How many of you moms had to get cut (I can't remember what it's called) so that you didn't rip down there while giving birth? I did with my first one but not the other two, thank goodness.

I know they didn't cut my mom, and she ended up needing stitches from the tearing. Not sure if thats because it wasn't considered typical back then or if they just weren't sure I was finally coming (she was in labor for 13 hours)

Its called an episiotomy, and no I didn't have one. I suffered a very minor tear. Its been shown now that performing this procedure can increase the risks of suffering very major tears-like when you have a piece of intact cloth is it strong, but put a nick in the edge it can easily tear down from the nick. So perform an episiotomy and you can suffer a terrible tear from that point on.

I didn't have one with either of my children. But, I did have two very large cuts since I had both of mine by cesarean. I can imagine that having an episotomy might be a very painful thing to heal back.

With the 4 that I had naturally, I had an episiotomy with each one and also tore past it with each one. I hadn't heard that they have decided that is a factor...good to know and I am not surprised! All of my babies were sunny side up though (facing up instead of down) and that is supposed to increase the risk of and extent of tearing. And yes, the aftermath of it hurt, although I didn't feel the cut itself nor the stitching. There are no long-term problems that I have ever noticed though.

Sorry guys, the title is supposed to be 'Getting Cut', lol. I didn't know I'd done that. I've had some problems, years later, with my episiotomy. It feels like it almost tears sometimes, if my hubby and I get especially active. I don't know if that is just in my head or what. I didn't have any problems with it while giving birth to my other two kids.