes with my second. Both very different experiences but overall second time has been easier.
What would you recommend to someone who has torn on their labia before? How should I avoid that next labor?
Hi I had one I went into labour with my first baby at 40 years old calm and relaxed and new my body would know what to do zero pain medication but at the end the babies heat rate got low and I no long had contractions and they said push and it was such a weird thing but after about 3 pushes they said they would need to cut I said yes worried baby wasn’t ok I would like to know why contractions just stop I can say the hole experience was a rollercoaster but over all amazing and recovery wasn’t bad I wasn’t in any pain after.
I specifically had it on my birth plan that I did not want an episiotomy and a doctor I had never met delivered the baby and performed an episiotomy without saying a word to me. I had an unmedicated birth an only knew she did it cause I felt severe sharp pain and saw her with the knife. I was very upset to say the least and suffered a 3rd degree tear.
That's absolutely horrifying that the doctor did that without so much as mentioning it to you - let alone actually getting your consent. So sorry you went through that.
Can't you go for a law suit? And why couldn't you tell her not to cut you before pushing....
With my first I was on epidural and pushing for a long time, babys heart rate was fluctuating so i didn’t really have a choice. Got an episiotomy with forceps delivery. Obviously didn’t feel any pain during but ALOT of pressure and as a result lost 2 pint of blood. After birth, I found out one side of my vagina was swollen massively which didn’t go down until after over a week.
Even now after 2 years I still feel pressure down there and it definitely does feel uncomfortable sometimes. That part of the delivery was traumatic as I just about passed out (i’ve never passed out before) but i’m now preggo with my 2nd and i’m definitely leaning towards unmedicated/water birth.
Grateful for these videos!
Hi Bridget. I’m interested in taking your Birth course. Can you tell me whether or not you touch upon Hypnobirthing techniques?
I had episiotomy with my 1st and 3rd baby, and I had quite a tear with my 2nd one because I pushed too quickly and the midwife did not expect it. I healed a lot faster after my 3rd labour, and I think that has to do with how the cut was stitched. I understand there is statistics, but why would midwives do it if they saw from their own experience there was a large risk of further tear?
Btw, at least in hospitals where I had my birth experience, they explained they don’t perform episiotomy up front, they wait and see and do it only if they see there may be a tear (e.g. tissues stretched so much that the blood flow stops and the tissues become whitish).
I’m 31 weeks pregnant and have to do a hospital birth because other options are unaffordable. My doctor unfortunately is adamant about me being on my back so she can “see what’s going on down there”. I’m upset about this but I don’t know what else to do.
Just here to offer some encouragement, I was very against pushing on my back, but I had a long natural labor (28 hours before pushing!) and my midwife let me try several positions but ultimately I ended up on my back and it was so much better than I thought it would be. They had the bed angled so that I was decently upright but fully supported and my midwife could see everything and help guide my baby. I was so tired after all the labor I was nearly falling sleeping between contractions so not having to support myself in a squatting or kneeling position was actually a relief. If you are unable to switch to a different provider (I did and it was a pain but worth it!) just know that no matter what happens, your and your baby's safety comes first and it's safer to have a provider do something the way they've done it a million times than to try something new on the fly. Good luck Mama!
@@emilysenior7402 Thank you for this! I really appreciate it. ❤️
I had one with my first, and had no complications, thankfully! However, since I already had one, will that increase my chances of tearing with my second birth? It will be almost 3 years apart since my first birth.
I had one that wasn’t necessary and I didn’t consent to it. It ended up not healing correctly and I had to have it chemically cauterized about 2 months after. It caused me pain for almost a year and still causes me discomfort at times.
Do you have a video on what station your baby is in when you’re 10cm dilated? I seen a short clip stating that just bc you’re 10 cm doesn’t mean it’s time to push. When a Dr says you’re 10cm, it should follow up with the question, what station is my baby at?
Makes total sense they’re starting to tear before any even occurs
Hi I was just wondering is that ok if a mom is 40 weeks pregnancy
neverrrr 😢
It is crazy how a doctor would just without you knowing maybe that he just decides to cut you like that. Just to make the delivery " faster"
I had an episiotomy then had a third degree tearing. I also had suction as babes heart rate was rising and he wasn’t happy. He was also 10 pounds 1, born at 41 weeks and I am quite small. Not sure if his size is what caused all of the above to happen or not. I had an epidural with him too and I know I want another for my next birth. Hoping to avoid tearing like that again :(
I had the exact exact same birth story. I am not sure what to do second time around but want to avoid as much tearing as possible. Still want an epidural so doing these breathing techniques whilst pushing would be harder when you can't feel contraction.
I live in Japan. I’ll give birth to my first kid in December… Everyone gets an episiotomies. 😅😂 I’m scared.
My mom had four children. All fairly easy pregnancies and deliveries. But my mom is the kind of woman who jokes about “drug me up” so I don’t feel a thing… She had an episiotomy a few times.
We are complete opposites. I won’t be having my children in a hospital. There’s no way anyone could get me to take any drugs of any kind especially when I’m giving birth. And there’s no way in hell I’m gonna be letting some doctor in a hospital cut my vagina up before it’s even torn. No fcking thank you.
Hi bridget, I watched each of your video during my second pregnancy and did as you mentioned and had beautiful vaginally delivery and felt I control.
This pregnancy is my third and I'm 25 weeks into it with extreme varicose veins in whole lower body including pubic area ,vulva, front and back of thighs,knees and calf and back of calf and everything else...it is getting worse with every passing day with pain and limited movements and painful nights and day with two 5 and under kids.
