Questions, questions! For 2nd time birth

Ok I have been thinking about this birth and have a few q's.
With DD I was induced due to leaking waters, it ended up being my hind waters and it was really only a trickle. I went into hosp two or three days after it started (can't remember how long it actually was now...) and was induced pretty much straight away. The nurse and then the ob went off at me for waiting so long to go in even though I was in contact with the hosp the day after I started leaking and the midwives said to stay home until the trickle was more significant!
Anyway, one question is how long is it before it is dangerous to bubs and how much of a leak is 'significant' enough to go to hospital? It was only just enough to soak a pad in a couple of hours. It ended up that my fore waters had to be artificially broken anyway.
I really want to avoid being induced this time as I don't think DD was ready to be born. As well as me being in a bit of shock after having to have her unexpectedly, contractions started straight away and were pretty strong for the whole time (24hrs). I also haemorraged(sp) afterwards and all of this is what I put my inability to fully bf DD and to bf at all without drugs to help.
Another question is I had an epesiotomy(sp) and ended up with about 4 stitches I think. How likely is it I will end up with one again? I don't think I have very stretchy skin- I have stretch marks from my last pg from my ribs to my pelvic bone and around to my sides, so I don't think it's all that likely to be stretchy 'down there'! It (epesiotomy) was due to me pushing for over 3hrs with little progress and was a last resort before they took me for a c/s.
I really want a natural birth this time. I am immensly proud of myself for birthing DD vaginally, though also wanted a natural birth with her, but I believe that due to the length and being induced with DD I ended up having gas and two shots of pethadine despite the fact I knew I would be really sick and vomitting with them.
That's all I can think of at the mo, but there is more I'm sure! My thoughts aren't very ordered at the moment.

Kel

I am not sure about the length of time for the waters but I can tell you that even though your belly skin was not overly stretchy, your perenium may be stretchier than you think. I have tonnes of stretch marks too and with Sarah I has a 1st degree tear (only a couple of stitches) and with Emma I had a graze. did you feel the urge to push? It feels like uncontrollable diahorrea. If not then you may not have been quite ready to push when you were told to iykwim. If you want to make sure you can stretch then get into the perineal massage now and it will help. You will heal better from a tear than from an episiotomy so it is better to tear.

Stretchy skin doesn't mean your perinuim wont stretch naturally if it's given time! I had no urge to push and pushed for about 2 hours when told (silly me, next time I'll just wait adn conserve my energy!) adn I only tore a tiny bit and didn't need any stitches. I did perinial (sp) massage from about 37 weeks, which helped me know what to expect when bubs was crowning.

A warm flannel on your perinium will decrease the chance of tearing as it will encourage blood flow to the area, making it less tight so to speak. And water will support the perinium so again, less chance of tearing. Have you thought about a water birth?

ETA: I used EPO from 36 weeks (orally and otherly).

Hi there

I too have been looking into time between waters breaking and induction - comes down to hospital policy - you can go in, get some monitoring check no sign of infection etc and go home again for a limited time, but if you go in and stay - you WILL be induced. check it out with your hospital and midwives.

re : tearing - I read a thread on here that was new to me - using evening primrose oil capsules from around 36 weeks helps soften everything which is nice if you have had previous tears like me! I think it was in 3rd tri discussion - dosage for epo - you take a couple of capsules, and insert a couple of capsules close to your cervix overnight and there you go!! Amazing how much you still learn and I have had 2 kids LOL

Good luck - i have had drip twice and am really aiming for natural birth fingers crossed so looking into all my options :)

Thanks for the replies.

Ali, I did get the urge to push for quite a while and the midwives were telling me not to (which is sooo not a nice feeling!!), so they did wait until I was adequately dialated, so I don't think that is what caused them giving me the epesiotomy. I think it was just that I'd had such a long pushing stage and they wanted to get DD out, wvwn though she wasn't in distress, though I was absolutely buggered.

Cat, I think a water birth would be great, I'm not sure if my hossy provides them though, I will have to ask about it. I unfortunately, can't afford to have any kind of other birth than one in a public hospital (ie no private midwives/doula/homebirth).

Sam, thanks for the info, I will have to talk to my midwives about their policies, etc...I know they can't do anything without your permission, but when a health care professional is telling you it's the best thing to do, you believe them, kwim?
I used evening primrose with DD, which may have been why my waters leaked...though never used it to do massage.
Good luck with your natural birth too :D

Kel - I had a 4th degree tear from forceps delivery after being induced with my first and went on to birth my son naturally without drugs and a minimal tearing (just a slight 2nd degree - not on the scar).

You can do this!!

Kel I had an episiotomy and forceps with stitches from here to everywhere with DD1 and none not even a smalll graze with DD2 and DS so it is possible! All of mine have been over 8lb too

Kel, I know where you are coming from! I was induced with no 1 unexpectedly and wanted a natural start to labour for no 2. I ended up having an ARM at 4 days post as I had been in prelabour for 3 wks and was 4cm dilated already and over it.

Not sure about the water but I had an episiotomy with #1 which was similar to yours dr said I was too tired and cut without even asking me! I never even felt any stretching. We did perineal massage and put in birth plan that it was important for us NOT to have an epi. I delivered in all fours position with no tearing just a small graze and recovery was sooo much quicker. My first words after she was born was "did I tear" I was so excited that it had gone so well and completely proved that my first episiotomy was unnecessary.

Kel,

You must be feeling nervous after your first labour... but try and think positive because every labour is different (I know its easy for me to say)

I was also induced the first time. It was a long drawn out painful birth too! When I fell pregnant with my DS I told the doctors I wanted to do everything possible to avoid an induction.

I was lucky the second time & had my DS only three days over the due date. My labour was only 2 hours long & I only spent 1 hour of the labour in hospital. My waters broke just minutes before my son was born. When the MW told me I had no tears I was completely surprised! I too have many many stretch marks.

Good luck with everything!

Kellie, there is no real reason to expect to have another epi this time around, although scarred skin doesn't stretch as good as un scarred skin. You can use epo on your perineum as it helps to soften scar tissue. You can take them orally and also massage it into your perineum.

Water is great to help support your body as you are birthing. What hospital are you going through.

As for your waters leaking. Well they won't know how long it's been leaking unless you tell them will they ;)

Great support is a good thing to have when you are birthing, it really can make all the difference. I know you said you can't afford private help, but you could perhaps look into getting a trainee doula, someone who you don't have to pay. Work's out great for both of you then.

Goodluck hun and I'm sure all will be fine.