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

[Dragonhart]

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?

i gave birth 10 days ago in a birthing pool on my knees and got a 2nd degree tear so have a lot of stitches still which have been pretty sore - not sure if it would have been better in any other position, think it was more that case that i was so desperate to get my ds out that i didn't "pant" at the right moment! Good luck!

congrats cheriton...xxxx

I had second degree tears with my first 3 children and gave birth upright for all 3. I had a good midwife for my 4th, who told me that I should try to give birth on my back as I had probably torn because the first 3 had come too quickly (they were all very fast second stages). I only had a superficial tear with my 4th, but I think I found the labour more difficult.

Had bad tears both times - first time on my back (epidural) and second time on knees. But suspect that having had a restitch when dd was little, before pregnancy with ds, would have been prone to tearing anyway.
I tried to kind of give birth on my side, but was pretty much moved into more upright position by the midwives.
Next time I think I'll be more forceful about doing my thing. Less of a crowd pleaser in going for quick second stages.

Dragonhart in response to your Monday 10.02 post...- I had 18 months between mine too, had a 3/4 degree tear with DS and was offered and chose a c-section with DD.

Fortunately I haven't had any problems with the tear and am undecided as to how to have number 3 in 6 weeks time (a section was offered again). My main issue is that while I recovered quickly with DS, the c-section took a long time to recover from and now I have a 4 and 2 year old to look after - school and playschool runs, etc.

Regarding recovery after a section I realised that friends who'd had a c-section and recovered quickly where those who had gone into labour and effectively had emergency sections. I think that their body was ready for labour and the subsequent recovery whereas for me it was an operation and my body was more shell shocked. This is only my personal theory you understand!

In your shoes, experiencing problems with the tear, I would go for the c-section.

standing up, bent over the bed. Very fast labour (2.5 hours) 2nd degree tears + a labia graze ! (painful when you pee)

Apparently I tore because DD2 came out with her hand up by her face.

Just had my first, I was lying down on my side, as that was the least painful for me. Tiny tiny tear- so tiny that the midwife didnt know ID torn

I just scanned the answers and it seems that the ladies lying down tore less? Definitely to do with not pushing the baby out too fast, and in a position that doesnt relax the perinium. HOWEVER, I only lay down because that was what my body was telling me to do at the time. I wouldnT specifically do that next time, if my body is screaming for me to stand up or go on my hands and knees.

Pool for DD - no big tears, one nasty graze that was left to heal naturally.

Knees for DS - 1 big tear needing stitches... he did come out very fast though.

Standing up leaning on the bed - small 2nd degree tear and an internal vaginal tear. Don't think this is nec because I was standing up - DS hadn't flexed his head properly and had been in 2nd stage for 2 hours - had to just push really hard to get him out! Healed very quickly though.

I do worry about tearing next time (particularly because, since discovering Mumsnet, I have now learnt that 3rd and 4th degree tears can happen) I will be more enthusiastic about the perineal massage next time. Last time DH and I spent to much time giggling and quite frankly had a very half hearted approach to the job in hand!

Actually, an ex midwife recently told me that you should massage very good quality vit E oil regularly into the scar before the next pregnancy and then for the last 4 weeks.

thanks Lulumama!It was at home too - think i might have been encouraged by you in that on some thread or other!
Sorry, back to the proper discussion..

I had dd 6 months ago (on my knees in the birthing pool) and had a 3rd degree tear - it was a very quick labour and she weighed 9ld 11oz so I was told it wasn't surporising to have the tear. I pushed her right out without wating/panting etc..
Consultant checked me 6 weeks later and has said I should def go for a c/s next time as otherwise another tear could lead to quite serious problems.
If I have another I will def have c/s as I don't fancy the - sorry - incontinent route ! That's what he said could possibly happen,

I had dd 6 months ago (on my knees in the birthing pool) and had a 3rd degree tear - it was a very quick labour and she weighed 9ld 11oz so I was told it wasn't surporising to have the tear. I pushed her right out without wating/panting etc..
Consultant checked me 6 weeks later and has said I should def go for a c/s next time as otherwise another tear could lead to quite serious problems.
If I have another I will def have c/s as I don't fancy the - sorry - incontinent route ! That's what he said could possibly happen,

Gave birth standing up (leaning against the bed) and had a few stitches (they didn't tell me about the tear but said it was quite 'little' - although it didn't feel like it afterwards!). They did say that I probably wouldn't have torn at all but DD had one of her hands to her head and it came thru at the same time - ouch!!

Good luck deciding - if it helps I did the NCT birthing classes and they were all for standing/kneeling and taking it slowly as it is meant to help stop tears (MWs should help with this).

I was kneeling leaning over the back of the hospital bed with DS1 - he came very fast (the midwife had gone to get a colleague - DS1 shot out as she came back in the room - DH had to stop him hitting the floor ).

I did tear (2nd/3rd degree I think) - the midwife wanted to stitch it - but I asked her not to (had heard you often get more problems from the stitching than from the tear itself). I was told if there were problems they could stitch it the next or later. I had no problems at all with it - no pain and as far as I know healed properly.

I gave birth on all fours in birthing pool and had deep third degree tear BUT 6 months later all is healed perfectly with no problems.

I think a lot has to do with aftercare ie. whether you recover quickly from CS or from a tear depends a lot not just on the type of tear but on (a) how well you were stitched (b) how much physio and other help you get following the birth. I went private, so saw a physio from 6wks after birth every week up until my pelvic floor was back 'up & running' and tear properly healed. My friend at same hospital had a CS and again recovered really well. But then I've got other friends who have struggled to recover both from CS and from tears - and I really believe it's down to aftercare...

i gave birth lying on my back. minor tearing, only required 2 stitches.

Hi, I gave birth to number 3 standing up (in the hall doorway, but that's another story!) and had no tears at all! Just popped out!

Me again, reading back over the thread, seems mums lying on their sides are doing best, - I did this with number 2, sort of propped right up on lots of pillows, while dh held my leg up in the air! Actually, this was the best birth in terms of minimal damage, wasn't as exhausting as standing up either.

I had my baby lying flat on my back (was the only way I could handle the pressure as she was back-to-back) and didn't tear a bit. Think you should just do whatever feels right at the time, don't plan anything cos if you don't manage it, it won't matter!

kneeling facing away from mw over back of bed ... panyed through pushing urge at mw direction -- 6 min actual pushing, no pain no tearing whatsoever (smallish baby tho 6lb9oz)

was v fit beore labour which i am told helped immensely repositioning of baby

Dragon - I had my 1st baby kind of sitting back with my knees up in front, supported by cushions behind my back.

Crucially, the Midwife was brilliant and she spent about 5 minutes, prior to letting me push, carefully massaging and stretching my "exit" so I wouldn't tear. I only had a very minor tear thanks to her efforts. She was very determined not to let me push until she's stretched the skin sufficiently to limit the damage. With No 2, I had no tearing at all.

I don't know about how the birth position influences much tearing, but would deffo recommend you ask to be very gently stretched, if that's possible - maybe speak to the hospital about it now. I suspect that the size of the baby and its head make a big difference too. Mine were both long and slim with petit heads.

Good luck

can you buy or borrow from your library the book 'Active Birth' by janet balaskas? it describes in detail why an active birth causes less if any tearing.

there are also Active Birth classes that you can attend but they are probably all booked up by now for you. visit the active birth website too.