Has anyone given birth to a large baby without tearing?

[Sheldonella]

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 :(

[Abigail9580]

My boy was 10.8lb with a 40cm head! I did tear, but didn't have forceps etc, and I was told a natural tear heals better rather then a cut. And that was the case for me. Plus you don't notice the moment that you tear, the whole thing just stings at the time anyway!

[Xenia]

I think it can depend on if it's a first, second etc. I did not tear at all with any baby from number 3 - 5 and that included reasonably large twins born at 40 weeks (which is pretty late for twins).

I agree with Abigail my small tear with number 2 was better than the cut with number 1 which look longer to heal.

[TheonlyWayisGerard]

Just a quick note to reassure you that tearing doesn't have to be the worse thing to happen .
DD was just over 8lb, so not massive, yet I had a third/fourth degree tear requiring a spinal and repair job in theatre. It wasn't that bad. Obviously it smarted a bit afterwards, but only for a day or two, then healed quickly and I have no continence issues or pain two years on, nor have I ever had any issues.

[ghoulelocks]

mine were 9lb 3oz and 5lb 5oz, both felt like giving birth (ie hurt) and recovery the same, not much between. My friend who had 7lb 7oz and 10lb 8oz agrees

[ghoulelocks]

I found the tear easier than grazing all over weirdly, I was weeping on the loo for ages with grazing but the tear (and painkillers!) was more manageable (and easier to keep wee off- tmi?)

[BionicEmu]

DC1 was only 6lb exactly (but huge really as 6 weeks early!), but I tore badly. Huge internal tear, including my cervix. Could only have gas & air and local anaesthetic for the stitches as can't have spinal for medical reasons & the consultant wanted me stitched asap to reduce risk of further damage if I sneezed etc. Took almost as long to stitch me up as it did to have the baby - labour time was 2hr 15 mins. So smaller babies are not necessarily better!

Had DC2 seven weeks ago, docs & midwives agreed baby would be 10lbs +. In reality she was 7lb 1oz, & I didn't tear at all. Even faster labour though - 1hr 7 mins, and that was induced on the drip.

For me, the big difference was the panting. I said to DH that his most important job during labour was to make me pant when the midwife said to. So he got right in front of me and yelled "pant! Pant! Pant or you'll tear!". It worked - I heard him through the gas & air fog and panted, & hey presto, no tear.

In addition, a good friend of mine has just had a 10lb 9oz baby with no tears or stitches!

[Sheldonella]

These are all great stories. I am supposed to be having a water birth if I go into labour naturally so am encouraged by the stories of not tearing in water. Also the experiences of tearing don't sound so bad either.

I will come back and let you all know how much she weighs when she is here :)

[mimmymouse]

Please do!! And very good luck to you. So much positivity to remember from this thread. Listen to your midwife and breathe!!

[honeytea]

My ds was 10 pounds and I did tear (2nd degree) but it was actually fine, I didn't feel pain with the tear happening despite having no drugs by that point. It felt sort of warm feeling, like a chinese burn (not sure if it politically correct to say chinese burn.)

I healed fine and have no pelvic floor issues now.

Good luck! It is easy for me to say now but try not to worry, I begged for an elcs at 41+2 when a scan showed ds was around 10 pounds, they said if I got to 41+3 I could have an elcs but ds was born the day I should have had the section. It was the most amazing experience, I really enjoyed it I am so glad he came when he did and I got to experience a v-birth.

My advice is keep upright, I don't think I would have been able to have him without intervention if I had been lieing down, I just couldn't sit/lie down for mst of the labour every instict in my body was making me stand up.

[LucyLight]

1st baby - 8lb exactly - induced in hospital - a couple of stitches. (BTW worried the life out of me as the told me she was going to be small! She was a slim long baby and perfectly proportioned). Great birth though...and labour - hospital and midwives fantastic.

2nd baby - 9lb 3 - (I think) - Water birth at home - no tearing at all.....v easy and relaxed - again great midwives.

