Let's talk about stretchy perineums

LOL, because hey, why not!

No really, c'mon...

I was thinking today, about stretching during birth and perineum tearing and things like that, as you do, and I was also separately thinking about my lack of belly at almost 16 weeks and how maybe I won't get as big so no more new stratchmarks maybe? And then BANG just like that, with the BANG and everything, my thoughts collided and created a new thought...

Hey, is that how the universe began?

Anyway...

Thoughts collided, BANG, and new thought...

Do you think stretchy skin (i.e. no stretchmarks, or very few at least) is related to stretchy perineums? The more stretchy your skin is, the less likely maybe you are to tear? Maybe?
Mind you, this theory is NOT good news for me and my perineum if baby exists south... because I got a LOT of stretchmarks first time around, very unstretchy skin, it's like as my belly grew, the skin didn't stretch nicely, it just tore and created massive gouges that sort of resemble tiger stripes (I did consider getting them tattooed over with flames or pointy tiger stripes or something cool like that, but Jazz pinched one one day and it REALLY hurt so I've reconsidered that, and I'm NOT getting tattoos over my stretchmarks...).

So, let's talk stretchy perineums. Did you get stretchmarks? Did you tear? Is it more to do with positioning, counterpressure, doing the pant-not-push through crowning etc? What are your experiences? Is this just another crazy theory my brain has decided sounds good enough to be true...?

Hmmm interesting theory, I got one tiny stretch mark about 3cm long and I had no tearing just a labial graze.

Fingers crossed I'm as lucky 2nd time round :)

The OB that came and saw me after DD2 (I tore my vaginal wall, peri and had a small labial tear) had that theory too, till he saw that I had no stretchmarks!!! So I blew that theory out of the water!! I tore badly both times yet didn't get stretch marks (only on breasts)

I also had a PPH, they believe it came from the vaginal wall tear, I lost 1.5L

No stretch marks with any of the girls but got a second degree tear vaginal wall tear and a small labial tear with dd1. She was crowning and they told me not to push, well my body had other ideas and out she shot :). No tears with my second and third bubbas though :)

I went onto a few of my uni journal databases and found a couple of studies with the same theory, and apparently the results show that abdominal stretchmarks are a fair indicator of the chance of tearing.
Eeeep.
I guess that doesn't mean people without stretchmarks won't tear, it probably just means if I have a VBAC my poor perineum is likely to ... ouch ...

I didn't tear with either of my boys, but I did get stretch marks.

Plenty of stretchmarks here - tummy, thighs and boobs! No tearing.

Oh, maybe there's still hope for staying intact! Yay! lol

Eeeep, hope it's not true because I'll tear REALLY badly going on how many stretchies I've got.

i am covered in stretch marks and birthed a large baby without tears.

Love you sharing your thoughts!

Nope. I have skin that has no stretch. I have stretchmarks everywhere. With DD, I got big angry ones all over my belly. My boobs are a disaster because since they started growing, my skin has sagged under the weight.

I didn't tear a mm. Not at all, anywhere :) DD was 8lb 9oz and had a HC of 36cm.

Another with a ton of strechmarks & no tearing all 3 times :)

I think your theory is crazy but a well written and entertaining one ;) I did not get stretch marks in pregnancy and I didn't have any stitches when DS was born... So that part kinda proves your theory... BUT... I have stretch marks for high school!? I don't know why as I wasn't over weight, but they are there even though they are faded now and with a good sun tan you can't really see them. So that kinda blows your theory out of the universe. lol

I have the deep gouge stretch marks all over my belly. My belly is now all crinkly. First birth I had some internal tearing (no idea what, just that they stitched up something up there!). No tearing on the perineum though. Births 2 and 3 (who was 10lb) were both completely tear free, not a scrape. But they were water births and I am convinced that reduces tearing.

Same as Cherished. No stretchmarks or tearing here. I got stretchmarks on my thighs in high school :dunno:

Not a stretchmark from pregnancy in sight and pretty well 4th degree tearing. Its thought my tear happened when DD decided to shoot out into the world with her fist out to the side though :lol: FWIW it didnt hurt when it happened ;). Oh and I was upright to birth.

first pregnancy: not a single stretch mark, 3rd degree tearing and a fistula ...

second pregnancy: mild stretch marks, and a c-section.

No idea!:lol: I was reading 'Ina May's guide to childbirth' recently though and she was suggesting massaging oil? (don't quote me) in to the perenium and using warm packs during crowning. Apparently the heat was quite soothing!

p.s I had a mild tear, a stitch or two, and heaps of stretchmarks!

I got stretch marks on my thighs, hips and BOOBS in high school. *One* in pregnancy, and the little bugger popped up at 41+5!!

I had a 4kg baby, and grazing only?

I've heard the theory before, but put it in the same basket as the shoe size/pelvis theory. Whatever.

we have bad genes, and actually have traits of marfans syndrome in our family, which is when connective tissue doesn't stretch normal. I have stretch marks from growing, as does my brother all down his back (looks like he has been whipped) when really it is just from growing. because of this I thought for sure I would tear for miles... I only got a 1 degree (my surprise, i think this is brilliant), and a graze (albeit a bad graze). I also got stretch marks, but not til i was about 36 weeks

Interesting thought. I had only a couple stretch marks on my hips, quite a few on my butt. No tearing just urethra grazes

Hmm interesting thought.

You'll have me looking at the women I care for now :)

As for moi: Loaded with stretchies. Deep ones along my belly below my belly button. Got them just about everywhere else too.

We filmed Colbys birth and I was in all fours position when I birthed her. Too this day I have not seen a peri stretch like mine did! Honest to god, it was like elastic.

She was 4.28kgs and I didn't have a tear or any grazes at all.

Briley on the other hand, was 3.75kgs and I had labial grazing.

I've actually though it all has to do with the position and shape of the babes head.

For example, Briley had a really round, fat head and I learnt what the ring of fire was. Where as Colby, has a more oval type head and it was more her shoulders that hurt.

Anyone else notice anything like that?

Obviously if a baby is posterior you're more likely to tear as its the widest diameter presenting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, tonnes of stretch marks, big deep purpley ones in some places but no tearing both times.
Well DS was labial graze but more to do with the cord being around his neck (so i was told).
Both second stages <10mins and both babes 36cm head circumference.

loads of stretch marks on my belly and intact peri. I had a small labial graze which I would blame on his head positioning (deflexed - chin wasn't tucked in to his chest). He was 3.8kg with HC 37cm, and born in water.

:

---

I've actually though it all has to do with the position and shape of the babes head.

For example, Briley had a really round, fat head and I learnt what the ring of fire was. Where as Colby, has a more oval type head and it was more her shoulders that hurt.

Anyone else notice anything like that?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

I was shocked that I really had to push to get DD3's shoulders out as my first two their heads were definitely wider than their shoulders and I only had to give a little push and the rest slithered out. I was joking as I pushed DD3 out that she had her Dad's rugby player shoulders, saying that though I was only pushing for 3 minutes to deliver her

Stretchmarks over my ENTIRE belly. And in various other places from my teenage years - growth spurt. I have very unstretchy skin! But, I've never torn with any of my babies.
I've been coached to pant through the delivery of the head, and with my first baby, they used warm compresses on my perineum. Don't know how much of a difference that makes, but it felt good. :)

I wouldn't say I have horrendous stretchies on my belly but they are definately there and I didn't tear at all with all three births.. Infact my DD which was my third birth even came out with her hand by her head prosterior and still no tear.