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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

3rd or 4th degree tears?

14 replies

Piggywiggles · 28/02/2019 14:14

How long did it take for you to recover?

I gave birth yesterday and have ended up with a 3rd degree tear! Worried it’ll be fucked forever...

OP posts:

Lizbiz89 · 28/02/2019 18:04

Can't comment on tear but had a forcep and episiotomy delivery with my dd. Honestly thought my vagina would never recover. I was too scared to even look or feel it for 6 months or so. Anyway it all healed in the end and feels almost back to normal now. It will get better I promise. And if it doesn't go and see your doctor. Congratulations!

Blastandtroph · 28/02/2019 18:13

You should be offered a follow up consultant appointment at 12 weeks and a physio referral. If you are still in hospital, ask if this has been done.

3rd degree tears usually heal well. I'd imagine a doctor sutured you?

Use stool softeners for a few weeks, when you open your bowels make sure your knees are higher than your hips (use a step stool) and start pelvic floor exercises too as soon as you can as this will help with healing. The NHS squeezy app is great to help with this.

Blastandtroph · 28/02/2019 18:14

And congratulations!

Summerfalls · 28/02/2019 18:18

I had episiotomy and 3rd degree tear with mine 5 years ago... no issues with it now. It healed pretty quick for me personally although the first week was very sore and achey especially in the evening. And I did waddle around because of it however I took regular pain killers for it. You should be offered physio and I also had endoanal scans too.

Mumof1andacat · 28/02/2019 18:24

I had a 3b with an episitomy. Ds was back to back and ended up theatre with forceps. You should have a gyne follow up and maybe a scan in about 6-9 months (that what it was for me) was uncomfortable for a bit but not too bad. Remember to do your pelvic floor exercises

Mog6840 · 28/02/2019 18:32

Congratulations!
I had a 3rd degree tear. It was very uncomfortable for several weeks & took some time to fully heal. But I know some people have a much more straight forward healing process.
Please make sure you get your follow up appointment to check it. I didn't realise I was supposed to have this & the appt never came through. 14 months later I ended up having corrective surgery. Had I had the appointmentI wouldn't have had to suffer so long.

shitwithsugaron · 28/02/2019 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shireslass · 28/02/2019 19:06

I had a 3b year with my daughter. It was ok. Yes, it ached- especially if you stand up for too long. Don't rush into doing too much walking- a trip round Tesco was abandoned as it ached so much.
However, it wasn't long before it was all ok.
Like previous posters please make sure you have your check up and physio and the NHS Squeezy app is brill.

Bees1 · 28/02/2019 22:54

It will be ok. I had a 4th degree 2 years ago and can honestly say aside from a pretty impressive scar I have no long term problems from it. I will say though that it hurt for quite a while (probably intermittently for 6months) sex initially was terrifying (but actually fine once I’d got over the fear!) and in terms of recovery really focus on resting at the start and doing as much physio as you possibly can.

Original poster

Piggywiggles · 28/02/2019 23:03

How long was your recovery period?

I’m feeling sore and haven’t had a bowel movement yet (TMI Sorry!) and am too scared to (not had the urge to go yet anyway). That combined with the post natal bleeding I was wondering how long I’ll be feeling crappy for?

Not too worried about the sex thing etc just don’t want to hurt on a day to day basis

OP posts:

MaryBoBary · 28/02/2019 23:08

I had a third degree tear after forceps and episiotomy. I’m not going to lie, I was in horrific pain for about 5 weeks. I expected it to be painful, so struggled for 2 weeks on paracetamol and ibuprofen. When I went back to the drs because I just couldn’t bear the pain, she could see straight away that I had an infection (easily done down there). I hadn’t dared to look myself. My advice would be to ask your midwife to check your stitches when she comes for your home visits and if the pain is bad go to the dr and get some cocodomol and antibiotics if needed. Also, have a google because there was an essential oil that I was putting in a bath of just like warm water (no bubble bath or anything) for a couple of weeks to help healing but I can’t remember what it was now. I also continued to use the maternity pads for quite a while just for some cushioning down there as they are so thick. My 12 week check up showed everything was fine. Hope that helps and congratulations (on the baby, not the tear )!!!

MaryBoBary · 28/02/2019 23:09

Oh yes, and make sure they send you home with stool softener, that will definitely help

Rogue1234 · 28/02/2019 23:14

Congratulations!

I had a 4th degree tear and was sore for a good few weeks. Make sure you keep on top of the pain meds, and use stool softeners for as long as you need them.

A midwife recommended folding a clean maternity pad and holding it against your perineum for bowel movements to begin with, it feels more comfortable on the stitches.

A year on and I'm healed fine, although not considering giving birth again any time soon!

Bees1 · 28/02/2019 23:28

I think I had my BO day 3 on an elephants dose of lactulose, it was actually fine once I got over the fear. I had some bowel urgency for a couple of weeks but that is not a problem now. I definitely needed pain relief for 2-3 weeks. Just be kind to yourself and rest lots.

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