How did you know what degree tear you were?

[TrappedinSuburbia]

I was never told, had lots of stitches though.
Sorry if it seems an odd question, I didn't realise you got 'degrees' of tear until I came on here.

If it was a bad one, like a third or forth they would have told you as there would have been quite a bit of damage and you would also have had to have a follow up appointment at the hospital to check the extent of the damage.

I had a third degree tear and they told me the day after I had DS that any future children would be likely to be born by c section because of the tear.

If they didn't tell you it is likely to be a 1st or 2nd.

Midwife told me first time (2nd degree tear and she also stitched me in the delivery suite), and doctor who repaired me in theatre told me 2nd time (3rd degree). Both times it was also written in my notes though. If you had lots of stitches I would guess at a 2nd or 3rd degree tear, more likely to be 2nd degree if you were repaired in delivery suite rather than in theatre, you could always ask to see your notes. HTH

I see, I take it it goes by how deep the tear is then.
I did tear literally from top of my cervix down to right up my front (sorry tmi), but it couldn't have been deep then. The health visitor came in and checked my stitches for the first 10 days then that was it I think.

Was in the delivery suite.

I agree, if you had lots of stitches, but repaired in delivery suite most likely 2nd.

If 3rd or 4th you would expect to be told, usually theatre repair, and specific follow up appointments.

Mine was in the theatre too and follow up appointment when DS was 8 months.

The definition is as follows:

?Second degree tear: involves the perineal muscles only

?Third degree tear: injury to the perineum involving partial or complete disruption of the anal sphincter complex

?Fourth degree tear: involves anal sphincter and rectal mucosa.

Cripes, sounds like I got off lightly.

Is it usual for it to 'ache' sometimes ?

This only really happens if im run down or unwell.

Sorry for weird questions, I told dp about my ache and he said I should go the doctors, but I thought that it was fairly normal.

Oh your definitions bigstripey have made me cross my legs.

I always wondered that.

Never needed stitches though was told I had a "tiny nick" with DD2 (who is DC4)

Dunno, but I know I had to be stitched at the top of my clitoris too as they had to give me a catheter.

The first time, they didn't tell me but it was on my notes (it was 2nd degree tear stitched in delivery by a midwife)

With DS, I knew more because there were lots of discussions about whether it was 2nd or 3rd and whether I would have to go to theatre. In the end, they put it down as "Extensive 2nd degree" and I was stitched in delivery but by a consultant.

First time it was on my notes. It was a 2nd degree (but I refused the stitching).

Second time they told me, again 2nd degree and they agreed it would be better without stitching (NHS & IM)

FWIW, first time round I had pain until 10 weeks as it was slow to heal (probably due to me trying to do too much on advice of my midwife to get out of the house ). Second time round it was a similar tear but my IM recommended 2 weeks of rest (one week in bed, one week in house but doing v little) and it felt fine after the 2 weeks.

Mine was second degree but internal with no visible external tearing. Only picked up by the extensive bleeding. Sewed up by a consultant and I insisted on gas and air having avoided an epidural up until that point.

18 months later had to have a general and get stiched up again as a hole opened up (or was always there?)

Think aching is pretty normal IMHO.

Ah - the bonding of post-partum women!

I had a second degree tear with my first DC and I was stitched up by a consultant - I was so high on gas and air that I told him that it was like having a sewing machine in my fanny!

DC2, same type of tear, more gas and air - "Oh, I do hope you're not embroidering your initials down there" to midwife...

DC3, 2 midwives, one practising, one giving instructions along the lines of " you need to fold this bit in here...you should have put a stitch in there - take that one out and start again..." I was too shocked to say anything!

Not having any more on the grounds that I've pretty much got the Bayeux Tapestry down there...

Lol at bettergetthekidsteaon.

Yeah, the aching is 5 years later, i've had smears, coil etc since then, so I guess anything wrong would have been picked up.

2nd degree, stitched in delivery suite. I only know because it was in my notes.

Yes, it aches.