https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:18:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724365 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:39:58 +0000 blackbird 724365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doula said that epidurals make you less likely to tear because you can birth via "letting down" which is sometimes hard to do if you can feel it all too much--then you are tempted to push through real fast and get it over with. BUT I've also heard the opposite argument, and I think it ultimately has to do with how your doctor helps you out in regards to this. I know my epidural let me push for 2.5 hours and took the edge off the sciatic nerve pain I was having at the end.</p> <p>My doctor took her time at the end with my kid....I could feel *so much pressure* but no pain and it made it tolerable while she was putting hot water, massaging, pulling little pieces of her face around me, etc, so that I didn't have a big tear. </p> <p>Patience is the name of the game :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724305 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:25:24 +0000 Bao 724305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it had much to do with it. LO's head was coming out sideways regardless of the epi or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724299 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:22:56 +0000 photojane 724299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I really wouldn't have any way of knowing. I only pushed for like 10 minutes &amp; like five times total, but I couldn't really feel anything but pressure. I only had one minor vaginal tear. I think the castor oil &amp; massage helped most in avoiding a perineal tear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724250 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:01:29 +0000 mamimami 724250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having done it both ways, I think the epi does give you some protection. During my non-epi delivery, and all that ring of fire nonsense, I remember thinking, "No way in HELL am I going to do this push again." So I just gave it all I had, with no regard for the integrity of my parts! LOL. With my epi I also had an episiotomy. But it was still less gnarly than the unmedicated situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724241 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:55:50 +0000 sorrycharlie 724241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think my epidural had anything to do with it, to be honest! I dilated from 3 to 10 in a couple hours, before I was even able to get the epi. My body was bearing down on its own while I waited for the epi! She was born within 30 min of getting it, too. Girl was in a rush. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724204 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:21:40 +0000 Dandelion 724204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First birth I had no epidural and no tears. Second birth I had an epidural, episiotomy and a tear. I don't think the epidural had anything to do with that last one. It just made it easier for me to handle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724202 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:19:50 +0000 Honeybee 724202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think the epidural affected me in this regard for either birth; both times my epidural was shut off around 9 cms, so by the time I was pushing the meds were wearing off. It was worse the second time because it took longer for me to dilate from 9 to 10; I was almost completely unmedicated during pushing the second time around. Both times I had very minimal tearing requiring just a few stiches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-an-epidural-made-you-tear-less-or-more#post-724192 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:12:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 724192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that because of my epidural I was more rested and relaxed for labor and I was able to practice pushing for 3 hours. It wasn't fun by any means, but looking back I think the epidural helped me get through that and by pushing so long, I was able to birth a baby over 9 lbs and didn't tear (well nothing that required a stitch). </p> <p>Do you think the epidural had any impact on how much you tore? </p>