Tearing During Birth

[BellyBelly]

I am in the process of working on an article on tearing, since the issue comes up so often!

I'm after anyone's experiences with tearing, i.e. did you tear and if so, to what degree, if so did you know at the time, and did it distract you from the birth - I know there are some not so good stories out there but I am hoping to compile some better ones too, as it's often a top fear that women have of labour. Also anything that helped you post birth with tearing relief.

[Antheia]

I spose mines a good one. I had a 2nd degree tear and received 20 or so stitches, but I never felt myself tear. I never even felt the burning sensation people talk about when the head crowns. So I never knew if i did and had to ask. I think i got such a bad tear because the doctor used vacuum extraction and there was no time for an episiotomy. But even 13 months later i still am so careful when DTD because i'm scared i'll hurt myself where i tore, so still very touchy about it. but i found salt water baths helped a lot and cloths drentched in cold water helped for temporary relief. I remember i could hardly sit down for the first 2 weeks though.

[mumofbundlezofjoy]

Mines a really good story too, didnt tear with #1 and #2,, #3was a csec, #4 I had a 2nd degree tear, (4625gm baby vbac) Baby had shoulder distocia, needed stitches ( never asked how many) didnt feel a thing, even whilst being stitched( small sting from needle) up and about in 1/2hr, felt great pain not even too bad, by 5 days, felt "normal" down there, has never restricted sex life, and was only 6mths ago, dont feel or look any different.

[Fenella]

I had a fairly small second degree tear with 3 stitches. I didn't feel it tearing at the time. Afterwards it stung a bit for a week or so but wasn't too bad.

[Beckibee]

Had a vaginal birth with only a small 1st/borderline 2nd degree tear; not because I wasn't stretching to fit her naturally, but because they pulled at her quickly as her head emerged because her heart-rate dropped quite dramatically apparently.

As I was in 2xtopped up epidural land, I didn't feel the tear, nor the stitches being done.

Salt baths definately helped!

[Lucy]

I had internal grazing with Olivia, I think from the fact that her shoulders got stuck? No tearing with Charlie: he slid out like a bar of soap!

My real fear was that because I didn't really tear much that I would be overly stretched in that region, if you get my drift?!

I am still a bit paranoid that that area may be a bit loose.......I check with Andrew fairly regulary, but he assures me that it is as tight as always....TMI I know, but there you have it!

[Kirsty77]

Hehehehe Lucy had a giggle at you asking Andrew if you felt loose!PMSL!....sorry!

[Trillian]

#1 was an episiotomy and 2&3 were 1st degree tears only requiring 3 stiches. The epi hurt more and even though i was numbed, I could feel the sensation of cutting and it was hard to sit for ages and quite uncomfortable. Salt baths helped. With the girls i tore both times, and did feel the 'burning' sensation, but it didn't hurt as much afterwards. All three times i recovered quite well.

[Angel]

I had a 1st degree tear that the midwife said was just big enough to require a few stitches. I wasn't even aware of it during the birth itself.

[misty]

i tore pretty bad, all the way back to my butt hole and had a large number of internal stitches and external ones. i don't know if i felt the tearing or not, as all the pain in that region kind of blurred. i didn't realise i had torn (although i was not surprised) until my ob started stitching me up. for the first 3 days after, i barely even noticed the stitches or the tear. since then (it has now been a week) i have been noticing it more, i think because it is healing the stitches are being pulled a bit. the only time i really find it painful is when going to the loo.

[CathyS]

I tore with my VBAC with my son (2nd baby). I never felt myself tear, andI was told I got 10 stitches. They healed fine. I feel normal down there. What I hated more was probably the haemorroid I got for the first time after giving birth! Sitting down was a pain for a week afterwards, then I felt normal again!

I did feel a burning/stinging sensation when the head came down. But was bearable. I actually felt the contractions worked well during the pushing as I was upright giving birth.

Cathy

[Tracey]

With maddy I tore but had no idea, they never told me how many stitches but they healed really quickly & I agree warm salt baths, but if you also have cracked nipples 'DO NOT LET YOUR NIPPLES GET IN THE WATER!' OUCH!!!!!!

With Indah she stopped breathing so no time for pain relief or anaesthetic, they simply cut me (midwife did ask first & said baby needed to be born now!) So ofcourse I agreed for my babies safety, I have no idea how many stitches, but i think she used 3 different coloured spools of thread! 8-[
Still tender when DTD, but have to say like Kate feels like it's super tight down there, which could be me just tensing up a little...

I prefer to tear if it has to happen next time.... It healed HEAPS faster!!!

[Yael]

I had a vacuum extraction, after i had been pushing for over an hour as DS turned posterior right at the end...

Anyway, I tore twice (both first degree), although my obs didn't ever tell me how many stiches i had (i think he said the first tear had like 6 knots in it), and the 2nd had about 2 i think??

I was given 3 locals before hand, so although i could feel the head coming out, i didn't feel the tearing, which was probably a good thing!

I think they are pretty much healed, although the 2nd tear was more on the inside, and i can still feel the knots to the stiches (i would have thought they would have dissolved by now??)...

Salt water baths i found were great around day 4 when the stiches start to get really tight! Also, i found feeding lying down easier as i found it really hard to sit on my bottom for a while! And being terribly constipated after birth didn't help.. I was too scared to go to the toilet incase i tore my stiches open