My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

If you had a third degree tear with your first...

24 replies

JamThenClottedCream · 29/12/2018 19:21

Please tell me about your second delivery Smile

OP posts:
Report
BeeFarseer · 29/12/2018 19:24

It was a planned section due to the issues I had healing from the tear. Good job really, because DS2 was breech and it hadn't been spotted.

I had issues healing from the section but nothing near the scale of problems following the tear. It was a lovely, calm delivery.

Report
TokyoSushi · 29/12/2018 19:25

It was a planned section! Absolutely lovely, almost like a mini break!

Report
HexagonalBattenburg · 29/12/2018 19:27

10 1/2 months later (yes that close)... fast labour - sub 15 minutes and minimal tearing.

Report
JHaniver · 29/12/2018 19:30

I had a third degree tear in my first labour, repaired in surgery and healed without any problems. Second labour was fine, if a little bit quick. Midwife said it had gone so well and I’d ‘done everything right’ (whatever that means) and was surprised to find a second degree tear. A doctor came and stitched me up. To be honest I was terrified, after having the bliss of a spinal block the first time, but they let me have loads of gas and air and it was fine.

I felt great afterwards, was running around in the park with my older one within a week, and I haven’t had any problems since.

Report
Whatififall · 29/12/2018 19:32

I haven’t had a 2nd baby but I was told by consultant that any future births would have to be planned c sections.

Report
RockinRobinTweets · 29/12/2018 19:33

Elcs - amazing. Wasn’t willing to risk faecal incontinence despite healing well & having no issues. The consultant said that elcs was the only way to guarantee that outcome.

Report
LouiseHumphreys81 · 29/12/2018 19:34

Nasty 3rd degree tear with my first requiring surgical repair. Second was a lovely calm planned c section and my recovery was much quicker from that than the tear.

Report
PlugUgly1980 · 29/12/2018 19:35

I had a third degree tear with my first, had to go to theatre and have it stitched under a spinal block. Saw The Consultant with my second, who was happy for me to have another natural birth. Second was born 23 months after my first, and I only had grazing, and a tiny tear (single stitch) which the midwife did there and then whilst I was still benefiting from the epidural.

Report
Jimbo84 · 29/12/2018 19:36

I hmmd and ahhh for months about a planned CS wondered if I was overthinking it and maybe I would have an easier 2nd vaginal delivery. in the end the choice was taken out of my hands when my little pudding growth slowed and they booked a caesarean for her to come out 3 weeks early. It was the most lovely experience and I have had a very positive post partum compared to last time. I never went to the doctor but on hindsight with this experience I can now see I had pnd and the tear and subsequent months of physio definately had an impact. Even now he thought of being taken away for hours from my first new born baby to get surgery to fix the tear makes me want to cry.
Are you being given the choice of CS? Most consultants told me I would be fine gave a low % of tearing again and recommended a vaginal delivery, only the fact that I got teary everytime we talked about the birth plan did they keep bringing me in to review and that was when they noticed her growth slowing down. It was 2 weeks before Christmas and I didn’t think they wanted to risk it so out she came!
Hope you find your resolution x

Report
BunnyCake · 29/12/2018 19:38

I had this and also a PPH. Thought I'd be expected to have another natural birth but the consultant advised me to have a planned caesarian. She thought there was a risk of more tearing causing incontinence and also mentioned shoulder distocia (sp?) I went along with it

Report
ToowhitToowhoo · 29/12/2018 19:38

Third degree tear with my first, then had my second whilst living outside of the UK. I had a normal vaginal delivery with the second and only had a small tear, needing a couple of stitches but nothing more.

Thinking about it, I'm surprised that the previous third degree tear didn't feature as more of an issue when planning my second birth, but the drs/nurses were aware and didn't flag it as an issue needing to change plans. I think that I had better care during about with my second, and the pushing was better managed (with the first I didn't realise that I was pushing, and there were no midwives around for long stretches of time, so my tear was as a result of my manic pushing without realising this was what I was doing).

So, my experience is that the second birth did not pose a problem with another major tear.

Report
MrsBrill · 29/12/2018 19:38

I had a 3rd deg tear following an episiotomy with baby no1. Second baby was born at home, as I felt that in hospital interventions would be more likely, leading to a repeat performance. Had to argue a bit for a home birth but they agreed in the end. C section wasn't on the cards - doctors and midwives didn't mention it at all as an option.

