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Childbirth

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

4th Degree Tears...Does it ever get better?

33 replies

MrsEvans88 · 16/09/2017 05:47

Hey so I'm new to this site and posted this in another topic earlier today but had no replies and figured I may have posted in the wrong place. It's my first post so sorry it's such a negative one, just looking for some hope/support/anyone that's been through similar... My birthing story was horrific to say the least...Ended up in induction for reduced movements at 39+3 which happened at 14:00 on Tuesday 5th Sept. As the midwife was inserting the pessary she said that my waters had broken and sure enough I was sitting in a big old wet puddle.

Unfortunately though the midwife who was on day shift didn't tell the midwife on the handover who was doing the night shift about my broken waters. At 9pm that night I was in agony, I told the senior midwife that my waters had broken and that I needed to go to Labour Ward but she didn't believe me, and she said that the earlier midwife wouldn't have forgotten to pass that information over. I tried again and again to tell her but she wouldn't have it.

I gave in but said I definitely needed to go to labour ward coz I was having regular contractions n was asking for pethadin or any kind of pain relief. Instead at 11pm she finally decided to check me and found I was 2cm dilated. She told my husband I was still possibly days away from active labour and sent him home. She gave me a shot of pethidine saying that's all she would give me for 24 hours, but it didn't have any effect. For hours I was pacing the ward, crying out in pain and begging for more pain relief.

At 5am the midwife gave me two paracetamol and ran me a warm bath (not even birthing pool, literally was just a bath on my own on a ward!). In the bath alone with each contraction (literally 30 seconds apart) I started feeling like I had to push!! Managed to get out the bath between contractions n got to the front desk/nurses station and they were telling me I was over reacting- I was literally screaming at them "some one needs to help me I am going to have this baby right here".

So they said fine we will check you again go and wait on your bed...no one came for what felt like forever and I rang the emergency bell twice and was ignored. I was on all fours on my bed crying and screaming the place down and a porter came and told me I was waking up the other patients!!! Finally they checked me and I could hear them panic...said I needed to call Mike (husband) but I couldn't even talk at that point and just dialled his number and gave my phone to a midwife who called him saying "you need to get here immediately" and sent me straight to labour ward.

There they found that my baby was right down low stuck in the birthing canal and with each contraction his heart rate was dropping and not coming up again and needed him out immediately so they put a suction cup on his head to pull him out. I was in such a state by this point and mike still wasn't there n it's all a massive horrible blur now but all I remember is a lot of screaming and shouting and saying I couldn't do it but after just 9 mins in total on labour ward and with just the two paracetamol Logan was born and mike arrived four minutes too late 😓

Massive 4th degree internal tears through the perineum so had to go straight to theatre to get stitched up. They let me keep Logan on my chest while I was in theatre so he could suckle (he latched on at a funny angle and now I'm in a right mess with my left boob- blistered and agony and still trying to feed him with it now 😩) It was literally horrific but so glad Logan is ok. He's amazing! But I am a feeling massively battered and bruised both physically and emotionally.

I can't stop crying all day, my stitches are getting more painful as days go on and the bleeding is still very heavy. Also I have lost bladder control and pee myself daily. I thought the bleeding had stopped last night so DH convinced me to go for a short walk with him and baby today to try and clear my head a bit, but after 10mins my stitches had started to bleed again and soaked through 2 maternity pads.

I feel completely stuck. I don't want any visitors, I don't want to go outside and I can't stop crying. My baby is amazing, such a content little boy and I am head over heels, but I can't enjoy him or show him off. I stand to change his nappy and pee my self. Breast feeding is agony and so I've started to use a pump instead and combi feed. I have never felt so low or lost before.

Has anyone been through anything similar? Does it get better? I just want to feel like me again, and DH is back to work next week which I am completely dreading. Any replies will be appreciated even if you've not been through this yourself xx

OP posts:
ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual · 16/09/2017 09:11

Trampire what a fuckhead that man was for texting that.