Can you please do a detailed video on management/treatment apart from allopathy.
Also if it poses any probability of q c sec etx??
Could you do a video on grantulation tissue even with a tear from natural birth? Or even from healing process in general.
I had granulation tissue after my tear was heal the tissue was so raw and hurt extremely bad when I used the restroom or even moved a certain way. My doctor had to cut it off, she numbed me with a shot and it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt but once it was numb I didn’t feel a thing when she cut it off. Healing was super fast after that.
@@shantricebennett911 I’m glad you have healed. I had grantulation tissue but found another way to encourage healing.
Every person goes through the grantulation stage of the healing process but many women are suffering through it from giving birth.
I pushed for over 4 hours, had an episiotomy and ended up having a 4th degree tear. Absolutely terrible recovery!
The only thing I am worried about vaginal delivery is tearing and episiotomy. I am ready to follow the advice of not getting tearing but the problem is that in my country episiotomy is standard procedure. And they do to all patients. I want to say No until medically required but I dont think we can say No here.
Are you from india
@@Visreena yes
@@rajnimittal3815 I'm a South Indian and I asked for no episiotomy while delivering but the doctor asked me at my vulnerable moment that episiotomy will make it easier for me to push baby out. Unfortunately I agreed at that moment where I was lying down to give birth. Medical practitioners here is such a pathetic people that I'm thinking if I'm having a second it'll be from home birth
@@Visreena I am sorry that happened to you. But its true here. Even if we make any decision, they will scare that this will happen and then we won't have any responsibility. I can literally imagine that If I say no to episiotomy, they will say that it can lead to more tearing and they can't help then. They don't try for anything that involves more efforts or time.
Watching these other countries videos make me feel so bad. I didn't even know we can have so much role in how we want things happen to us in the hospitals. And gynaecologists there help so much and involved so that person doesn't tear and neither the episiotomy is required. You know what, I know about episiotomy and tearing part bcs one of my friends had baby last year. She didn't watch many videos or anything. She didnt even know there are stitches in vaginal delivery. And dr didnt tell her anything just did episiotomy (she didn't realise bcs of labor pain) and then at the time of stitches she suffered so much pain. She didn't even know, they just started stitches. This is just so wrong.
Were you given local anesthesia while stitching?
@@rajnimittal3815 Our medical practitioners lack Medical ethics even if our medical facilities improved a lot. I asked for no episiotomy no induction delivery,but both were done without my proper consent. They don't even ask consent for doing pv. I came to know that I was induced when i was looking through the report 🥴 yes they fo loval anasthesia while doing episiotomy. But we will barely know the incision and stitching because of labour pain itself. When I first asked no episiotomy my gynec was making me afraid by saying you could get a 4 degree tear and all. And for no induction she was like it is 'risky' to wait until then. I'm so done with the gynecs in india, whether it is a large scale or small scale, they're all same in this. So i was saying to my husband that if i want a second baby, it'll be either from home or from abroad.
My doctore did mine and didn't warn me she was going to I screamed so loud. She said if I didn't get the baby out they were going to give me a c section so I pushed so hard she came.
That's terrifying
My OB didn't even ask, she just went ahead and did it. When my baby came out the cut she made continued to rip and went all the way into my b-hole. I bled every time I pooped for months. They said I may have had fecal incontinence as a result. Thankfully that didn't happen to me. This is the #1 reason I will not be getting an epidural next time. If I had been able to get into a different position I'm sure I could have gotten my baby out without being cut open.
It's your OB's fault. She may probably have not guided you. My cousin sister had 4 births all with epidural and she didn't had tears or even cuts.
FUTURE MOMS! Please read this: I used to be sooo afraid and did everything I could in order to prevent an episiotomy. With my second baby (Vbac) I finally had one - he just wouldn’t have come out otherwise. Didn’t feel it at all and had no big problems afterwards. The midwife for the next birth knew about my history. She was very experienced and totally against episiotomies. She let me push for so long at my water birth, until she finally realized it just wouldn’t work and had to give me one UNDER WATER. I had so many problems after this one and needed a correction under general anesthesia when my baby was just 3 weeks old. The midwife later apologized to me, saying she had never seen such firm tissue before. With the next baby, I told my new midwife that she shouldn’t hesitate with an episiotomy in advance. Had a 3rd one indeed. Again, not a big deal. Do NOT be afraid!
After reading your comment i got motivated NOT to have kids anyday. Thank youuuuu
How to avoid a genital area cut? For me the answer is "Do a c section".
(Now don't reply me the disadvantages of a c section when normal delivery has many disadvantages too)
I had a fast natural delivery without epidural (we didn’t have time) and I was recovered by about 2 weeks I know for a fact recovering from a c section would be much worse and far more extensive. I had a 1st degree tear and it hasn’t caused any pain after the first few days and its healed now at 3 weeks post partum.
@@kutie216 good for you mama but, i'm not that type of a girl who gets fooled by what others say. 🙂 I love myself so, i don't wanna risk my beautiful life. Emergencies occuring from vaginal deliveries are unpredictable so, it's safe to have a planned c section. Thanks for the reply but, i don't have a single positive thought towards a normal delivery. I will never have a positive thought towards something that's always scary and toturing (from what i've seen). I will never have a normal delivery in my life. Even if someone says "oh it's the most beautiful thing that a girl can do" still i won't change mh mind because, i'm intelligent enough to choose what's the best for myself. If i ever have to do a normal delivery, it's better to suicide. But, i know i won't get a chance to do a normal delivery ever so, i don't have to live with stress about that.