Well.....For my first birth, I picked an OB that didn't do routine episiotomies.  She said that she would do it if she had to.  She had to.  And I still tore - episiotomy AND a third degree tear.

My second birth I had a second degree tear and it was nothing, but it was along the old epi line.

Honestly, I am not sure I would have CHOSEN either!

Brenna:

Well.....For my first birth, I picked an OB that didn't do routine episiotomies.  She said that she would do it if she had to.  She had to.  And I still tore - episiotomy AND a third degree tear.

My second birth I had a second degree tear and it was nothing, but it was along the old epi line.

Honestly, I am not sure I would have CHOSEN either!

That sounds exactly like my 2 births. I got cut the first itme an tor beyond that, then this time the doc tried some stretching and i still tore but i think i healed better from the second birth than the first.IDK why but it seemed better to just tear than to be cut and tear. 

I was cut for my first birth and OMG NEVER again!!!!!! It hurt about 1000000 times worse healing than tearing! with the 3rd I went natural and I tore.. and I felt EVERY SINGLE STICH even with numbing stuff ??? .... I'd rather that then being cut anyday!!!!!!!!

Soooo many girls knowing how much an episiotomy SUCKS!!!!! The healing hurts so bad. Especially when it gets to the point of scabbing over, when you move and it pulls... I cringe just thinking about it. I didn't cry during child birth, I balled during the healing process!!!

Choose is a bad word, I didn't choose this. My baby has a large noggin and after a really long time of pushing he wouldn't come out and I didn't tear.

With my first, I was given a 2nd degree episiotomy and tore to a 4th degree.

 After my first, I found SO much information on how episiotomies increase your chances for infection, tearing beyond the episiotomy, mega-wounds, recto-vaginal fistula, urinary incontinence, pain, etc... With my subsequent births, I chose to tear if it came to that.

 I praticed perineal massage and had warm compresses and mother-led pushing during labor and birth. None of them tore me. Even my 36circumference headed son didn't tear me.

I was cut even though I asked not to be before the birth started. It hurt so bad, I was so mad at my ob. I am definitely going to insist on no cutting this time, I have had trouble with my scare being painful during sex a whole year after giving birth. I'm still mad I had one and would rather tear any day.