C-section vs. third/fourth degree tear - which is hardest to recover from?

[PirateWeasel]

Has anyone got experience of both? I had a third degree which resulted in two months of pain and struggling to do normal things. But I was allowed to drive and got to leave hospital after just one night, so I'm assuming recovery post C-section would be harder, but I really don't know. Because my chances of having another bad tear with baby number 2 are high, I'm weighing up whether it's better to have an elective CS.

I had a CS for first birth, VBAC with 3a tear (into the anus but not the muscle) second time. Was in theatre for an hour being stitched up. I would say I fortunately had a good recovery from both but I was definitely back to "normal" and up and about quicker after the tear than the CS. I did have to do a little of exercises on my pelvic floor afterwards though.

You can’t base how things might go for you on what happened to other people. Reading the above there seems to be the consensus that a tear is always worse than a c section. But I had a horrific emergency c section followed a few years later by a vbac where I had a 3rd degree tear. Offered the choice, I would take the birth that went with the tear a thousand times over rather than suffer that c section again.

The ‘degree’ of a tear is a very loose description of the layers of tissue torn through. My 3rd degree tear was relatively minor in terms of where it was positioned. It was repaired in theatre under spinal block by a lovely laughing doctor, and my midwife gave me lots of one to one aftercare with lots of advice (private midwife, sadly now no longer allowed.) I healed quickly and easily and was riding my horse 5 weeks later. The c section, by contrast, was a thing of nightmares. The doctor cut through many more structures than she should have and I bled uncontrollably on the operating table. They spent so ling trying to stop the bleeding that the anaesthetic started to wear off and I was given a GA. my baby was born not breathing and blues, scoring 1 on the apgar scale. We both spent days in hospital and months recovering.

What I’m trying to say is I had one set of circumstances, all the other posters her had other circumstances, and you’ll have different ones again. Don’t base your decisions on other people’s ecperiences, base them in what is best for you.

I did struggle to breastfeed after my emergency c-section. I found that the area around the scar was also quite sore and so whenever I had to pick him up/ hold him on me it was a struggle. However, I am quite petite and he was a big baby, on others the baby might not be near the scar area. I also had an infection which didn’t help with the pain. 4 weeks later and I think I have another infection so I’m off to the GP today. I have found mobility a struggle with the section and I’m not always honest with how much pain I’m in because after a month people assume that I’ve have recovered and I don’t want to look like I’m attention seeking or something .

I think it’s hard to compare as often the labour prior to the tear is a massive factor in how well you heal afterwards. Equally a c section is different under emergency circumstances than it is when planned. When you consider how every labour is unique even in the same woman with similar size babies at similar gestations, it’s going to be really hard to compare someone else’s experience with your own. I had a third degree tear but healed in absolutely no time at all (you’d never have known by my 6 week check is what the nurse said!), whereas my friend had a second degree tear and it took her a long time to recover due to a really long labour and contracting an infection. But equally it took a long time for my milk to come in (borderline PPH) whereas she had a much easier ride with breastfeeding initially.

I’d certainly choose my experience over hers, but there’s the potential that next time round I may have a less severe tear but still end up worse off.

2 emergency sections here, recovery was a breeze both times. With my 2nd, the mess they made of the cannula hurt more than the wound afterwards, every time I bent my wrist I stabbed myself and because I was anemic they wouldn't let me take it out. No issues breastfeeding (other than latch issues which had nothing to do with the surgery) and was discharged on day 4 with dc1 (NICU stay) and the following day with dc2.

I’ve only had an emergency c-section, but breastfeeding was relatively easy. He latched on in recovery and that was us, pretty much.

I did find the lack of mobility tricky. I wasn’t really up to walking any great distance until about 3 weeks post surgery though.

First baby - severe third degree tear. Wound became infected and I was in agony and barely left the house for 10 weeks. Massively traumatic birth and recovery but still managed to breastfeed.

Second baby - born 3 weeks ago via elective section. Such a calm and relaxed experience. Breastfed on operating table and pretty much recovered already.

If you’ve had a previous tear, it’s a no brainier in my opinion. My consultant was very clear of the risks both ways and when I said I wanted a section, she said that it was a wise decision! At no point so far have I regretted this choice.

Another one here saying have the section! It's a much more managed process, they make the cut and fix it nicely! Had a massive episiotomy, tearing and God knows what else with DS, was a nightmare to fix and recovery was horrific. C-section was like a mini break in comparison!

Just the one c section here too but I found bf absolutely fine. Used the rugby hold until my scar healed a bit more and fed lying down at night (ended up co sleeping but started off using bedside cot which was equally fine) so that I didn't have to keep sitting up from lying which is what I did find difficult for a little while. Other than that I found the recovery absolutely fine and it was a pretty good experience considering it was an emergency!

C Section only, and, I'm afraid to say the hospital nearly killed me. Worst experience ever. I cannot even put it into words how bad it was. 14 months later, and still in a lot of pain from it, both physically and psychologically.
I thought my end had come at the hospital. Taken to theatre against my will where they wanted to do forceps again against my will. Thank God that didn't happen.
However, I will never be back to my former self again due to the ineptness of the hospital.
I can't lift my baby. I just have to drag him around as the pain is still too much. It burns up all the time and I swear I walk with a stoop now.
Worst thing is, I found out a year later that it wasn't an emergency after all-they did it for 'preventative measures'.
Idiots.
That was at University Hospital North Durham so if you're not going there, you may fair better.
I bottle fed. Couldn't even consider anything else as way too drugged. All I wanted to do was sleep, but I thought I was going to die so didn't dare shut my eyes. I think your body suffers a lot during a C section and people forget that it's been massacred internally too. It will never be the same again-your insides have been ripped open.
My God, do I hate that hospital.

