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 tear which was stitched under local anaesthetic, but it was fine. My fault really - I was told not to push but I just HAD to! Think I'd have managed without one otherwise, and DS was 9lb3.

Listen to your midwife, and don't worry about it - I'm not sure there's much you can do to stop it, but keeping active and being on all fours sounds like your best chance.

Oh, and no problems in the bedroom - healed up good as new.

Nope, nothing and big babies too (9lb 12oz and 10lb 5oz) I put it down to squatting both times, sort of bearing down using ex Dp as leverage and sofa second time for support. Also, really listening to midwife when she says to push / pant / hold / little push etc. Might have been lucky of course and a huge fanjo. Ahem.

First degree tear with dc1 and second degree tear with dc2. Stitches with both. Didn't feel them happen even tho no drugs and never felt them afterwards either - no issues. Didn't tear with dc3 at all - I think that was because I finally got the hang of how to push properly thanks to the immortal words of a very wise midwife who yelled 'not like that! Bear down through your bottom like you're doing a long slow poo.

Absolute magic. None of this pushing out head then shoulders then body business. One long controlled 'poo push' and dd dived out to join the worlld. Fab. No-one hadGot my feet up ever told me how to push before and it wasn't instinctive. I was definitely straining against my perineum the first two times and I am sure that's what caused the tearing.

No idea why the words 'got my feet up' I served themselves in the above post!

Oh FFS! Inserted not 'I seved'

Two natural deliveries.

No tears here. I mean there were tears in the sense of crying tears. But nothing ruptured down under. No stitches or any other nastiness.

I had 3 natural deliveries, no stitches required. I think I may have had a 'graze' with my first. I am a tiny, wee woman and my babies were all a healthy 7lbs plus.

I had one episiotomy, and one minor tear. Am absolutely fine now, and was fine within a couple of weeks of birth.

Of all my many many MANY friends with babies, quite a few had no tears; and only one had a bad (4th degree) tear. She's ok too now, but it has been 12 months of physio and special exercises. She had seriously bad luck and a huge baby.

First delivery was forceps so had episiotomy and lots of stitches. However next birth the tiniest of tears which healed within minutes.

I don't qualify (large 2nd degree due to DD's hand by head and my inability to stop pushing) but I wanted to tell you OP that tearing and stitches were among my biggest fears before labour and it was actually absolutely fine. I didn't feel it happen despite no pain relief at that point and the first wee and poo were totally fine. Sitting down was sore but I think most of that was bruising which I expect many people get anyway. I can just about feel where it was 6 months on but it's back to normal.

So you may well not tear but if you do it is still likely to be fine.

5 months rather!

3 natural deliveries here and no tears/grazes.

DD was born with her hand over her face and I had a real job pushing DS2 out but still ok.

Ex MW here and many first time mums in my care who did not have tears. Some had minor grazes or very small (no need for stitching tears).
The midwife should encourage you to breathe your baby out...like Tangled says...a long slow poo .

Oh an if you are not massaging your perineum then it might be worth doing (disclaimer, that might be all old hat now but some women swore by it).

Seriously, don't worry. You'll be fine. I was convinced the whole thing would be epically awful. It wasn't! Despite dd's enormous head I managed to push her out fine. The doctor made a small cut as I would have torn otherwise, but we're talking a HUGE head here, and I wouldn't have needed this had she been a bit more obliging cranial wise.

I had a graze, no stitches. I was very mobile during labour, I gave birth kneeling. The last place I wanted to be was on a bed!

4 DCs, one born with the sack intact, no tearing. Agree with those who say stay mobile and listen to your MW.

Five children, no tears.

I have had 4 babies, with only grazes with each of them. I always go with what my body tells me & i stick to it.
Gas & air always helps me too as it stops me panicking, especially on pushing/stinging stage!

First DC had a small tear, just a couple of stitches, 2nd no tears or grazes, don't know whether that's good or bad as his hc was top of the charts

2 babies 8lb and 9lb, no tears but grazes.

Almond oil on your perennials helps IMO

Me, 3 natural births (2 super fast 20 and 25 min labours too) and no tears.

Three deliveries. No tears

A micro-tear that needed no stitches. Was in bath/on all fours for most of labour (only turned for delivery).