Did you tear during childbirth?

[Sparrowlegs248]

And what size baby, quick or slow labour? Episiotomy? How did you recover?

Yes, Chipsandchilli, that's exactly what I remember thinking from pregnancy yoga
... In my head I told myself ' remember this is where you can tear, listen!!' and I did....😉

Ok, I had a VBAC with DC2. ( DC1 was an EMCS - quite big (9lb 8oz))

DC2 was 9lb 2oz. I had a third degree tear (3b) which means into the anus. I was stitched up in theatre afterwards by a doctor who did an excellent job. I was given the same painkillers that I had following the EMCS and therefore didn't suffer any pain afterwards. It healed very well and was a quicker recovery than the EMCS.I

I did suffer with a very weak pelvic floor afterwards, but the hospital sent all patients who'd suffered a third or fourth-degree tear to the continence midwife. I did a lot of pelvic floor exercises and haven't suffered any long-term problems.

If it helps I've had both a natural and a section. I had tears with the natural (8,10lb) - a very minor perineal tear and a bigger labial one. The section was at 34 weeks for issues with the baby. I was out of hospital after the section within 24 hours, off painkillers after 48, very very very easy recovery. But despite zero issues with my section and recovering far far faster than most people I would still have a vb over a section. I felt more myself and back to myself faster after the vb; 5 months after my section my core is still weak. Also - having a toddler with a section wound ain't fun

Yes. 2nd degree tear. 8lb11 baby. Decided to turn back to back at the last minute which resulted in a hideous 32 hour labour with him emerging with his arm up and elbow bent. Recovery took a while physically and mentally.

Rather quick labour, pushed for an hour. Threatened episiotomy due to DD being distressed and premature. Got her out on the next contraction with no help. Small tear stitched in theatre with a spinal as I also had a snapped cord and retained placenta so didn't feel a thing. 3weeks post partum now and haven't even noticed the stitches. DD was 4lbs 13 born at 36+2

10lb+ baby, straight forward labour. Epidural, no intervention. Second degree tear that never caused me any problems. Didn't even hurt on first wee or poo! It didn't even hurt sitting down etc.

I've torn having a smear before so was very surprised to get away so unscathed with such a "large" baby.

Yes, 2nd degree. 30 hour labour and 8lbs. No episiotomy. Think it was my fault, was fed up by the end and got a bit carried away with pushing, wasn't really listening to the midwife. I healed quickly and without problems.

3hr 45 mins labour baby was 6lb 10oz. I also did pregnancy yoga and was told to listen to the midwife re:pushing. She was brilliant and told me when to keep pushing and when to slow push and stop pushing.

Tore with DC1, 7lb 5oz. No episiotomy. Birth was induced, about 8hrs from first twinge to birth, dilated pretty quickly. No intervention. Had stitches, no idea how many but I remember the midwife having to ask a colleague which "bit" to stitch to which "bit".

DC2 was 7lb 12oz, I was worried I would retear but ended up with some grazes no stitches required.

Both times I felt tender and sore. First time I had a v shallow bath every morning with tea tree oil in it. It helped reduce the stinging.

No tears.
DS1 7lbs8 had 2/3 grazes
DS2 6lbs5 only one graze
Both were water births.

I didn't have any stitches for the grazes, they healed with no problems at all.

Ds- 2 second degree tears and 1 first degree labial tear. Quite a few stitches. Ds was 6 lb 5 but had an enormous head. 30 hour labour which had to be augmented with a synto drip, dp maintains that they gave me too many doses as they kept doubling it even when contractions were very close together and unbelievably intense. It meant I had absolutely no control over pushing at all. Everything healed ok and it was actually the bruising and swelling that were painful rather than the stitches themselves.

Dd- 5 hour labour, no tears. 6 lb 11oz but smaller head than ds!

Very long back to back labour (72+ hours), DD born face and chin up and although she was only 6lb had a bad 3rd/4th deg tear with surgery immediately post birth and lots of stitches which I still haven't recovered from three years on. Had pain and incontinence issues for first six months and now just had some mild urgency. If I ever have no 2, I'm begging for a ELCS.

First birth nothing at all, baby was 7lb 6oz. Second baby was 9lb 13oz and I had a small tear. The midwife wanted to stitch me, but I refused and it healed up fine.

2nd degree tear plus an episiotomy and had stitches in both. Baby was 7lb 10 and was assisted ventouse delivery. Healed properly afterwards.

Had DS2 on Monday. 2nd degree tear, 3 stitches.
Feel fine, not needed any pain relief.
Walked to pub for lunch the next day, no problems!
Baby was 9lb's 2oz, 2 weeks overdue!

Episiotomy & forceps with an 11lb 9oz baby. He was back to back and no one realised how big he was until he was born. Very long labour. It tooks months to recover and then I had an operation to repair the damage about 10 months later.

I had a seven hour labour with a 7lb 1oz baby.

I had ventouse and episiotomy which required 8 stitches.

It was absolutely fine afterwards, no pain at all and it healed quickly.

girlandboy why would you refuse stitches? Genuine question as not heard this before. First pregnancy. Thanks!

JackandBump amazing! How? What's your secret?

UPDATE!!

Had waters broken at 40+8. In labour by that night, ds born 9am next day.

Ended up with a complication which meant a rushed last 20 minutes. Went from calm and pushing to emergency dash to theatre. Episiotomy and forceps, ds 10lb 13.5 and back to back.

10lb4 baby, small cut. Cut got infected though and I was on several different antibiotics. All finally cleared up after 8 weeks but was only painful when the infection was preseng.