Tipp - keep upright for as long as possible and get in water to relax...

[shelley72]

i had a small baby - 6lb7oz and a hideous third deg tear needing a spinal, two hours in theatre and months of pain afterwards . so it doesnt necessarily follow that big baby=tear, small baby=no tear.

[EeyoresGloomyPlace]

Dd1 was quick induced labour, 3 hours, 9lb 2oz, no tearing.

Dd2 even quicker water birth 2.5 hours, 9lb 8oz with 38cm head and again no tearing.

If you can get in the water it makes everything so much better, even though dd2 was much bigger my recovery took no time at all and I didn't get any of the horrible stingy pain when weeing.

Good luck :)

[nannyl]

my friend had a 43 week 11lber and didnt tear

[lucywiltshire]

It doesn't really hurt if you tear anyway TBH! You wouldn't feel it during the labour and they give you a local anaesthetic if you need stitches afterwards, and anyway you won't really care what they do after the event plus you'll have your baby in your arms so don't worry about tearing. I had tears of varying severity with each of my three (most recent only 20 days ago and I am hardly aware of the stitches and even doing my first poo wasn't an issue)

[LynetteScavo]

I gave birth to a baby with a really big head, and only needed two stitches. (First baby)

Don't be upset by what the midwife said....they can be way off! Nature, most of the time, make a baby which will come out of the mother OK without intervention....would be stupid not to!

[LadyGoneGaga]

Big babies are much stronger than little babies. You can easily tell that when holding newborns. The little ones are generally quite floppy for ages whilst the bigger ones can practically hold their heads up from birth. Because they are stronger they can help themselves be born much more. When I was giving birth to 9lb 8oz DD (second baby) I could feel her pushing against the top of my uterus with her legs. A very odd sensation but it helped (3.5 hour labour, 20 min second stage). I think I would have got away without a tear too but she was a bit too eager and had her elbow up by her head for good measure. Even so I couldn't feel it happening and healed well.

And big babies often feed more efficiently and sleep longer stretches in the early days. So there's lots to be said for them!

[Floweryhat]

I'd love to see the research evidence to back up your post LadyGoneGaga. It's a nice idea, but doesn't ring true to me...

[5madthings]

Ha ha at bigger babies sleeping longer stretches...

I think their size helps sometimes birthwise, not because of their strength but because of gravity!

Mine all held their heads up ftom birth regardless of their size.

[TurkeyDino]

9lb13 and not a scratch on me! You'll be fine!

[Numbthumbs]

DD 7lb 10oz and DS 9lb, no aftercare needed at all for either.
I kept active throughout and gave birth on all fours, maybe that helped.

Try not to think about it, baby has got to come out somehow

[narmada]

My big 'un - only 9lb tho- was much easier than my 7lber. Tore with both but deffo did not feel it either time and altho the stitch-up was not my idea of fun after childbirth it wasn't so bad. Tears and episiotiomies generally heal amazingly quickly.

[TreadOnTheCracks]

DS was 10 lb, had several late growth scans, his head circumference was off the chart.

Had to be induced at 40 +8 Easy birth though, 6 contractions and he was out. Little bit of tearing, I think because it was quick.

I agree with the poster above who says gravity helps with large babies.

[TreadOnTheCracks]

Anecdotally I agree with ladygaga my big baby fed and slept like a dream.

[mamaduckbone]

Ds2 was 11lb4, no tear, no intervention. Luckily I had a fab anti natal midwife who was completely convinced I could have the natural birth centre birth that I wanted, even though I was 11 days overdue and enormous. She didn't tell me quite how big she thought my baby was going to be for fear of putting me off, which it likely would have done. I'm so grateful to her-with a different midwife I'm sure I wouldn't have ended up having the positive experience that I did.

[mamaduckbone]

I'd agree with the feeding and sleeping in the early days as well, although it didn't last. My ds slept for 6 hour stretches 10 til 4 at a week old and fed brilliantly-he was a dream!