in thinking calling vagina tearing, "tearing" is ridiculous, when really vaginally ripping would seem more accurate

[carriedababi]

ripping or being pulled apart would probably seem a more realistic term in some cases

not saying ripping will ever catch on, i sure it won't

but the term tearing, make it sound like a little paper cut.

i had 4th degree "tears" with dd
repair op and all that
and i find alot of peoplesay oh i had a bit of tearing too, when perhaps they don't realise what 4th degreee "tear" is

bite marks in the towel!

Sorry the audible splitting has brought back bad memories - it's the only way I could describe it. It wasn't as painful as the ripping even though I had an epidural for that (I can only assume it had worn off!) It's more the sound that still makes me wince. Same as the sound of my waters going - didn't notice it with the first but it sounded like a car backfiring with the second. Maybe the midwife was a little trigger happy with the diamorphine second time round!

Unfortunately SPD didn't help in my case - I was on crutches with it for the latter half of preg number 2. No more kiddies for me I don't think! Although as a positive to anyone who is expecting I have a friend who genuinely ENJOYED her labour and said it was A BIT uncomfortable at times!!!!!

OOh and I also found the heavier baby easier (9lb 5.5 - the .5 is VERY important. And no drama to report with first poo and I didn't poo when I pushed so not all bad!

oh god hearing the ripping must be horrendous

Hmm... I had an episiotomy that extended to 3rd degree tear. Lovely. I get a ELCS next time (if there's a next time) because the consultant is worried I'll be left incontinent!!! Eek!

I too sustained a 4th degree "tear" (surgery, epidural after the fact, etc) and I kind of agree. I have been known to describe it as being "split from front to back". sorry. call a spade a spade.
I didn't hear anything either, was too busy roaring.
Back to physio again tomorrow to check on muscle strength. (ds is 16 wks).
How are you getting on carriedababi?

aw how nice of you to ask first

well tbh the scars do still hurt, feels sore quite a bit, do i do feel in the last year im started getting over it mentally
it feel heavy sometimes, esp when im on my period, like my insides are going to fall out, but ive been checked over in hospital, and they say ive got good muscle tone[was tense as hell though!]
and everything is where it should be...

had nightmares for a year!
nightmare where always about being operated on or having a baby

good luck with your physio

it isn't as bad as it was when i was only 16 weeks in, hope you feel better soon.

my dd is 3.7 years now!

I prefer to think of it as spliting like a ripe fruit... .

I tore twice (one for each birth), I didn't feel it at all on either occassion. I did however hear the 'pop' as I tore during my second birth. But no pain at all, I think my body was too busy with all the other pains to register the tear.

The only scary bit is the first post-natal poo.

My midwife told me to get a sanitary towel and sort of hold it supporting your stitches for first post-natal poo. Apparently some women are so scared to go they get really constipated.

I enjoyed it too, buttonmoon. It's not exactly fun but it's very exciting.

I had a emcs which was like all hell breaking loose, and took ages to recover from. Second baby was a VBAC unplanned HB, baby shot across the bedroom in a hurry! I had a 2nd and 3rd degree tear but didn't feel either happening. The whole experience was serene and lovely, one of the best experiences of my life, and I was very surprised afterwards to be told I had to go to hospital for surgery. I was longer being stitched up than I was in labour, and afterwards made healing myself a priority - LOTS of rest and keeping the area clean, tea tree oil baths, exercises. The tear wasn't traumatic, it was just something that happened, and it's fixed now. I appreciate there are some women who have an even worse situation that takes a long time to heal, but I had a 3rd degree tear and it was not big deal. Why worry future mothers about it unnecessarily?

I tore. I did not rip. (3rd degree)

I find the thought of 'ripping' far FAR worse than 'tearing'.

PS - who here has studied an animal in labour enough to confidently state 'animals don't suffer like we do?' Ask my friend about her horse, and she'll go white.

This thread is helping my decision between VBAC and ELCS enormously!

Alright Boxie, animals apart from farm animals specifically horses and cows appear to have it easier than humans :).

This gorilla walks upright

I had a 4th degree tear with 9lb 1oz DS. My OB referred to it as a "wound" afterwards.

I was most unpleasant, DH was in the danger zone when it happened and saw the lot, the poor love was more traumatised than me. I was off my face on endorphins and on cloud cuckoo land.