Just a question about tearing

[Mad Scientist]

I'm just wondering if not tearing means that your birthing technique was better than normal? I don't mean this thread to be antagonistic or anything. I just want to understand the different ideas and attitudes towards tearing.
I needed an episiotomy with DD1 as her HR had dropped and then with DD2 I tore. When it happened, I didn't really think about it and didn't really care that it had happened. As far as I was concerned there was nothing I could have done to prevent it. I was so focussed on pushing her out that I didn't even think about trying to prevent tearing. Some of the posts I've read on BB talk about labour and not tearing in the tone that it's something to be proud of, as of not tearing is a big achievement. I never thought of not tearing in that light as something that was an achievement. It's not that I don't think it's an achievement. I guess it's because I never really gave much thought to the issue. I was prepared that if it happened, it happened. I did do some preparation but maybe it was because of the episiotomy that I tore. I don't know. I'd just really like to hear how people feel about tearing or not tearing and what their head space is in regards to it. I just never thought of it as something that was worth mentioning (in my situation only). Please don't take this thread personally or in a negative way. It's a hard one to get across over a thread but I'm really interested in other people's thoughts......

[black_rose]

I tore because my labour was very fast dd was born 40 minutes after my waters broke so the midwife thought my body didn't have time to be prepared when I had to push. My ob and midwife thought I had hours to but I just had to push.

[sassy123]

with DD i didnt tear at all. i didnt really think of it at the time till they told me i hadnt and i was so happy lol. i didnt do anythign to prepare but when i was pushign the midwife held a hot washer on me between pushes so i dunno if that done anything. i had a epi so i coudlnt even feel the pushing part at the start and wasnt pushing prop but as soon as i got the push right she was out on 2 pushes. in saying that though i was stuck at 5cm dialated for hrs so i dunno if the slowly dialating helped stretch everything too.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

thats a good question, i have thought that before too. in my situation i had epi and internal tears with first birth and then had an episiotomy with second (due to scar tissue from first) i dont think i would have torn second time because the pushing stage (and whole labour really) was so different. i WISH i hadnt have torn. i guess i see it as an achievement when i hear other people saying they didnt, i am like wow good on ya. but having said that i dont feel bad about myself or my 'labouring skills' that i did. when people talk to me about not tearing i think some people see it as just a good thing, one less pain they had to go through. some others who put in a lot of effort to avoid tearing during pregnancy would see it as an achievment i think.

[Olive]

i think it can be a combo of many things, i had epi with DD1 and a labial tear, with DD2 i started pushing on all fours but had to turn over because i was starting to tear internally as her head decended, i also torn along part of my old epi site and had another labial tear, i also swell quiet badly too, i was reviewed the next day by a OB and he said im just unlucky that i tear and that i probably have lots of stretch marks due to lack of stretchy skin, i has NO stretch marks so that baffled him i was just unlucky and i think no matter how i birth, i will tear

[meow]

I think there is much you can do to help prevent tearing so I do think that not tearing can have a lot to do with a more optimum birth. I tore last time and getting stitches was such a traumatising experience for me that I will be working with my midwife to prevent tearing this time.

I had a few factors that contributed to my tearing:
- no perineum preparation
- birthed on a birthing stool
- coached to push very hard, though reminded to stop during crowning it's a bit hard to slow down after all that pressure to push
- midwife supported my perineum during crowning
- baby was on a slight angle
- baby was over 4kgs
- dry birth on land

Obviously not all of those could have been prevented and not all are guaranteed contributors to tearing but I'm aware that tearing isn't just a 'chance' thing and I hope to be in a more optimum position next time and we'll see what happens.