Subsequent Pregnancy after 3rd Degree Tear...

Hi All,

Not sure if anyone has any experiences they can share or advice? When I delivered DS in 2008, I had third degree tearing. The doc did an amazing job stitching me up and I've had no problems whatsoever with incontinence, pain or anything.

I'm currently pregnant again and have been told by the midwives that I'll have a higher risk of tearing again and that if I did tear again, it could lead to incontinence and other complications. One midwife even asked if I want a c-section! I don't want to have a c-section so is there anything I can do, or does anyone have experiences they can share?

I don't want to worry about it for the rest of my pregnancy but I'm also a little petrified of living a life stressing about every time I laugh or sneeze...

Thanks for sharing!

Hi,
I''m not sure this will be helpful but i will share my experience. I had rotational forceps with DD1 2.5yrs ago which resulted in a third degree episiotomy. I was petrified about tearing my old wound but was never told i needed a c-section. Unfortunately i have big babies and DD2 born 4wks ago was 10lb7oz. I had a third degree tear this time but she also had shoulder dystocia (shoulder got stuck) and i was 12 days over. I have been told that I shouldn't have anymore vaginal births by 2 different obs. This hasn't properly sunk in yet but i feel privileged to have given birth twice given that both times the outcomes may not have been great had i not been in the hands of trained professionals in a hospital.
Another person i know had a 3rd/4th degree tear with the first and then had to have a c-section and had her tubes tied as the ob said the pressure would be too much from another pg and she would end up with prolapse and severe incontinence. She is only 20.
I think it's important to try to work out why you tore the first time. Mine old wound was managed so might not have been as serious as a tear. I certainly feel that the level of worry this time has been a whole lot worse then the episiotomy and i am required to be monitored more closely this time.
Was your baby big? was it your position DYT?
Maybe if you can try to pin point what went wrong last time it may help you to make a decision as to what path to take.
One of the midwives at the hospital said that if i was to go natural again that i should wait at least 2 years and have u/s to make sure bub wasn't too big and to get induced if i had to but to me that only creates a range of other potential problems. I must say though that i would definitely have a 3rd degree tear over a c-section
as I was up and walking around as soon as i was sewn up and got to feed my baby straight away and i'm feeling pretty good down yonder but so much depends on how good your wound is managed and how well you look after it and how good the advice you get is. I was lucky enough to have an ob who specializes in pelvic floor stuff so was very helpful.
Anyway sorry for the rant and i apologize it i didn't make much sense (baby brain) but i wanted to share my thoughts with you.
GL on your decision.