I've been telling myself I want to go natural... the thought of having a needle in my back and limiting my mobility freaks me out. But so does tearing. And I think I'd freak out more if I tore and wasn't medicated :/

I know going natural helps you feel the contractions more and you can kind of tell when to push, without forcing it. But... tearing is sometimes just inevitable.


So.. what was your experience?

Well... I don't think it makes a big difference either way. I'd think that going natural would help though since you can feel everything & have more control over pushing. There are things you can do to help not tear. being in the water helps, perineal (sp?) massages during labour help, etc.

You don't have an idea for an epis. *option not idea*

I got the epi with Jae and got cut.


ETA: I've been told that once baby starts crowning, you get that ring of fire thing, but you don't really feel it if you do tear. Idk from experience though.

I had an epi and 1small tear that was it.
I was glad I didn't feel a thing.

I had an epidural and was cut both times.

I had an epidural and I tore in my left labia. Now it looks like I have two clits. The joys of child birth.

Anywho... yeah I didn't feel me tearing and I barley felt my midwife stitching it up.

I felt the same way as you did... especially thinking about how a huge the needle is. Needles make me wanna pass out. But when I was like a 7 or a 8 I.couldn't take anymore and got the epidural.. It was amazing after that. If I.could do it again I'd get the epidural even soon.er.

Also, pushing with the epi was a breeze!

Quoting £egendary £ex:" Well... I don't think it makes a big difference either way. I'd think that going natural would help though ... [snip!] ... There are things you can do to help not tear. being in the water helps, perineal (sp?) massages during labour help, etc."

Yeah I know it's easier to prevent tearing if going natural... because you can feel it. I'm just REALLY scared about tearing. That's the one thing I'm scared most of when I give birth. I don't know why. And I'll cry if I have to get cut.

I had my daughter natural, didnt tear
got an epi with my son, didnt tear and they both were 8+ pounds

No epidural and was cut. No further tearing.healed up nicely too lol

I didnt tear with either one.

Quoting [Boats&Hoes]:" You don't have an idea for an epis. *option not idea* I got the epi with Jae and got cut. ETA: I've ... [snip!] ... starts crowning, you get that ring of fire thing, but you don't really feel it if you do tear. Idk from experience though. "

See I was wondering that, too. Like if the pain from pushing the baby out just cancels out the pain of tearing. Like it's a combo deal  

Quoting kthx.:" I've been telling myself I want to go natural... the thought of having a needle in my back and limiting ... [snip!] ... kind of tell when to push, without forcing it. But... tearing is sometimes just inevitable. So.. what was your experience?"

I had sections.. but as a L&D nurse.. I can tell you... you dont' really feel tearing, or getting cut. The healing sucks afterwards depending on how bad you tear.

not sure what it has to do with epidural. You;ll either tear or not.. your pain control methods won't effect how far you can stretch.

Quoting May ♥:" I had an epidural and I tore in my left labia. Now it looks like I have two clits. The joys of child ... [snip!] ... It was amazing after that. If I.could do it again I'd get the epidural even soon.er. Also, pushing with the epi was a breeze!"

Did it suck not being able to move? Or can you move a little bit? I'd think with that needle in your back, they wouldn't want you moving much so that it didn't become dislodged.

When I went natural, I didn't even feel the tear... the needles they poked me to give me the general killed me... I kept scooting away, the dr. Kept telling me to stay still, I don't know why he thought I would listen to him then, I was a hot mess he was the only 1 I didn't yell at tho. lol

From what I've been told, tearing is more common when you have an epidural because you can't feel anything. When you go natural your body has more of a sense of where the baby is and stretches accordingly. Tearing happens more also if you start pushing before you're ready. You can talk to your doctor about it too. When my daughter was crowning I could've SWORN I was going to tear but my midwife kept telling me she was guarding it. I didn't know what it meant at the time but later I was told she was manipulating the baby while I pushed her and kinda stretching me around her head to prevent that.

Also, I've heard you can do perineal massage to make you more stretchy right before labor! lol.