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Childbirth

third degree tears

27 replies

taren · 26/05/2009 10:38

any positive stories about third degree tears

OP posts:

Report

daniwalkes · 26/05/2009 11:16

i didn't have a third degree tear but i did end up having an episiotomy to prevent the tear getting worse... i was so wooried about tearing or being cut but at the time you don't know or care whats happening and after all i can advise is to bathe the stitches as often as you can, and keep a little cup with you when you go to the toilet, fill it with warm water and pour it over the stiches as you go and it stops the stinging.
its not as bad as i thought it was going to at all and you recover so quickly.
have you already had the baby or due soon?

LessThenIdeal · 26/05/2009 12:43

I had a third degree tear and over 40 stitches. After a slight infection it healed well and haven't really had a problem with it since. Not sure how it'll hold up when i have this baby though.

learnermummy · 26/05/2009 19:18

I had a third degree tear with my DS 3 years ago. He delivered back to back without turning. Had it repaired under the epidural I already had in place and have had no problems at all since. Did take a lot of arnica before and after the delivery which I think helped the repair. Risk of repeat is said to still be low and apparently depends on birthing position (i delivered on my back last time) and breathing the baby out rather than pushing - but i'll let you know in a few days time!

Stinkermink · 26/05/2009 19:22

Hi Taren, I had a 3rd deg tear and was under a consultant for my second pregnancy because of this. The second consultant I saw said episiotmy all the way. I was incistant that I was not going to have a tear or cut of any kind. I had an epidural, much more relaxed and in control labour. I understood more about breathing and how and when to push. Listened to a (great) midwife and came away completely unscathed. Agree that arnica is fab and even if you don't tear, brilliant for the bruising of which you are bound to have some. Also if it is your second baby, muscle memory is a fantastic thing and your body knows what is going to happen and has been stretched before.

becktay · 26/05/2009 22:31

Hi there - I just got a 3rd degree and finding it a lot easier to recover from than the c sec I had last time. My community midwife also made an interesting point, she thinks that 3rd degree is in some ways better than 2nd because you get it stitched up in theatre under epidural by consultant. You also have follow up care and physio to help where as with a 2nd you are left to your own devices a bit.
Only got it three weeks ago though so can't talk to you about the long term effects!

Goober · 26/05/2009 22:33

I had one with DS1, now 14!
It ripped when I had DD, now 13 and has given me a 'monthly' ache ever since, that is even worse than normal period pains.

christie00 · 27/05/2009 00:00

Same story as learnermummy - but had to have further repairs 12 weeks later - was terrified of repeat this time around and eventually had elective c/s. I found that to be much easier to recover from than the tear - now it's 12 weeks and I feel completely normal again as opposed to last time! Think it's about feeling that this time it was under some sort of control...

If you've just had your tear, it will get better - I know it's scary when you go to the toilet or wash, etc, and TBH I still haven't been able to look at the area (2 years ago now), but don't forget you're not alone! There's a fantastic thread in General Health that will give you a lot of support - can't remember name of it now - milk brain again...

christie00 · 27/05/2009 00:04

Ooops, General Health - it's called sphincter injuries, fistula - support each other?

MrsMerryHenry · 27/05/2009 00:07

It took me a long while to heal, but I did heal.

taren, have you had a 3rd degree tear?

Dalrymps · 27/05/2009 00:11

I had a 3rd degree tear with my ds 18 months. It healed well and I was given good painkillers so never had that much pain in the early days. There was a point around 3 or 4 weeks when I had a little discomfort but I think it was just an undissolved stitch. I think I had a fistula around that time too and going for a number 2 was quite painful.

Having said all that it is fine now, sex likf is totally normal and conasultant says should be fone for vaginal birth next time

Dalrymps · 27/05/2009 09:46

likf? fone? I meant life and fine

I should add that I sustained the tear as ds was back to back and came out like superman, with one arm above his head!

Gillyan · 27/05/2009 12:10

I had a 3rd degree tear 3 n half years ago with first baby.

I can't really sday anything positive about it as such, what are you referring to? Healing?

I was lucky enough to have it picked up straight away and had surgery within an hr. I had no problems afterwards and healed well, I have had no incontinence issues either.

I am 34wks pregnant and have finally made the decsion to have an elect c/s this time as I am just too scared of it happening again and sustaining any further damage than last time.

Mamulik · 27/05/2009 13:35

I had lots of tears with my DD1, but none with DD2 - it all depends on midwife

Gillyan · 27/05/2009 20:16

I used arnica too, very good

taren · 28/05/2009 13:12

thanks for all your replies my first baby i had a episiotimy which healed fine and he was big baby the 2nd was also big but that time i had a 3rd degree tear and lost a lot of blood i was concerned about how long it takes to heal and further problems i might have as it feels a little sore still. there has been no infection and they say im healing well but im a little worried and i hadnt heard any positive stories concerning a third degree until now .its been 5 weeks things cant go wrong now can they?

