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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Anyone NOT had a tear following a natural delivery?

102 replies

Pinkpumpkins · 01/07/2013 16:34

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!

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JoinTheDots · 01/07/2013 16:57

No tears here! A small graze which I genuinely did not feel at all. I gave birth in a birthing pool at the hospital, was quite relaxed, considering what the circumstances were. When the midwife saw that the baby was crowning, she got me to regulate my pushing so I was not as full on as I had been to that point, which I think helped me stretch to accommodate, rather than tearing all suddenly. Of course, it might just be that I am naturally stretchy.

amazingmumof6 · 01/07/2013 17:04

yes, it is possible!
with DD I needed none. none at all. it was brilliant! I was very proud of myself as baby girl was 8lb 3oz.

she is my 6th and I will never be ashamed to brag about not needing any stitches with her.[proud]

unlike with the boys

Original poster

Pinkpumpkins · 01/07/2013 17:06

Thanks everyone! So it is possible!! Quite a few of my friends opted for a private elective CS in order to avoid the above. But we can afford to go privately, and even if we could I don't have the opinion that an elective CS is the "easy" option. Both modes of delivery have their pros & cons.

Not been doing perineal massage - what's that? Didn't know giving birth on all 4s helps -thanks for the tip!

OP posts:

Original poster

Pinkpumpkins · 01/07/2013 17:10

P.S. I'm tall & slim hipped - think baby will be big. My nurse at the GP jokingly asked if I'm booked for an elective CS given my "narrow frame". Has not helped my confidence :(

OP posts:

RunningBear78 · 01/07/2013 17:14

Have a read of Ina May Gaskins book on childbirthHere, talks all about natural delivery and how to avoid medical interventions ... including epi's and tears. Very interesting and gives you hope - at least as someone else who is irrationally terrified of tearing (I think it is the word and noise/feeling it invokes!) it has given me a bit of hope that it is possible.

katieelh · 01/07/2013 17:15

Well I had a 10lb baby last year and didnt tear, I'm not sure if I should be proud of that fact or not😬.

Wickedgirl · 01/07/2013 17:47

Trust your body and listen to the midwives is the best advice I can give. Also stay as upright as you can, you're more likely to tear if your flat on your back

Knittingnovice · 01/07/2013 18:12

I had an episiotomy with DS, (8lb).
A second.degree tear with DD1 (8lb7oz).
Nothing with DD2 (6lb2oz)

I had all 3 of them flat on my back and can honestly say that I haven't had any problems since. I was prepared for the worst, but no stinging, our psin at all. Maybe I was lucky

HeyMicky · 01/07/2013 18:16

Me. Small baby but normal sized head (humph). No tears.

I was diligent with pelvic floor exercises though, and I also used an Epi-No. No idea if it made any difference. I also pushed on all fours

Izpie · 01/07/2013 18:18

First baby, epidural & delivered on my back with legs in stirrups- just a graze, 2nd baby no epidural no tears or grazes, gave birth sitting up.

JogOnKitty · 01/07/2013 18:21

Iv had 3 natural deliveries with nothing, after 1dc midwife spent ages having a good old look downstairs to try and find a graze.
I had smaller babiea though, 5lb3, 6lb1 and 7lb2

NeverQuiteSure · 01/07/2013 18:23

2 births here, both slightly awkward presentations (DS came out with both hands in front of him, Superman style and DD with one hand on her face)

No tears, although I do remember the midwife said I had a tiny graze with DS who was my first. I didn't feel it and used soap and shampoo in the shower later that day with no stinging and really couldn't tell.

I delivered both on all fours (on the hospital bed) which may have helped? Or perhaps I'm just saggy super stretchy...

NulliusInBlurba · 01/07/2013 18:23

Two natural deliveries, no pain relief, tears or grazes. I had a short but active labour, delivered DD1 on all fours and DD2 in the pool, which I think really helped. And the fact that both of them were on the smallish side (3.3 kg and 2.6 kg)!

midori1999 · 01/07/2013 18:28

I have delivered 6 babies vaginally, ranging from 1lb2oz to 10lb and including a 9lb'er (my first) who had his hand stuck next to his head at delivery and never torn or had a stitch. I also delivered every single one of them reclined on a bed (not laid down, not really sat right up either) as I just didn't find any other position comfortable.

I am currently pregnant with baby no.7, what's the betting it all goes pear shaped this time?

amazingmumof6 · 01/07/2013 18:30

ah midori I want a 7th ( and an 8th)

congrats!

StealthPolarBear · 01/07/2013 18:32

2 natural deliveries and I had what was described as a "scratch" both times. Only reason I knew was because they told me. Absolutely no pain from it.

WickerKnickers · 01/07/2013 18:41

Hi OP
I have had two natural deliveries with no tears or stitches. First 8lb 1oz, second 6lb 6oz. Position may be the key. I moved around a lot and gave birth on knees holding on to the end of the bed with both.

Try to stay focused on your body and don't hold back.

Good luck! xx

midori1999 · 01/07/2013 18:49

amazingmumof6 I would like at least one more, but sadly I am so high risk now (among other things, a blood disorder which has resulted in clots in my lungs again this pregnancy, in spite of being on a preventative dose of blood thinning injections when I got them) that it just wouldn't be sensible to put myself through another pregnancy. So this baby will have to be the last.

BellEndTent · 01/07/2013 18:51

Me. Two births, one graze, one nothing.

IdaClair · 01/07/2013 18:53

Two babies and two quick births with babies in the 7-8 lb average range, no tears no stitching. Baby one was well positioned but baby two was delivered back to back with babies hand up over the head. No examinations meant noone told me when or how to push so I just did my own thing, one was born in a sitting position on the floor of my sitting room and one born standing up in my bedroom :-)

MrsSchadenfreude · 01/07/2013 18:56

Me. But I have clearly got a fanny like an old sock and no muscle control whatsoever because I didn't push either, and DD simply shot out in a coughing fit. It surprised the midwife, who didn't believe me when I told her that the baby was on its way, and got baby and placenta delivered swiftly in her face, as she bent down to say she would 'just have a little look, but you've got quite a while yet."

busyboysmum · 01/07/2013 18:58

Did with the first 2 but ds3 was born in water so no tears although he was the biggest. It definitely was easier to recover from his birth.

FaddyPeony · 01/07/2013 19:00

I am tiny and size 6-8. No tear or epis. I did my perinatal massage and i listened to mw when i was crowning.
but i had an epidural! It had mostly worn off for pushing so i felt what i was doing.

didn't manage to avoid the dread piles though...

ballroomblitz · 01/07/2013 19:04

Nope no tears here. 7lb12 baby and 75th centile head. If she hadn't of come out with her hand by her face with sharp fingernails I would have walked away without a scratch.

Norfolknway · 01/07/2013 19:05

I had a 'graze' t'was a little sore - nothing to write home about

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