Stretch marks and tearing...any connection?

[mistyeiz]

Was lying in bed today and a question popped up in my head....

Does having stretch marks increase the chance of tearing during delivery assuming that you didnt get an epi done?

[Liz]

Ooh, what an interesting question! I would think the perinium is a different kind of 'skin' tho to our outside skin, and would stretch differently. I would think too that tearing was more positional than anything else.

I had patches of quite bad stretchmarks (I wasn't a roadmap that's for sure.. but my hips and on one inner thigh they were quite promininent) and I didn't tear.

Be interesting to see if there's an official answer to this one

[Ambah]

Not in my case... I have masses of stretchmarks (due to gaining around 40kg) during my last pg... but I birthed Aidyn (with a 37cm head) without tearing - just a graze!

[MantaRay]

I don't think there is. Certainly I had no stretch marks despite being huge, but tore with each birth (not as badly the second time, but there were forceps first time). I think the main factors for tearing are intervention, size of bub and pushing after crowning.

[mrsr]

I had no stretch marks but had an episiotomy as James had to be assisted out with forceps.

[mistyeiz]

from the looks of this - it's a big no! lol :P thanks ladies....was just wondering coz i dont have any stretch marks yet n hope that i dont get any at the last few weeks. hoping that i dont tear either. *keeps fingers crossed*

[visitor1]

I have a road map of Australia on my tummy and bb's from Chelsea....and i tore! 2nd Degree....

[mistyeiz]

I have a road map of Australia on my tummy and bb's from Chelsea....and i tore! 2nd Degree....

ouch!!! that's quite scary eh....how to differentiate a 2nd degree tear n so forth?

[Karina]

I also had no stretch marks at all, but got three 2nd degree tears.

[krysalyss]

Lots of stretch marks (Oh Mr Heinz - what a mess)
and no tearing. Grazes though as his hand was next to his ear.

[ticklish]

I really hope not because I would be in real trouble!

[visitor1]

Hope this helps:

2nd degree tear. A 2nd degree tear is a tear of the woman's perineum (the tissue that lies between the woman's lower vagina and her anus) and involves injury to the vaginal skin, the layer of underlying tissue and the pelvic floor muscles. The extent of a 2nd degree tear is equivalent to the injury caused by an average-sized episiotomy and will usually require stitches to help the muscles be rejoined, aimed at maintaining the effective functioning of the pelvic floor.

3rd and 4th degree tears. Occasionally a 3rd or a 4th degree tear occurs. These are more extensive tears of the perineum, both involving the vaginal skin, the underlying tissue and the pelvic floor muscles (similar to a 2nd degree tear). A 3rd degree tear will extend to reach the edge of the anus, but not go right through to the anus and a 4th degree tear will extend completely though to the anus

[mistyeiz]

thank kimbaz but OMG.....the thought of a 4th deg tear. *shivers*

[Ngala]

I was told during labour by my midwife that I would most likely tear or need to be cut because I have stretch marks. I ended up getting a 2nd degree tear.

so not sure if there is a connection!!