how do you avoid stiches?

• 08-05-2008 2:00 PM

  miriam2991532 Joined on 08-05-2008 Posts 3

  how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact Does anyone out there have any really good ideas of what to do to avoid stiches? I'm a first time mom 32 weeks pregnant and managed to overcome most of my fears for the upcoming birth by reading a lot and taking birth classes, yet the one thing that still petrifies me is the tearing , episiotomy and stiches. Everyone i ask tells me there's absolutely no way to get out of it, especially in a first birth. Is that true? Do you really have to suffer after the birth aswell?

• 08-12-2008 5:48 PM

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  Cookiethief2 Joined on 12-18-2006 #1 5/17/06 #2 6/11/07 Posts 6,714

  Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact You can do some stretches of your vaginal walls using mineral oil.  I know I can't explain it, so try googling it.  :)  Sex is good too, because it keeps your vaginal walls looser.  Also, when the docs tell you to stop pushing...stop pushing!  If the baby decends too fast, you can tear.  Tearing isn't too bad.  I had numerous stitches inside and outside of my vagina when I had my daughter.  Afterwards was the worst. Figuring out how to pee without those stitches burning.  Youch! As for the afterbirth...it hurt, but it was a dull ache...nothing like the birth.  I didn't have an epidural, but had nubain and phenergan and a paracervical block.  The doctor was tugging on the umbilical cord to help the placenta come out and it wasn't the most comfortable.  It felt like they were trying to pull my insides out through my vagina. Have fun, enjoy it, and trust your body.  That's all I can say!!!

• 08-16-2008 10:51 AM

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  Angela2495207 Joined on 01-02-2008 Florida Posts 11

  Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact Do the kegels, i agree w/ pp to stop pushing when they tell you to as that is what pushes the baby thru too fast and you can tear. i've heard of the mineral oil but healthcare professionals tell you to be careful w/ what you do in the vagina as it can lead to serious risks. Have you expressed your concern w/ your dr and his staff? that would be best because he's going to be the one delivering your baby and can possibly help you prevent it. I read alot of information with my first pregnancy and felt very prepared for the birth. Honestly, I am glad I did. I was scared of the pain.. and since I got the epidural it was nice to enjoy the event! LOL and what an event it is..You are going to be fine. If you plan to breast feed--start eating oatmeal now. I did in my 9th month and have a great supply of milk for my newborn.

• 08-16-2008 5:14 PM

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  kristy3010700 Joined on 08-17-2008 Posts 1

  Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact I had some of the same concerns as you are having now. I have a ten month old boy, and a six year old daughter. I was sure when my daughter was born i would suffer the same tearing as i had heard about from friends and family. Well labor is labor, and it is no cake walk, however i had no tearing or stitches of any kind with my daughter. When i was pregnant with my son i was sure i would not luck out twice, but i did. My babies were 6.7lbs, and almost eight pounds. This does not mean you wont, it just means you cant predict your labor, and trust me getting that baby out will be your top priority. Try not to worry so much, things always seem worse before they happen, i ahve two and i am far from a super women, but would do it again in a heartbeat!

• 08-17-2008 4:05 PM

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  louise2779708 Joined on 08-17-2008 Posts 1

  Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact Like yourself Miriam, I was a first time mum & absolutely terrified of childbirth & pain. All the way through I read stories & listened to tales of horror, I just wanted to be put out & have a caesarian! As it turned out I had an episiotomy & a third degree tear, but that was a worst case senario so don't let it frighten you because I felt absolutely NO pain whatsoever, I had the epidural infusion during labour & was totally numbed for forceps delivery. Afterwards I had no pain from the episiotomy - no stinging anything, psychologically I felt as if I had to be careful! I had pressure & some discomfort in my rear but it was nothing compared to how much pain I had been imagining I was going to be in! Amy is now 8 weeks old & everything is more or less back to normal. Everybodys body is so different & you, like many other women may not have to have stitches, but if you did I just wanted to tell you my story to let you know that it really wasn't that bad. I don't know what your thoughts are on pain relief, but I felt very comfortable during labour & didn't feel as if i'd missed out on the childbirth experience, I was just glad my baby was born safely. No matter what happens the doctors & midwives do try to make your experience as comfortable as possible. Very best wishes, please let us all know how you get on.

• 08-19-2008 7:12 PM

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  Kristina1977 Joined on 08-20-2008 Posts 1

  Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact I know some Moms do avoid having stitches but I had a basic episiotomy and that didn't hurt at all.....it was the lone hemorrhoid I got from puching. I know, maybe TMI but that's the truth. Fortunately my birthing center had a bidet and it was a life saver. The SITS bath that you take home will work wonders. They didn't tell me for several hours that I had a hemorrhoid and I just thought it was my cut I received. After I found out about it and could treat it I was OK. Good luck

• 08-27-2008 3:26 PM

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  Cassie2399755 Joined on 09-24-2007 Posts 14

  Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact I was scared to death of an tearing my son was very large and after 1 hour of pushing(all natural) my doctor told me he needed more room to get out so it was inevitable, however after she cut me and i went to push i pushed like i had been pushing befor not knowing better and he flew out sooooo fast she caught him like a football, but from pushing so fast i tore the spot the episiotomy was at even more, it was pritty bad afterwards but dont worry about the pain then especially if you get an epidural because while its happening you really dont feel a thing! good luck! i definitly recommend doing your best to go home with a good support system to help you cook and get enough sleep

• 08-27-2008 8:28 PM

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  Chamelyan Joined on 10-30-2007 Midwest Posts 55

  Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact  There are a couple things you can do to avoid tearing or an episiotomy.  First, you can start a perineal massage.  I don't recommend mineral oil as this can tend to dry skin.  Go for olive or another plant oil.  Basically you'll dip your fingers in it-- or have your partner help-- and you'll stretch the perineum in a U-shape.  It's kind of awkward to do while you're pregnant, but you can usually get around your leg and use your thumbs.  It should feel like, well, stretching.  This will allow your perineum to stretch around the baby's head instead of tearing when you start to crown.  Another thing you can do is adjust the way you're pushing.  Of course, most doctors only want you to push flat on your back.  Try to push side-lying, or on all fours, if possible.  This can reduce pressure on the perineum and decreases your chances of tearing even more.  Also, a natural tear is generally better than an episiotomy for a couple of reasons.  A tear will only tear as far as it needs to allow the baby's head out, while an episiotomy can be cut too far and create an even bigger tear in the long run.  Natural tears will usually heal much faster than the episiotomies, also.  I've torn with some births and not with others, and while I could feel the tearing, it really wasn't any more painful than that "ring of fire" feeling I was going through at the time.  That's also an indication to stop pushing, and if you decline the epidural, you're most likely to feel it.  It's kind of nature's way of saying, "hold on, be patient!"  With my last birth, I was able to push on all fours and stop forcibly pushing when I felt the burn.  There was no tearing and the baby came out nice and easy.  If, in the end, you end up tearing, you'll want to ice the area frequently and keep it clean using a peri-bottle.  You can also take a pad, soak it with witch hazel (which will be good if you developed hemmorhoids, too) and pop it in the fridge or freezer to use.

• 09-05-2008 5:14 AM

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  miriam2991532 Joined on 08-05-2008 Posts 3	Re: how do you avoid stiches? Reply Contact Thanx so much for your message!! It gave me so much encouragement to hear that someone actually had a first birth without stiches!! But did you do anything for that during your pregnancies or was it just luck? Please answer!!