OP posts:

taren · 28/05/2009 13:14

to becktay how is yours feeling now

OP posts:

LionstarBigPants · 28/05/2009 13:34

I had 3rd degree tear after pushing for 2 hours and DD appearing with hand up to her cheek. Had an episiotomy too. Was stitched in theatre, annoyingly enough needed a spinal block for this after doing the whole labour on G&A only . Was painful for the first week, and needed ABs for a possible infection starting. However after 2 weeks was much more comfortable. Internal stiches didn't dissolve for 6 months , but overall the repair was a good one, haven't had any incontinence problems or sex issues. Didn't get any follow up care particularly though, so am surprised to hear this is usual in some areas.

Am 22 weeks now with subsequent pregnancy (2.5 years later) and have been given the all clear by coinsultant and midwives to attempt a home water birth this time . Have been told risk of tearing is no greater this time, and am hoping the water element will help (plus lots of kegel excercises and perineal massage)

LadyPinkofPinkerton · 28/05/2009 13:44

I had a 3rd degree tear with DS1, needed a spinal block to be stitched in theatre, and was on antibiotics just in case of an infection.

Did not really experience any pain from it and no lasting problems. I also never had any follow up on my tear

Have since had DS2 with a 2nd degree tear(big babies and small me unfortunately).

Gillyan · 28/05/2009 16:16

I had no follow care either.

There was no obvious reason for my tear either 0 like some women on here it was a contributing factor having things lke big babies or a funny presentation or instrumental delivery etc. That si why I am having an elective c/s this time as i don't feel there is anything I could do differently this time. The only other explanation I have been given is that I may just have 'friable' tissue and therefore would just tear anyway.

Hope you heal well

BexieID · 15/06/2009 13:46

I created a post in pregnancy RE: having a 3rd degree tear with my first and now expecting a 2nd!

I am 12 weeks and am due on xmas day. My consultant on friday mentioned me having an elective section at 39 weeks. I'm overweight, BMI is 47, so have that against me. I need to way up the pros and cons off both, but wondered if anyone had any experience? My recovery from having Tom wasn't too bad really, was just a bit shaky for a few weeks after. Recovery from a section will mean I can't drive for 6 weeks, so no idea how i'll get Tom to nursery. Tom is 3.

After reading a few sites today, i'm tempted to go for it and ask if I can try different positions rather than being confined to a bed like last time.

mags98 · 15/06/2009 17:03

Bexie, you will more than likely be able to drive way before 6 weeks if you have an elective section. I had one 5 weeks ago and have been driving for 2 1/2 weeks with no problems at all

becktay · 16/06/2009 20:58

Hi Taren,
Just had 6 week check up today and am healing well. Sorry TMI - haven't road tested yet!
Certainly don't have any pain anymore, just a sense that it will take a lot of pelvic floor exercises and a bit of time to get back some tone. Have another physio appointment in a couple of months so hope all will be improved. Also was lucky I haven't had any incontinence probs or anything. OB thinks tear was caused by pushing baby out in 10 mins flat, twas too quick!

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Whitetara · 19/06/2009 21:13

I had one with my dd. It took a few months to be back to functional and a few more to feel normal again. I've been advised to try and have as natural birth as possible this time round (I had an epidural last time and gave birth on my back as was told to at the time). I was also told that waterbirth is a not a good idea this time either. Am a bit apprehensive about the next birth but am due to start some perineal massage which might help a bit.

essexgirl31 · 20/06/2009 08:28

I had a third degree tear with DS1. He came out with his arm in the wrong place - by his head I think. I healed really well and had no problems. I lost a lot a blood - the anaemia made me feel awful but that soon sorted itself out. I had DS2 12 days ago - had a water birth and got 2nd degree tears. I can't even feel them now!

Jackaroo · 21/06/2009 07:04

Mine was OK - painful but I had other things to think about which put it in perspective. Had a great follow up appt. 6 weeks post-partum where the uro-gynaecologist was convinced it couldn't all be as OK as I said it was... was baffled! Anyway, the doctor who "let" it happen was completely mortified as she had been planning an epi, and didn't give herself enough time....... so she was very very careful witht eh repair.

Maybe it was better because they dealt with it straight away? Anyway, after about 6 months I didn't have any discomfort in interesting moments, and if anything came out of it in much better shape than I went in!

Next baby coming tomorrow, and am very worried that I won't be so lucky this time around!

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