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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Has anyone given birth to a large baby without tearing?

88 replies

Sheldonella · 11/03/2013 16:08

Just that really. I'm 40+2 and just had a midwife appointment. I measured 41 weeks and asked how big the baby is likely to be. She said most likely going to be big and with regards to the birth I can "have a go". I suppose she meant she expects me to need intervention or a section. I'm quite upset now :(

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Lucyellensmum95 · 11/03/2013 19:45

9Ilb 9oz no pain relief no stitches, they put that on the notice board in the tea room at work -

Lucyellensmum95 · 11/03/2013 19:46

ooh, im a size 7/8 banjo (but only 5'2")

Flisspaps · 11/03/2013 20:48

The foot thing is untrue.

speedyboots · 11/03/2013 20:49

Sorry to hijack, but can I ask those of you who had minimal or no tearing if you did anything particular (e.g. birth positions, perineal massage) or it was just luck/positioning etc? I'm 31 weeks with ds1 and he is predicted to be on the large side, so I'm a bit worried about tearing.

BeaWheesht · 11/03/2013 20:53

I didn't do anything to stop tearing.

5madthings · 11/03/2013 20:55

Foot thing is rubbish. I sm 5 2 with size 4 feet and ds4 was 10lb 13oz with 42cm head circumference.

MrSlant · 11/03/2013 20:57

DS3 was 9lb 11 and I had a tiny tear, the secret being a v-e-r-y s-l-o-w last bit, just let him ease himself out. (He was all head as well, HUGE!)

AmberLav · 11/03/2013 20:57

Tearing is not the end of the world - yes, it's better not to, but if you do, it can be absolutely fine... I was given the option of being stitched up by the midwives or the surgical team, and I opted for the surgical team, and I've had no problems since (my sister had a less happy outcome with a stitch happy midwife, and I learnt from her...) But I am hoping that 2nd time (currently 35 weeks) is better, as I'd rather not have to stay in the hospital any longer than I have to...

notnowbernard · 11/03/2013 20:59

I had a 10lb 2oz baby and didn't tear

The Mw at the 38w appt predicted an 8lber

Prob worth me mentioning I had a 7lb 8oz and did tear... And the Mw had predicted an 8 and a half baby

So you just don't know! Good luck

habbibu · 11/03/2013 21:02

dd was 10lb 11oz, with a Big Head. slight tear and bruising, just a couple of stitches that healed well. she did get a tiny bit stuck, but mw and obs dealt with it brilliantly, and no intervention was required. she made space for ds, who came flying out, weighing 9lb 2oz. I'm 5'4.

curryeater · 11/03/2013 21:03

Don't worry! The MW has no real way of knowing how big your baby is, and even if the baby is very big, all could be well.
When it comes to the pushing stage, do what the mw tells you, she will look after you as much as possible.
If you do tear, it will probably heal very fast.
(I had 3rd degree with 9lb dc1, I panicked and pushed too hard too fast. With dc2 the mw controlled it all a lot more and there was no tear. Even the 3rd degree tear was not too bad, I had a lot of stitches but it all healed very quickly)

Sticklebug · 11/03/2013 21:11

My DS was 9'10 and was much easier delivery than my DD at 8'6. I am under 5 foot and am petite. Stitches with DD, but v easy birth with DS - no stitches and under 2 hours of labour.

Good luck

PickleSarnie · 11/03/2013 21:17

DS2 was 8lb 11oz and with a head that was well above the 99.6th centile. Had two midwives and two trainees gathered round my bits afterwards to figure out if I needed any stitches. They put one in after much discussion. Was little more than a scratch really.

GoingtobeRuth · 11/03/2013 21:45

Hallo, don't worry you can do stuff to avoid tearing but I also do agree with the gravity + big baby theory too . labour produces stacks of hormones that will soften everything up that will help too

My dd was 9lb 10.5 and was born at 41+5

Can you ask about a water birth, I'm sure that being good and soaked and pruney helped me, I had also tried a bit of massage down there with oil as I measured consistently ahead throughout my pregnancy but not sure if it worked as I couldn't reach for the last few weeks lol!

I had a little graze but no tears btw

5madthings · 11/03/2013 21:55

Yes i think water helps my big baby was born in the pool.

Bossybritches22 · 11/03/2013 23:12

DD1 9lbs9oz no tear

DD2 8lbs 2oz@ 38 weeks out in 4 pushes no tear.

Raspberry Leaf Tea tablets for last 6 weeks.

Oh & a bloody good midwife for both who told the doctor to bugger off when he was muttering about a CS following induction with DD2 !

steppemum · 11/03/2013 23:25

dc3 was 10lbs 7oz. No tear, no cuts, no stitches

BUT she was no. 3 after 2 other big babies (and I had a episiotomy with no 1)

The midwife was very good at saying 'wait, breathe' when the head crowned, so I felt the stinging stretch as described in the books, and then it was fine

colditz · 11/03/2013 23:27

8lb 7oz, small graze, first baby, five foot two mother with narrow pelvis bones.

colditz · 11/03/2013 23:29

Ps, ds1's head was so big that they had a consultant in looking for hydrocephalus.

speedyboots · 12/03/2013 08:58

Thanks - good to hear that tearing is not a bad experience for everyone. Although it does make me cross my legs every time I think of it. Bit late for that now I suppose.

dinkystinky · 12/03/2013 09:05

Sheldonella - the position you give birth in can help you reduce the risk of tearing - as well as some support from the MW on delivery. Please dont worry about it - and ignore all the big baby comments. I was told I was carrying big babies too (am 5 ft 4 and DH is 6 ft 2 so they obviously got more of his genes). In the end DS1 was only a 9 lber and DS2 was 8 lbs 6. I did tear abit with both as on my back in stirrups with DS1 (not my choice!) and DS2's delivery was so fast - but it wasnt all that bad. I agree with others, gravity does help with bigger babies.

Branleuse · 12/03/2013 09:08

10lb, home birth, nothing. No tearing. I bloody felt that one crown though eyes water

I had a worse time with my first baby who was only 6lb2

FirstTimeForEverything · 12/03/2013 09:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Soditall · 12/03/2013 09:14

My largest was 9lb 2 and was by far my easiest to deliver and I was a tiny little thing at the time.I had no tear or stitches.

Branleuse · 12/03/2013 09:15

id say if its a big baby, try and listen to YOUR body instincts as much as possible.
Im not against drugs. I take painkillers for the first sign of a headache, but i tried for as little as possible in childbirth, because if theyre strong enough to stop you feeling a massive baby coming out, then theyre too strong to let you listen to your body and get into the right positions for YOU, not for the doctors, and not for the midwives. My midwives on my last birth were all about trying to get me to sit up, or try and walk and i had to shout at them that i knew what i was doing, and gave birth to both my last two lying down on my side, propped upwith my leg held up.

Really, dont be frightened of the fact baby might be big. It really doesnt make much difference because most of labour is contractions, rather than baby being pushed out, and the last bit is pretty quick anyway.

Competent experienced midwife that you trust and it wont be an issue at all.

Start letting them get all medical and frightenening on you, and you will end up with intervention no matter what size baby is

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