3rd degree tear. Will I tear again?

[Ceebs85]

I had a baby 11 months ago. I'm pregnant and due when my first will be 14 months old. I had a 3rd degree tear which needed checkinh in surgery to ensure it wasn't 4th degree. Despite that I healed with no hitches.

Is it likely I'll tear again does anyone know? I just want to be prepared!

I asked my mw if an episiotomy first time round would make it more likely I’d need one second time round and - I’m paraphrasing here - she said everything’s been stretched after the first so it’s all a bit slacker down there. I can’t remember her exact wording but that was the gist of it! Lovely! She was right anyway- I didn’t have any tears or need any stitches or any of that malarkey with DC2 even though baby was bigger.

I have heard that if you have a water birth it can mean higher chance of tearing as they just kind of leave you to it in the water, whereas if you’re on land they can help with “easing out” - not sure that’s the medical term. Anyway I definitely did have help with that and it was very much appreciated - might be worth considering if you’re looking at did different options.

Oh and congratulations x

I had similar and did hypnobirthing the 2nd time. I had no episiotomy this time but I did have a 2nd degree tear. However I had a very fast labour and my body would not listen to me trying to slow it down!
When I was worried my husband reminded me over and over again "this is a different baby and a different labour". Much easier the 2nd time!

Statistically if you had a 3rd degree tear first time you have about a 12% chance of it happening again.