OP just to add to my post, I've recently given birth to dc2. Despite being 10lb, being induced, and needing forcep delivery and episiotomy, I was up and about within hours and the next day literally felt like I hadn't given birth. It was the strangest thing. Just to reassure you that this won't necessarily happen again.

1stTimeRounder · 16/09/2017 10:27

This is really awful, you poor thing.

I had a traumatic birth (nowhere as bad as yours though) and i was offered a birth debrief witha supervisor of midwives. I just did it recently and baby is 14 weeks. It really helped me and the hospital took on our feedback about the useless Anaestatist and a few other things.

You should definitely consider this but not for a few months when you have recovered a bit and baby is a bit bigger.

Also I would see if your husband can take some more time off work. I was induced but ended in emergency c section and my OH took 3 weeks off work and my mom came to stay for a few days. I would not have been able to cope had he gone back to work sooner. You need physical help with caring for baby and for YOU.. if husband can't do It then friends or family. Also if you can afford it look into a postnatal doula (get your husband to look into it for you)... they can come round and help look after you; they "mother the mother"

Best of luck xxx

Hugs4Everyone · 16/09/2017 10:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Positivevibe · 16/09/2017 13:47

+1 for postnatal doula
Great idea 1stTimeRounder

LetItRain88 · 17/09/2017 09:20

Hi ladies

Am amazed by the responses from you all thank you so much, I wasn't expecting this many replies!

I can't message everyone back individually 🙈 but some good advice here which I will be trying to apply as anything to help me cope right now will be amazing.

Sadly hubby does have to go back to work- he works for the police as a detective and his work load had just piled up for the past 2.5 weeks while he's been off so the longer he he stays off for the higher likelihood is that he will end up having to work extra shifts/work late/do over time when he does go back so kinda swings and roundabouts unfortunately.

Also the only family I have near by is my grandad who I love very much but really wouldn't be able to help with Logan at all. My mum lives in California (she's here for a bit now but is going back soon), dad lives in Ireland, in laws all live in Plymouth while we live 5-6 hour drive away!

I think I will be relying on this page for a lot of support 🙈 lol. I do have a lot of friends who say they're willing to help but they all work full time so mid week is gonna be the struggle.

Last night hubby took the baby for the whole night and stayed with him in the living room while I slept in the bed for the full night. It made a world of difference (though hubby is now saying never again 😂) but that one night of full sleep has really helped me feel better mentally and emotionally today xxxx

1stTimeRounder · 17/09/2017 09:47

@letitrain88 that's great to hear that you got a full nights sleep. It really is amazing how much that can help.

My OH did this on weekends and I get a full nights sleep which is amazing. No.longer needed as baby is sleeping through the night now.

Best of luck with everything. Donlet.us know how you go in the future (no rush lol)

Flowers
Crispyturtle · 17/09/2017 19:34

OP I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience, I would definitely contact PALS to place a complaint when you feel up to it.

With regards to your stitches; they shouldn't be bleeding at all. You will continue to bleed from your uterus for up to six weeks, could this be the bleeding you have seen? If it's definitely your stitches bleeding then I'd get in touch with your GP or community midwife. Stitches do take a while to heal, I only had a second-degree tear but it was a couple of weeks before they started to feel better. You have a lot of stitches and will have quite a bit of swelling, so it will take some time. Go easy on yourself, I know you'll be desperate to feel 'normal' again but I found if I pushed myself too hard it knocked my recovery back.

A bit of positive news to hang on to; most women with 3rd & 4th degree tears have no lasting damage. Do your pelvic floor exercises and make sure you get a proper follow-up from the hospital.

Best wishes to you, the postnatal period can be brutal and I really feel for you. You'll get through this X

JWrecks · 17/09/2017 20:39

Oh, you sound SO much brighter and happier! It's a miracle what a good DH and good night's sleep can do! How are you feeling physically?

That's so unfortunate that your DH has to go back to work so soon! Lean on him and your mum as long and hard as you can, and make sure that you rest up and let yourself heal!

And please do get your records and take your story to a solicitor, if only to ask their opinion!!

And we will be here to support you as well, whenever you need!

Flowers
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