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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Who gave birth on their feet/knees and had a bad tear?

66 replies

Dragonhart · 20/11/2006 18:33

Just making my final descision about whether or not to have a CS in Jan after a bad third degree tear with DS (will be 17 months old when baby born).

Read that giving birth lying down adds to your chances of having a third degree tear. As this is what I did, was just wondering if anyone did it standing/kneeling and still had a bad tear?

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FloatingInTheMoonlitSky · 20/11/2006 18:44

This reply has been deleted

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MamaApronstrings · 20/11/2006 18:48

Was on my back for dd1 - nastyish tear and stitches.
Standing for all the other three - minor tear with ds1 but no stitches needed and absolutley fine with the other two. Good luck

Mercy · 20/11/2006 18:52

I gave birth in a kneeling position for both of mine. With dd had an episiotomy, with ds had a 2nd degree tear which I wasn't even aware of until they went to stitch me up - and I could sit down properly within a few hours, unlike with dd!

largeginandtonic · 20/11/2006 18:58

Hello hope i can help. I had section 1st time round with twins, then had dd at home (almost) and had 3rd degree tear, it was awful and i had about 16 stitches. I was offered a section for 3rd prg but declined and went for a home birth again, i delivered on all fours and tore again but only 2nd degree and had much less stitches. 4th prg and had ds#5 in 40 minutes again on all fours at home, i tore again down the same line but this time only needed 3 stitches. Will be going for a home birth with this baby (due may) and fully expect to tear again but would rather a little tear to the horror (imo) of a section.

Im sure everything will be ok this time, do lots of perinium stretching with oil and pelvic floor exercises. It all helped me, good luck xx

frogs · 20/11/2006 19:01

I had dd2 in an upright position I was standing on the floor with my upper body bent forwards leaning on the bed. I tore enough to need stitching, but pretty minor, considering she was nearly 10lb and I went from not dilated at all to giving birth in 10 mins. I'd recommend the standing position I felt much more in control than with the previous two (dd1 semi-lying, ventouse, enormous episiotomy, took ages to heal; ds sitting up, but very fast natural birth, 10lb baby, big tear badly stitched).

TeeCee · 20/11/2006 19:01

I was on my feet with DD1 and no tear, nothing.
On my kness over side of my bed with DD2 and no tears or stitches.

How about lots of perinial massage and slapping loads of oli down there, just in preperation, if you do decide not to have a CS? I think almond oil is good.

Good luck.

Tinker · 20/11/2006 19:03

Kneeling leaning over back of the bed - got 2nd degree tear 2nd time

Bagpuss30 · 20/11/2006 19:03

I gave birth kneeling with my first baby and had a bad second degree tear (was nearly a third degree but stopped just short ). Gave birth to the other two lying on the bed and just had smaller second degree tears both times. The midwife during my first birth did say that if I planned on staying like that (on my knees) then I would tear and she was right - had to get a doctor to come and stitch it too .

Original poster
Dragonhart · 20/11/2006 19:06

My dilema is that I have had alot of problems since 3rd degree tear and will prob have to have op after this baby born which could affect my 'control' IYSWIM (sorry if TMI) so worried about doing any more damage to that muscle. Last time my recovery was about 4 weeks til I could walk comfortably and 6 months til I felt right.

I know that recovery for CS is longer than 'normal' birth but all my friends that have had CS were feeling better alot quicker than me. Also have to think about the fact that DS is quite young and have to be able to look after him. When I had him, if I had had another to look after, not sure how I would have managed.

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 20/11/2006 19:06

First baby I wanted to be upright so the hospital (22 years ago) put me in this awful upright birth chair and I had to have an episiotomy and with baby 2 a small tear. It was suggested that was because it was too hard to time the exit of the baby. The other 2 no tears. Baby 4 I was standing up by far the best and most comfortable birth by a very long way with very very good experienced midwives and they knew how to do it slow and well so there was no tearing.

Lying flat is a ridiculous position to give birth in and is very very uncomfortable. You're pushing up against gravity. In 1975 when I was 14 I was reading my mothers' NCT leaflets saying exactly the same thing and yet it's still done to make things easier for the midwife etc.

majormoo · 20/11/2006 19:17

I gave birth kneeling a month ago and had a second degree tear (apparently a millimetre away from being a third degree tear). However, this was because DS had very broad shoulders which got a bit stuck so he had to be yanked out as quickly as possible.

