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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Elective C Section or risk another third degree tear?

32 replies

floops · 22/09/2005 20:33

I have to make a choice as to whether I opt for a c section or go ahead with a normnal delivery and risk another third degree tear. My consultant has basically said she can't guarantee the effects on my pelvic floor either. I don't particularly want to have continence problems at 33. She has aid it is my choice and she will support my decision either way. Hs anyone else had to make this choice? Does anyone have nay views in terms of baby's safety and mine?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sansouci · 22/09/2005 20:37

My 1st was an emergency c-section (while waiting for obs to appear, nurse actually told me that if i didn't have a c-section, dd & i would die! can you imagine saying this to a woman with her 1st child, tired, scared shitless & having been in labour already for 12 hours?). My second was an elective c as obs reckoned the same thing might happen again.

So, do whatever makes you happiest.

Original poster

floops · 22/09/2005 21:11

Thanks. I suppose I felt a bit guilty if I opted for a section. But you want both yourself and your baby to get through labout unscathed.

OP posts:

sansouci · 22/09/2005 21:13

This is a true fact, floops and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! good luck.

fruitful · 22/09/2005 21:16

No, don't feel guilty! Your baby needs you in the best possible health. You're doing it for him/her. The trick is guessing which way will achieve this.

There is particularly no reason to feel guilty when you consider that a cs is not an easy option, with all its own risks. You need to consider all the downsides to cs too. But then I've never given birth any other way so I'll shut up!

Socci · 22/09/2005 21:19

Message withdrawn

SoupDragon · 22/09/2005 22:15

Don't feel guilty. On a positive note, I had a 3rd degree tear with DS1 and was fine after DS2.

Skribble · 22/09/2005 22:21

I had an elective section 2nd time, as I was in labour for ever the first time before they eventually sectioned me. I felt no guilt it not like its the easy option, its major surgery with a long recovery time. Choose what will be safest and best for you and don't take a blind bit of what anyone apart from MW and Doctor say.

I have to laugh when I tell people my baby's weight and they say "Oh did you have him yourself?"
FFS "No the woman in the next bed had him for me" of course I had him myself by c-section thankyou very much!!!!!!!

TuttiFrutti · 23/09/2005 10:15

Floops, why should you feel guilty about having a C-section? There's no law that says you HAVE to have terrible tearing each time you have a baby, and if that's what is likely to happen to you, IMO you'd be an idiot not to have a C-section. Although C-sections carry risks, the risks that go with some vaginal births are higher.

northstar · 23/09/2005 10:52

Floops, I'm with soupdragon, I had a 3rd degree emergency episiotomy(sp) basically as bad as it can get, won't go into details but it was pretty horrendous. It took a long time to recover from and as you know it is pretty scary afterwards just hoping that you will get back to some degree of "normal" down there.
I begged consultant for a section when pg with dd, he talked me out of it, and I was so so glad. I had a very nice, normal, even enjoyable birth with dd, no tear or cut, and very quick recovery.
Second births are much easier, all the midwives will tell you.
That said, if you really need a section for your own peace of mind then there is no reason to feel guilty, a safe,stress free birth is the most important factor.

sniff · 23/09/2005 12:04

I am going to agree with North star I had a very nasty 3rd degree tear and beggend them to Elec Section me but they talked me out of it I had a consultant in the room at the end an only had a few stitches

I know when I need the loo I have to go but I am not incontinent (30) and have just found out I am pregnant with my third

Its a hard decision and I wasterrible when it came to push becasue I was terrified that it would happen again but it didnt

whatever you decide as long as you are happy with it so should every one else be

good luck when is baby due

Azure · 23/09/2005 12:38

I had to make the same choice and opted for an elective c-section. I was told by the registrar at the hospital that there shouldn't be an increased risk of another tear, but I just didn't want to take the chance (I'm 38 but I don't think age is a factor). If only we could know in advance how a normal delivery would be, because that is the best choice if all goes well. My c-section was 5 weeks ago and the whole thing went really well. I was only in hospital for 2 nights and after the initial couple of days felt fine - I was driving after 2.5 weeks. My baby (DS2) has been a lot calmer that poor DS1, who had to go through forceps and ventouse. Interestingly a couple of midwives and my GP told me that they would opt for a c-section in the same circumstances. Best of luck whatever you decide.

northstar · 23/09/2005 12:50

sniff - ds was firmly stuck and went into shock therefore emergency episiotomy. With dd, when the midwife told me to push I did, once, then turned to her and said "see, I told you it would get stuck" LOL. Fortunately she hid her grin and told me very nicely it would take a few more pushes!!

