Beyond Third-Degree Tearing

[Persephone1]

I'm just wondering what other's experiences are after suffering a third-degree tear during childbirth.

I've had a check-up with the Gynaecologist at the hospital and been told that the stitches have healed. I have no bowel incontinence. I have to go back for a check-up in three months but otherwise everything is fine, at least from a medical perspective.

Whilst everything is medically okay, I'm interested in hearing what other's experiences are after going through this.

Does going to the toilet (for no.2's) feel different? I feel like I need to "re-learn" how to go to the loo...anyone else? I have no pain or discomfort, it just feels "different." Um...it's hard to explain. Everything feels a bit tighter - perhaps this is from the scar tissue?

For those who have got this far...is DTD different after third-degree tearing? I haven't tried yet, I'm not quite ready. How do I know what is normal, and does it take long for it to feel normal?

And for those that suffered a third-degree tear for one baby and gone on to have another baby - did the tearing affect your next birth? Did you tear again? The gynaecologist suggested that I might like to think about a c-section for the next birth because of my tearing. I have no intention of doing any such thing - but please tell me I'm not setting myself up for more trauma by trying another VB?!

What's your experience?

[misty]

I suffered 3rd degree tearing with my first. Things were different down there afterward. Not bad as such, but definitely different. I didn't even try to DTD until about 6+ mths after having DD. It was different afterward, and required lots of lube, but better in some ways and worse in others.

I have gone on to have 2 more births with no tearing what-so-ever, just a little grazing with one of them. So tearing once does not mean tearing again.

[Twin Sister]

I just had my 2nd baby 2 weeks ago and I had 3rd degree tearing with both births, but both babies were posterior so I wasn't surprised. Things were normal in that department after baby #1 once my stitches healed up, but the tearing was worse this time around (TMI - went all the way through into my rectum) so even though things are functioning normally they do feel different. I'm still having pain there too but I'm not fully healed yet.

[Shanti]

I had a 3rd deg internal tear after DD's birth and whenever we DTD (we waited til she was 8wks first!!) it was uncomfortable. Wasnt' until she was 6mths that it felt totally normal again down there!!

Doing #2's etc always felt quite normal though so i was lucky in that way.

I'm interested in hearing stories with subsequent births though as I'm so scared of tearing badly again!! i felt it all too as i never had any pain relief. OUCH.

[Olive]

i had a 3rd degree tear with DD1, it was very uncomfortable to have sex for over a year after but it did get better, a lube called Sylk worked really well.
as for my next birth, i torn along my old epi scar and suffered another labial tear, as well as internal tearing BUT it was no where near as bad pain wise as the first time! i could actually sit down the next day unlike first time around! sex was still uncomfortable but not as much and for not as long.

[Persephone1]

Thanks for your stories ladies, I feel a bit better knowing that I'm not "damaged goods" and that my experience is normal.