I had a small tear during my 2nd labour which healed fine without stitches.

Report
TheOnlyAletheia · 29/12/2018 19:38

ELCS - really great experience

Report
Member341379 · 29/12/2018 19:39

I had a 3rd degree tear from my first. I was straight to theatre after the birth and repaired well. I didnt tear on my 2nd or 3rd (both over 9lbs and both vaginal births). I must admit I was anxious by subsequent births.

Report
thatwhichwecallarose · 29/12/2018 19:47

Seems I’m in the minority then!!

3rd degree tear due to compound presentation. Endoanal scan at 6 months showed I had healed well. As I was showing no signs of incontinence (other than stress incontinence) and the reason for the year was unlikely to occur again we agreed there was no need for an ELCS next time.

Fast forward 3.5 years and I had an almost identical delivery! Compound presentation followed by 3rd degree tear.

I’m not planning anymore but if it happens I will definitely be having an ELCS.

Report
Snotonmyshirt · 29/12/2018 19:48

Had a planned section second time as they said chance of incontinence after a second vaginal delivery would be 10% and I didn’t fancy that - best decision of my life. Was a dream come true compared to first time - out after 24 hours, as opposed to 4 days with first, and was so much more comfortable afterwards

Report
hazeyjane · 29/12/2018 19:52

1st was 3rd degree tear, following episiotomy and ventouse, requiring surgery.

2nd was 2nd degree tear, stitched in labour room...bodged...so then required surgery.

3rd was ELCS, which was worse than the first 2 births

(I just think I'm a bit shit at giving birth...)

Report
MoMandaS · 29/12/2018 19:55

Second birth was twins. At first I'd been adamant I'd have a section following awful drug-free first birth with third degree tear, but was put off by the thought of physical restrictions stopping me look after toddler and newborn twins. Had epidural soon after they put me on the induction drip, protracted delivery due to first twin getting head stuck and ended up with 2nd degree tear that the midwife stitched up there and then. Much better experience. Good luck!

Report
Deeedeeee · 29/12/2018 20:03

1st I was told was "borderline 3rd degree" but actually classed as 2nd so not sure if I count?? Fast delivery, TENS only, no interventions. Had issues healing from stitches and pain for months, didn't think I'd ever be the same again.
2nd delivery 3.5 years later, even quicker (1 hour from first contraction to birth) again TENS only (no time for anything else) and 2nd degree tear (this time an average 2nd degree one rather than borderline 3rd) and was absolutely fine afterwards, no problems healing, much less discomfort and didnt take long to feel back to normal.

Report
turquoise88 · 29/12/2018 20:11

My first delivery was a 3rd borderline 4th degree tear (baby 7lb 12oz).

My second delivery, I had no tearing at all, Baby was 8lb 15.5oz. I'm convinced that the water birth helped.

Report
NeffSaid · 29/12/2018 22:38

First birth - waterbirth, 3rd degree tear

Second birth - waterbirth, 2nd degree tear - recovery a breeze

Third birth - on dry land, 3rd degree tear, recovery much easier than first time

The consultant I saw when pregnant with my second said that there was no reason for me to have an ELCS if I didn’t want one. And I really didn’t want one!

I didn’t see a consultant during my third pregnancy but my midwife was very supportive of my home birth (in fact she suggested it) and, although it was annoying going to hospital after the birth, I’m still very glad I did it that way.

Report
XOhTriangleSquare · 29/12/2018 22:42

3c tear with my first (forceps, massive baby). Needed surgical repair after nine months of physio not helping.

Had an ELCS with my second. It was fantastic. Healed in two weeks, compared to a year of fuckery that was caused by the tear.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Pyracantha1 · 29/12/2018 22:47

I had a third degree tear with my first and it took over six months to feel totally OK and pain free. I was given the choice of having an elcs but opted for a vaginal delivery. The second time round I had a second degree tear which was stitched up by the nurse in the delivery room. I felt really well after two weeks and completely well within a month.

Report
Blondiemama · 30/12/2018 05:40

3rd degree tear with first, ongoing issues since 4 years down the line. Requested and was granted a planned section this time. Had DS2 two weeks ago by ELCS - totally different experience. Really relaxed and positive and I’m feeling great after.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.