Birthing upright and tearing?

I have been thinking about upright birthing positions and tearing - specifically where you tear. I have always given birth in a semi reclined position, as that is what I felt like at the time, but I have always wondered about a more upright position and where you tear. A friend of mine gave birth in a squat both times and both times she tore upwards towards her urethra - which caused her a lot of pain and discomfort in the healing process. So my main question is how do you avoid tearing like this in this position? how does the area get supported during the birth of the head when it isn't visible if you're on your knees, facing away from the midwife? It's just something I wanted to know JIC I do use this position.

sherie i birthed semi reclined and tore upward and had an episiotomy, probably not much help!!
BATH had a thread a while ago about an ancient birthing position in an upright position

That's right! I will have to go and re-read that.

Hi Sherie,
I just birthed my Son in an upright position - standing above the toilet. It hadn't been planned as I had just been climbing out of the spa in the delivery suite. There was no midwife there until his head was almost out so therefore no one supporting anything except me. I didn't tear at all. Not sure if that helps but goes to show you may not tear in that position. Good luck

Sherie, I haven't birthed completely upright myself either but I do know that quiet often when a mum is birthing like that often she will hold a compress on the front of herself, supporting her vagina, just as the midwife will on the perineum. I can only imagine how much it would hurt to tear that way.

Hi - i birthed upright, kneeling in the shower - I didn't tear at all. the midwife could see everything via a mirror they placed underneath me (the water was running and if they had actually looked they would have been drowned). It isn't actually necessary to support the perineum anymore - if the midwife is confident in her practice by viusally viewing the region she would know when there is a need to support the area. Anyway, as I said, I didn't tear and I really think it was my position that helped with this. Anyway, also goes to show that you don't always tear in this position.

yep trish it hurts!!!! still does! that spot hurts more wehn 'attmpting' to DTD the the perinium!!

I didn't tear at all, and I too birthed upright knealing on the bed leaning over the top of the bed head. I was also facing away from everyone. Like nessa it was tricky turning around but it was one of the most beautiful memories... I reached through my legs to grab him, I remember it like it was yesterday. AMAZING!

*hugs*
Cailin

Sherie,

I birthed DS2 upright in a squat and had a small <1cm tear down the perinuem. Didn't even need stitches. All the m/w did was make sure I wasn't pushing too fast, and she assisted from behind me. When he emerged, she passed him to me through my legs!

It definitely made it easier for me, made me feel more proactive, and so I definitely know it can be done without (much) tearing.

I tore 3 cm with Charlie, and was in semi-recline.

Cai - Just on a side note....when you birth leaning over the bed, you have said it is awkward to turn around. How exactly do you? Does someone hold the baby for you? With the cord still attached? I hadn't really thought about it until now.....

I passed Seth to Marc who lent in and with me as I turned around, it really wasn't that difficult it was just a matter of Marc making sure there was no tension on the cord so he moved as I moved if that makes sense. Weird but I'd do it the exact same way if I had to do it again :) I'm getting all tingly goosebumps just thinking about it.

I'm so excited for you Linda ;) And cheering you along... :hug:

*mwa*
Cailin

Aww Thanks Cai!!!! I need all the cheering I can get!! ;) That description makes total sense, thanks for explaining. What a lovely memory!! I hope I have something like that soon! :D

I gave birth standing up and had no tear at all. My labour was fairly quick too (less than 3 hours) and took only two pushes to get him out, so I thought I would've torn, but no! Good luck!

AJP, I can only imagine hun. Ouchies big time.

Thank God I have never teared, not with any of my births. My only issue with birthing in a squat, which was my original plan with Tehya is having to let someone else grab bub. When she was born it was me that pulled her up. This time it will be strictly my hands only.

I am hoping to be upright, but more than anything in a position I choose at the time...

I was happily standing/leaning over the handbasin attached to the wall in the labour ward, then when I buzzed the midwife (whom had kindly left us alone!) to check as I started to feel things were getting close she asked me to move to the bed so she could have a quick look & as I did climb onto the bed my waters broke & so I was on my back....

This time I will stay put as i was comfy & happy over the basin!

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's just something I've always wondered as you would think that leaning forwards would mean that there is more pressure on the front, rather than the back, hence the tears happening in that area. Not sure about supporting it myself - I can hardly touch it now LOL.

And thanks Cai for explaining exactly how you turn around once the baby is born - I wondered that too :)

I birthed Matilda in the same position as Cailin described. I did tear, but in my perineum. At the time the midwife was supporting my peri - I am pretty sure she held a warm cloth to the area while I was crowning, but I still tore anyway. It didn't hurt though and I healed really well.

I didn't turn around afterwards - so I didn't get to see Matilda as she came out. Immediately after the birth I kind of went into myself and just shut my eyes and didn't move for ages. I was barely aware of what was going on around me and because I was facing away from everybody I couldn't see what was going on either. I had a couple of minutes of blissful rest and then I kind of woke up and realised that I had just had a baby!