Ouch!

[highlander]

whilst writing up my thesis I'm always getting distracted by interesting (but highly irrelevant articles). This, however, I had to share......

In a Lancet review article, a large 1998 UK study reported that 85% of women will suffer perineal tearing during childbirth. Of those, 2/3 will require suturing

Up to 1/3 will suffer damage to the anal sphincter. The major risk here is forceps (do they still use forceps?) And given that epidurals have recently been correlated with an increased incidence of instrumental delivery..... (BMJ a few weeks ago).

Too posh to push? You betcha!

Here here Twinkie, it doesn't matter a jot what other people did / are going to do.
I felt compelled to just quietly say that my "natural" birth experience was positive purely just to reassure people, possibly expetant mums that it can be done without any tearing.

well i thought it was funny, i am thread killer extraordinaire - i even killed one of my own.

I've just thought of something. After I had my stitches and they were painful afterwards, the midwife told me if they had put in broken stitches instead of a running stitch, they could at least nip out the one that was too tight. So if you can, ask for that to be put in your notes.

As one of the lucky 1/3 with anal damage (sorry, TMI, I know) following dd's ventouse arrival, I actually still preferred the vaginal delivery to ds's c-section arrival, but that's me. I hated the paralysis feeling of the epidural (although it certainly took the pain away for which, at that point, I was grateful) and all the bright lights and people talking over me. To avoid that, and to have the hour of quiet sitting with dd immediately after the birth, I didn't mind the tear. Next time though, maybe, I can give birth quietly without any drama or stitches at all.... Here's hoping.

dinosaur - I have to agree with the good midwife bit. During all of my labour it was just me, D and 1 midwife. Then as the head crowned another midwife came in. I was standing leaning onto the bed so she jumped up on the bed, put her face right next to mine and said 'Right, copy me exactly, do NOT push only pant' and then just panted with me so that after the head was out i didn't do a thing and she just gently slipped out guided my the other midwife so the shoulders didn't tear me.
THANK YOU WONDEFUL MIDWIVES!!

I'm sure that great midwifery can help you have a natural birth without tearing, but just to put minds at rest for some going into this for the first time - a tear is not necessarily the end of the world. I had quite a long, slow labour with dd, most of it just with me dh and a very good midwife. Towards the end though dd was getting distressed and they wanted to help her out so used the ventouse. I did end up with a 3rd degree tear and lots of stitiches so sitting was a bit delicate for a couple of weeks but it healed really well and has caused me no problems since.

I'm another mother who 'escaped the inevitable'. Three vaginal deliveries (of term babies) and no stitches. Would sooner be shot than have to choose between a spinal and a general...In an emergency, I would certainly be grateful for a healthy baby (and or my life) delivered by cs but major abdominal surgery and a newborn to care for sound like more than I would choose to cope with. Very brave of those who are 'too posh to push'; I am a coward and will lull myself into a false sense of security by continuing to believe that childbirth is a natural part of life.
Pesme, your story has left me with a sore bladder. Sorry to hear of your misery and humiliation. Thank heavens your baby was safely delivered. Do you still experience trouble?

I with Sponge on this on. Ds induced went into distress, wanted to do c'section, but in the mad trolley dash to the theatre went the last cm...so tried ventouse, couldn't get it on his head, so cut me because needed forceps......yeap I thought I'd never walk straight again and apparently had some quite spectacular bruising, but healed up really quickly and doesn't hurt....

Too proletarian for a caesarean, me!

Well said Sponge.

also didn't tear (no one believes me) and I give full credit to the amazing midwife who was with me throughout. Hope I'm as lucky this time around....

If men gave birth I bet that there would be no issue with them getting the birth they want.
If a woman is making an informed intelligent decision then power to her!

i had a fab birth
very short, no tear, no intervention
sorry

I have had 3 sections and never had one prob at all. My mom works an a HCA on a maternity ward and constantly tells me how lucky i was, as there are loads who get damaged bladders during sections.

TBH At the time i wasn't too bothered about having to have sections, i had to so that was that, but now i do wish i hadn't had them as now my chances of having 4 kids is gone.
My first section was cos dd was breech, i asked for her to be turned but was told no cos i have an abnormally shaped womb and it just couldn't be done.
I wish now i'd pushed for a normal delivery.

Was induced with DD, was on drip and small epidural. Epi wore off for pushing and managed very quickly with 2 internal and 2 external stitches. Sore for a couple of weeks (peeing in shower helped a lot - sorry if too gross for some).

Hoping this time for more of same - or better. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha............

nutcracker - you can have more than 3 sections

Had emergency section with dd, recovered fine and am just going to see what happens with baby number 2 due in 3 weeks . Hospital reckon I should be ok for a normal delivery (if there is such a thing as 'normal', so I am just going to hope things go to plan this time.

I think if you expect the worst, the worst will happen so I have told myself that I will have a 30min labour with no tearing or stitching, ho ho ho.

I had induction - 3 lots of the gel failed, as did attempting to break waters and the rest. Got me to 2cm and that's it. So had c section on 3rd day. C Section was fantastic and my recovery afterwards was great, with not a single problem. I had the cs on Friday evening and was home by Monday lunchtime.

Didn't have the side effect that highlander mentions at all!

Dore really care what briths everyone has so long as everyone comes away happy and healthy and their DD/DS is as perfect and healthy as can be too. To me that is all that matters!

Hi OliveOil. Long time no see!

How are you feeling?

hey olive oil, hope you're feeling ok. which hospital are you at btw?

dottee and gscrym - was interested to read that sex is STILL painful after an episiotomy. oh gawd.had one 9 weeks ago and sex is so painful - is this likely to last then!?!? yes, it feels like i was sewn up too tight! prob just the scar tissue though - [she says wishfully]

Northener/Bundle: Hello! I am feeling fine, if a bit whale like, my fantastic MIL is still taking dd for a couple of days a week so I can have a rest. Am bit nervy about the birth but can't wait for a little baby, been washing tiny vests and getting all broody.

Hospital is St Mary's in Manchester.

I still have your shoes Bundle but I am not near a walkable post office now I am off work I will try to sort something out.

Will stop hogging the thread now, sorry highlander!

I will be watching teh birth announcements with anticipation OO.

Here's hoping for a pain free, intervention free labour that last 10 mins and you go home half an hour later in your size 8 jeans

Size 8, wouldn't get one leg in. Back to my normal 12 would do but it took me a year last time but who cares. Have got stretch marks this time as well , didn't get them with dd.