Anyone NOT had a tear following a natural delivery?

[Pinkpumpkins]

First pregnancy and the big day is fast approaching. I'm low risk so the plan is for me to have a natural delivery, but I have heard so many awful stories from friends who have had or know of someone who have had bad tears following the birth of their first child. I dread the thought of having a 4th degree tear. Obviously you cannot plan what happens during childbirth and at the end of the day I do feel like it'll be a case of what will be, will be......

However I would like to have some hope at the back of my mind! Any first time mums out there have a positive story of a natural delivery? I'm not too squeamish at the thought of an episiotomy, but a clitoral tear & a 4th degree tear? Ouch! No thank you!

I had a graze. Child had his chin resting on his fist apparently. It wasn't sore but the next day I did have the sensation of having fallen off my bike onto the cross bar (iykwim). Not painful but a tiny bit ouchy. I could sit down absolutely fine.

Me.

Two natural deliveries and no tears. My midwife suggested giving birth on all fours, which I did both times and I think it may have helped.

Good luck, I hope it all goes well!

My DM didn't tear with me or my sister. My close friend didn't tear with either of her DDs.

I had a 2nd degree tear, in both directions. It was stitched up by the consultant and my sex life started feeling 'normal' again after about 3 months (but we had sex from about 8 weeks). DH says he can't feel the difference. It's not the worst thing ever, honest.

I had an episiotomy with my first (8 lb 15oz) so a couple of stitches

I didn't need any stitches with my 2nd or 3rd (9 lb 13oz and 9 lb 4 oz)

Good luck with everything x

I'd 2nd degree with dd1 (9lb12, OP, ventouse).

Then graze with ds (9lb3 svd).

Then 2/3 degree (they could never quite agree but stitched in theatre) with dd2 (7lb13, induced svd).

OP - have you been doing your pereneal massage? That helps.

So I heard. I didn't. DS still has sharp elbows.

My neice had her dd when I had ds 1, and did not tear, only grazed. It stung on her first pee but that was all.

I was jealous as ds 1 was a huge 9 lbs 6 oz so I had tears and an epi, wasn't as bad as it sounds though!

She gave birth on all fours which I think helps, I gave birth to dc3 like this and didn't tear.

3 deliveries, 1 graze, 2 minor tears (1 stitch only). Has had no lasting effects and wasn't particularly painful. Listen to your midwife and your body - no guarantees but it is possible (and more common than the stories you are hearing suggest). Good luck with delivery & your new baby when they arrive.

1st baby I got grazes, no tears. They were agony. 2nd baby I got a 2nd degree tear, left unstitched, wasn't painful at all.

I also had a fear of tears, after experiencing the grazes 1st time and having felt how freaking painful they were I was quite worried but it really was absolutely fine.

Good luck OP. It's all worth it or we wouldn't do it again.

Couple of stitches with first and none with second.Didnt feel it at first time round I had nothing to compare it with.tea tree oil on pads and in bath afterwards was great.

DS1 was forceps but it didn't look like I was going to tear, I had an episiotomy for that, was in agony until the stitches tore out a few days later (later found out I had a few tears inside that I and no one had noticed!)

DS2 (9 days ago) I got a second degree tear but the only reason they put a stitch in was because of bleeding, I had the stitch cut out a couple of days ago as it was uncomfortable. Honestly, I can barely feel it, it's tiny and I haven't had any pain from it.

If you do tear and it isn't a bad one, I would honestly ask that they don't stitch. In both of my experiences it has been the stitches that have been painful afterwards and not the actual tear, including the huge episiotomy.

I didn't have tears or grazes with either of mine.
Not entirely sure if i should be happy about what that says about my fanjo!

Me :) first baby, just a graze.

I had a little graze but didn't feel it still high on pethodine!

It annoys me how many people seem to think it's ok to tell first time mums horror stories. Yes you need to be prepared but fgs have a little forethought.

My birth was fine, yes it hurt but had gas and air and some pethodine to help with that. Used a tens machine until I was 3.5 cm (about 12 hours from contractions kicking off) and went for lunch with DH and a lovely walk using it.

When contractions were 4 mins apart, went to the hospital, was checked and found I was 3cm. They sent me home where I bounced on the ball using my tens then having hot baths.

Back at the hospital, I had some lovely drugs and another long bath. By this time I was 5cm and taken to delivery where they give you the wonderful gas and air.

Took me another 2.5 hours to fully dilate then 13 minutes to push DD out. I was on all 4's for that bit too.

Start to finish was about 24 hours but it was pretty bearable and the drugs helped!

Sorry I have to argue about the tear & stitch thing. Your perineum plays a big role in part of your pelvic floor support.
I wasn't stitched when I should have been. It resulted in issues with second preg.

I had one very small tear which healed easily without stitches.

First dc I had two stitches put in, so no tear to speak of as it could have been left.
Next three dc I did not have any tears or stitches at all.

No tears, no grazes, for either of my DDs.

They were on the small side though, 7lb3oz and 6lb14oz.

You are more likely to tear if the baby is very big, you are on your back or if you push without a contraction.

Try to keep as relaxed as possible and listen to your midwife. Trust your instincts and try to keep as upright as you can (I was propped up on the bed as I was sleepy).

How soon is the birth date you have? I did a hypnobirthing course 2 and a half weeks before my birth and it really helped.

I only had grazes also. I didn't even tear with a ventouse on my first delivery which apparently is quite unusual.

DC1 - just a graze - she came out in a caul. DC2 and DC3, no tears, even though DC3 was 10lb 4oz. I did perineal massage, and gas and air, plus spent quite a lot of each labour in water. Good luck..

Three deliveries, ouchy grazes with the first.
I delivered 2 & 3 upright & was completely fine.

Me! But it was second baby and classed as 'a graze'. First baby was 2nd degree. It didn't notice much though; I was concentrating too hard on trying not to push.

Don't worry - if you get one make sure you do lots of abdominal floor (gets oxygen to the area and makes healing faster), and dribble salt water over it every time you go to the toilet. Stay hydrated so you don't get constipated. I agree though that it's the stitches that hurt the most.

no, i didn't tear, midwife was DD was 9Ilb 9oz