Willow2 · 23/09/2005 13:10

I had a 4th degree (ner ner ne ner ner ) with ds and have to say that my advice would be to err on the side of caution. It's fabulous that other people have managed to go on to have great vaginal births after previous bad tears (and very brave of them to go for it!) but I think you need to focus on the pros and cons and try to work out what is the most important thing for you. Are you desperate to try for a "good vaginal birth"? Are you really going to feel guilty and cheated if you don't have one? Or are you not really that bothered how your baby is born - only that you and he/she are ok at the end of it all? I've been slated for taking this line before but, to me, the most important thing with any birth is that mum and baby are ok at the end of the day. If that means erring on the side of caution then so be it. Yes, you could try for a "natural" birth and everything be absolutely wonderful - in which case you would have fantastic memories that, I'm sure, would prove quite cathartic considering your previous experience. Or it might all go horribly wrong - and you could end up having the most awful time during those early precious months with your baby, plus long term incontinence problems. Oh for a crystal ball! If it's any help, I know what my specialist "bum" doctor would advise - a c-section - but I'll probably be flayed for saying it! That said, you could always try for a vaginal birth but have it in writing that if there is failure to progress you will move for a c-section. Whatever you do, steer clear of ventouse and forceps.

Feel free to cat me if you want to discuss this in more detail by the way.

Good luck whatever you decide.

jabberwocky · 23/09/2005 13:12

Personally, I'm pretty risk averse, so would choose the c-section. I had dreaded having one, but it really wasn't that bad at all.

geogteach · 23/09/2005 13:34

I had to make this decision, opted for natural birth, arrived at hosp fully dilated then had to have emergency section for other reasons, best laid plans and all that!

gengis · 23/09/2005 22:44

hi floops
just wanted to let you know that i opted for a vbac and 4 months on i'm still regretting it..a tear that still hasn't healed properly, displaced coccyx and prolapsed pelvic floor. After dd1, (an elective section as she was breech) i recovered very quickly but felt that i should opt for a normal delivery second time around so that i would be mobile asap to look after my 16 month old. If i was daft enough to have another i would definately opt for a cs given the choice. I would like to point out that ds was 10lb 6 which may account for the problems! Best wishes for whatever you choose, please keep us posted..

aloha · 23/09/2005 22:58

Elective sections are very, very, very safe. I've had two and would have another (but won't! )

aloha · 23/09/2005 22:59

Btw, I did go into labour with dd (second child) and it was horrible! So I'm very glad I had two sections.

gengis · 23/09/2005 23:15

yes, i agree aloha labour is really horrible

Original poster

floops · 05/10/2005 20:54

Thank you everyone for all your messages. I am not hung up on having the perfect birth. I'm afraid I'm to concerned about making sure we are both safe. Still not quite sure which option to take but will make my mind up. I feel alot happier having read all your thoughts and feelings. It has reassured me that I am not just whittling and that others too have had to make this decision. Thanks again.

OP posts:

spudballoo · 06/10/2005 07:27

I'm with Willow on this, but then I would be as I too had a 4th degree tear caused by forceps giving birth to my son 3 weeks ago. I have a (hopefulicon) colostomy at the moment whilst the damage rests and heals.

There is NO way I would have another vaginal delivery, if indeed I have another child. My consultant obstetrician told me that she wouldn't recommend it as the area will always be weak and prone to damage, which would be unlikely to heal a second time if I'm lucky enough for it to heal this time. Also, she feels I would be terrified of labour and delivery which would only compound the issue.

My 'bum specialist' has already said a vaginal birth is out of the question. but this is a 4th degree tear, not a 3rd - i have a 10cm hole between my vagina and rectum and my sphincter split in 2.

not sure if thuis helps or not!!

Verso · 06/10/2005 09:01

I had a third-degree tear with DD (failed ventouse, forceps delivery), short-term faecal continence problems (horrific IMO) and I have permanent damage. My consultant says I have a 40% risk of permanent faecal incontinence with another vaginal delivery. She says she would support me whatever I decide though.

For me, it would definitely be a c-section next time, with all that entails. Faecal incontinence is terrible and I can't bear the thought of being like that forever.

That said, only you know what would be right for you. Has your consultant quantified the risk in terms of percentages etc? I found that helped me not feel 'guilty' about the elective option (although if anyone were to try to make me feel bad I would just give them graphic details of my first few weeks with DD!! )

Verso · 06/10/2005 09:04

Sorry to hijack - but just read your post in more detail, spudballoo . Erk. I thought I had it bad. Serious respect to you. I so hope everything heals up fine for you.

spudballoo · 06/10/2005 09:48

Hi Verso....poor you, what you've been through sounds appalling. 'Luckily' (!) the damage was spotted whilst I was being stiched up post episiotomy and I had repair surgery straight away. this, plus the colostomy, gives the best chance of everything healing - I am told I am 'fortunate' Seriously, I don't know what the longterm holds for me but I've had the best possible preventative care.

Sorry to hijack!

aloha · 06/10/2005 09:57

Oh Spudballoo - how utterly dreadful. If you do decide to have another child, then I have to say I found both my caesarians to be very serene, lovely experiences with a quick recovery - home after two nights and doing everything very soon. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to anyone in your or Verso's position.

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