Lashgari/Elliott & episiotomy

[Anonymous]

Anyone deliver with Lashgari or Elliott and had an issue avoiding episiotomy? I really don't want one, and when I brought it up in an exam, the nonchalant answer was more of a "wait and see".

I will have a doula and have her advocate for me, and I will also say "don't cut me" if I remember but I just thought I'd ask about experiences with them. thanks.

[Anonymous]

Yikes - I can't offer an experience yet, but your question made me cringe because I believe those doctors are in my doctors' delivery group. I think it's natural for doctors to say "wait and see," but I still hate that they were nonchalent about it. That is a really important question!

I will definitely be saying no to an episiotomy. Thankfully, you have a doula, and you both can be firm if the situation arises. That's what I intend to do too. I think that's all you can plan right now. That, and being careful about what you eat so you don't end up with a bigger-than-necessary baby coming through the birth canal ....

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I delivered with Lashgari who was not my Dr and did not have one. I even tore a bit and the epi never came up. I think that you will be fine unless there is a REAL problem getting the baby out. Then you would want to have whatever done to help the baby.

[Anonymous]

I don't have either of those doctors, but wanted to say that I was dead-set against an episiotomy with my first child, and there was simply no option. I am a small person and he was a nine-pound baby with an enormous head. I mention this because I think it's worth being prepared for the fact that this could happen even f you're adamantly against it. I think the doctor was just trying to be truthful - until you're in labor, nobody can predict what will happen. That said, of course I hope you have an easy delivery and don't need an episiotomy. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I'm with Elliott/Lashgari and pg with baby #2. I love, love, love Dr Elliott. OP - I'm curious who you asked this question to - Elliott or Lashgari? I find Dr Elliott more patient with my questions and giving me longer explanations and I find Lashgari more straight forward with shorter answers. I think it depends on your personality on which style you prefer, but I prefer Elliott. If he gives me a short answer I just ask more quetions. I also find it helpful to ask both drs the same questions at every other appt to gauge their styles. I think Lashgari's bedside manner has greatly improved since delivering baby #1, but she still has a more matter-of-fact style.

With baby #1 I was more concerned with an unecessary c-sec from Lashgari who kept telling me that I need to be prepared for one with a large baby. I felt lucky when the nurses told me that Dr. Kilmer was on call and that among the dr's on call for each other in those groups she was very encouraging of a v-delivery.

I really, really liked Dr. Kilmer as well. I wanted to go as natural as possible and avoiding an epis was high on my list, but I didn't expect that it would happen because I'm not a large person and was expected to deliver a 9.5-10lb-der. If you really don't want one then put it on a birth plan and make it clear to the nurses and post it in your room. I think however the philosophy it that they really do wait to see if you need one during birth.

[Anonymous]

OP here- it was Lashgari that I asked. Thanks for the input - I think I need to just stop worrying about it and trust that the doula/my husband will advocate for me. It's really my only major preference, so hopefully I will get to have it.

[Anonymous]

I am a patient of Elliott and Lashgari's. Even though neither of them were present for the birth of my first, I think that Lashgari's answer is the honest one (even if her bedside manner isn't always great). The reality is, you never know what is going to happen during delivery. So she can't make any promises about it. I don't think either of them do episiotomies just because it makes it easier for them. They do it if it is an emergency. In my case, I really didn't want one. But when my baby's heartrate dropped and he needed to be vacuumed out, the doctor had to do an episitomy to do so. And under those circumstances, I didn't care what they did as long as they got him out ok. So as much as you may have preferences going into the delivery, and while it is good to try to respect and honor those preferences during delivery, you will have to wait and see how the delivery goes. Good luck!