I had a planned section after a 3c tear first time round. Recovery took longer but was better by far. I was dubious about having a section, but I'm very pleased I did. Pain was better managed etc and whilst the first few weeks were tricky in terms of logistics I think that it would have been anyway because I was managing two children rather than one.
It was the right choice for me. My consultant asked me to consider it and whilst in no way pushing me towards it was clearly in favour of it (a number of friends who were also having children at the time and same hospital had to fight for sections but they seemed relieved when I chose it!)

I had a planned section and no problems breastfeeding, aside from colostrum coming in slightly late (2nd/3rd day). Baby’s blood sugar was low 24hrs after the section so we had to supplement with a bit of formula for the first few days. However once milk came in there were no issues latching or feeding. I was really worried about nipple confusion but luckily that never happened (honestly think it’s one of those things designed to make women feel even more shit and guilty about themselves. As if giving your baby a bottle once will make them forget millenia of mammal survival & evolution).

Afterpains during breastfeeding after CS can be pretty rough esp in the first few days. The shrinking uterus pulls against the stitches and I also felt different pains depending on my position (eg started BF in side lying position 2 weeks post partum and that really irritated the surgery site).

4th degree tear (after placental abruption, then further complications following the surgery) with first baby. Then planned c section (though quicker than planned as I was in labour) for second baby.

C section was massively easier to recover from for me. Although the tear was considered to have healed well, I still have some issues as a result 10 years on. It was also reassuring to know what was going to happen, even knowing the potential for things going wrong. Doctors gave me the choice of what to go for, but strongly recommended the section.

Good luck with your decision

4th degree tear, pph and retained products. Luckily I wasn't left incontinent or with permanant injuries. I do think it was luck.

Then two c sections. C sections were far easier to recover from. Second c-section was particularly easy. There was no way I was going to deliver vaginally though - no way.

Hi @PirateWeasel, friend had both. First pushed 4 hours with first (obgyn wanted to use ventouse earlier as per guidelines but she refused). 2nd, risk of cord prolapse detected before labour truly started (she had too much amniotic fluid) so quickly wheeled off to theatre for emergency CS but either completely pre-labour or just at beginning stages (don't remember all details). Later when talking about having a third, she said: "If it's with a planned CS yes."
There are risks of infection with CS which you should consider (+ future pregnancies if you want a LARGE family) but one or two CS is safe. RCOG say so in their leaflet on choosing to have a CS.
I'd go for elective CS.

I have had 3 sections. First was an emergency, last 2 elective. My final one was 4 days ago so watch this space but... No issues recovering from previous 2. The electives have been much easier than the emergency. Dare I say I actually enjoyed my final C section. Lovely relaxed atmosphere, immediate cuddles and skin to skin.

I have nothing to compare it to though and everyone is different.

I’m not sure how high the risk of tearing again is actually. My consultant gave me the stats and they weren’t that bad. In contrast to a PP, my consultant was very supportive of me having another VB after a 3rd degree.

Anecdotally (and as above, everyone is different so this might not be relevant to you at all!) I’ve had two 3rd degree tears and one 2nd degree and recovery has been fine every time, though hardest by far the first time. 2nd degree was an absolute breeze, as if I hadn’t torn at all. Personally I would’ve hated a CS and am so glad that I had vaginal births, despite the tearing.

Second degree tear with ventouse delivery first time round but required a lot of stitching and had terrible bruising as I think the suction cup may have slipped during attempted placement! Was in pain for weeks. Needed subsequent surgery to redo stitching etc as it was a total mess down there tbh.

C section with my second as baby breach. Recovery a walk in the park. No comparison. Yes it was sore - it’s a wound of course - but not sore like omg my insides are falling out and I might be incontinent as with VB. up and about quickly. Washing up etc after 5 days. Didn’t need anything stronger than paracetamol / ibuprofen.

Best thing I ever did.

C-section recovery is incredibly easy.

@BerryTowel C-section recovery is incredibly easy. Let me correct that for you - Some women’s C-section recovery is very easy. Some women’s tear record very is very easy. Some women’s C-section recovery is very hard. Some women’s tear recovery is very hard. And some women’s recovery is somewhere in between. So say anything else is ignorant and offensive and misleading to the OP.

4th degree tear with my first, c section for my next birth.

I found the c section recovery awful tbh and wish I had been allowed to deliver caginally again.

Dc1 was 4th degree tear horrendous. Dc2 elective ceasarean - a walk in the park by comparison. Best wishes.

the 3rd/4th degree tear was waaaaay harder to recover from and more painful. Planned cs was walk in the park in comparison.

Coloring, I promise I didn't read your post unless it flagged subconsciously into my brain as i scrolled down quickly. Weird!!

Your risk of another third degree tear isn't very high though. It's somewhere around 5% I believe. That's not to say it won't happen, but it's quite unlikely. It's also important to look at your own personal risk factors, as some women will be more likely than others to tear badly again.