Also had second degree tear a few years ago when had DD who was a much smaller baby and was lying down then.

Myrtle1 · 20/11/2006 19:30

I had a third degree tear and a second degree tear while giving birth in a kneeling position. Although this may have been because DS's heart rate was dropping and I had to push him out quickly, so I didn't do the panting and not pushing thing when the head was crowning. This was 8 weeks ago and tears felt much better after 4 weeks but third degree one is still not completely right.

wishingchair · 20/11/2006 21:17

I was in a squatting position in the pool for DD1 but tore (not badly but did need stitches) ... I think due to me pushing her out far too fast.

With DD2 I was on my knees (leaning over birthing ball) and only had a teeny tiny tear that didn't need stitches.

Hated every single second of lying on my back. On my knees I felt a lot more in control. Good luck x

Pruni · 20/11/2006 21:19

Message withdrawn

NotSoupyOhNoNoNoShesOnABreak · 20/11/2006 21:25

"My dilema is that I have had alot of problems since 3rd degree tear" personally that would make me err on the side of caution and have a CS.

I had a 3rd deg tear with dS1 but with no problems healing etc afterwards, tore with DS2 (no idea of degree but gave birth on my side and needed a number of stitches) and a 2nd deg tear with DD kneeling in he birthpool at home. I believe that all the subsequent tears were along the original tear line. If I'd had any control issues after the original tear, I think I would have opted for cs with subsequent babies.

NotSoupyOhNoNoNoShesOnABreak · 20/11/2006 21:26

(oh, and panted rather than pushed DD out in the pool so don't know how I would have torn had I pushed with all my might!)

Lio · 20/11/2006 21:27

Sort of the opposite of what you want to know, but I did it kneeling and had a not-bad tear.

TheHighwayCod · 20/11/2006 21:27

god this is like a contracleptuive this thread

Original poster
Dragonhart · 20/11/2006 22:02

Those of you with 3rd degree tears did you consider/were you offered a CS?

OP posts:
acnebride · 20/11/2006 22:03

standing up, quite complex borderline 3rd deg tear

all happened in a rush, midwife couldn't hold the b*gger in

vizbizz · 20/11/2006 22:13

My midwife said I would be offered a c-sec next time. At first I thought, nah, I'll be ok.
It's now been 9 months, and I am still sore (sometmes still in pain). The first 4 months were hell, the next 2-3 months were still very painful, and it's finally settling down, so I will be going for a c-section next time.

vizbizz · 20/11/2006 22:14

whoops...forgot to say it was a 3rd degree tear with quite extensive internal tearing too. Noone knows why pain is so ongoing.

Original poster
Dragonhart · 20/11/2006 22:26

Vizzbizz, I had quite bad internal scaring too, had to go into theatre after DS born. All probs have been with going to the toilet though (again sorry if TMI). Really scared but feel like a wuse as so many people seem to just have another natural delivery.

A lady at a mother and todler group I go to asked why i was having a CS and when I said it was because of a bad tear last time, she said that she had the same and just thought 'well, I am wrecked down there anyway so just went for it'. Made me feel crap and had just made up my mind to have a CS. Found out after that there had been 18 years between her births, and I will have less than 18 months btween mine!

OP posts:
lulumama · 20/11/2006 23:50

hi dragon.....sorry you had a bad time..sound svery uncomfortable

..there are positions that can help

on all fours for eg as has been mentioned. a water birth is really good at supporting the perineum too. if you are concerned about control issues after the birth..then it might be wise to err on the side of caution and go for a c.s . i know my friend has had 3 babies, and has torn in the same place each time, but only needed stitches the first time,

have you tried any perineal massage.....?

i think you need to take a long term approach on this.

esp. control wise...will you need help ie surgery , physio etc

if so, and you are going to have 2 small children to consider..cs might be the better option.....will you have lots of support after the birth?

good luck with whatever you decide

Gemmitygem · 21/11/2006 07:20

I gave birth lying on my side and didn't tear, it was a good compromise cos doctor wouldn't let me go on hands and knees (grr) and I refused flat out to lie on my back. It was good cos I could push braced against the sides of the bed, but didn't feel I was pushing uphill at all. however would have preferred hands and knees, but maybe the prob is then that the midwife/doctor can do less hands on stuff and less able to tell when you need to stop pushing etc...

anyway best of luck whatever you decide!

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