Did you tear with first baby during Waterbirth?

[BelleBox19]

Just trying to prepare myself!

Did any of you get lucky enough not to tear and if you did tear what severity was it?

I've been trying to do research on tears in water/out of water to decide what I'd like to try for when having my baby.

I do have tokophobia and I'm trying really hard to work through it

I did tear but I didn't notice it and was high as a kite when I was stitched. I don't know how bad it was but there was no issues with healing or any other issues.

I had a slight tear, requiring three stitches, for my first birth which was on land. It was honestly fine. I didn’t require stitches for either of my two water births which followed.

Good luck, I hope you’re fine.

Yes, needed a few stitches

No, and baby was 8 pound 8.

Hi OP, I’ve had 2 water births. First one I did tear a little but it was only minor, and I definitely wasn’t aware of it happening at the time. I had a few stitches which wasn’t as bad as I imagined (they give you gas and air and local anaesthetic so it was just uncomfortable rather than painful) and it honestly all felt fine within a few days. Second birth it was a very minor tear / graze, again a couple of stitches and felt completely fine down there within a couple of days. That’s my experience anyway, I know some are not as ‘lucky’, I genuinely was really worried about the prospect of tearing and stitches before my first birth and it genuinely was not as bad as I expected. You can’t feel a tear happening as there’s so much going on in the area, and I think once you’ve gone through the birth then a few stitches doesn’t seem like that big a deal anymore and you have your lovely baby by then. Good luck x

Have you seen the Positive Birth Company? It completely transformed my birth for the better.

I laboured in water then delivered on the sofa at home, FTM and no tearing only grazes.

Have you thought about perineal massage? I think it helped a lot.

My only water birth was my 3rd, and I tore just as badly as I had the first two times. My babies all shot out, though. I traded tearing for short labour.

Yes I did, and to be honest I was much more worried about being stitched up than about the baby being born, but I had gas and it was absolutely fine. I was a bit sore for a few days afterwards but it was no worse than if you'd bruised yourself in another way. I highly recommend a water birth OP.

First baby was a water birth but was very slow to crown. No tearing. Second birth. Induction, epidural, gave birth on my back. 3 2nd degree tears, 12 stiches. Recovery was MUCH easier with second however. No pain from stitches at all which was surprising as I had 5 days of stinging when I weed after number 1.

First, took 4 months until I was pain free from all the internal bruising. Second was 3 days.

I did tear but only because Dd came so quick in the end I think and I honestly did not feel it at the time,had 23 stitches with gas and air so was manageable and didn't take long,was a bit sore for first week,felt back to normal after 10 days.Whole other story with c section on Dd2.

Honestly once baby is born (And during) you won't care about tearing much. I was just relieved it was over!!

I had a second degree tear after my almost 9lb baby shot out (no pushing!) after a 3 hr labour, the last 40mins of which I was in the water (bliss!). I didn’t notice at the time (it all bloody hurts tbh) and healed really well and quickly.

I think the likelihood of tearing is quite high but in the moment it's really not that big a deal- didn't notice it either time. And I was glad to be stitched because I got more gas and air!

Yes but baby was 11lbs...
Second one slide out at only 10lbs.

I had planned a water birth but every time i went in to the water my contractions stopped, which was annoying. Ended up on dry land with a tear.

I tried a water birth with my first but ended up needing forceps. 2nd I had a water birth and 3rd degree year but I honestly hardly noticed and recovered really well.

Tear*

Slight tear and some grazing with a 7lb10 baby, but not badly enough for stitches.

I did tear quite badly with my first DD who was a water birth, i dont think birthing in water makes a difference to the need for stiches.
What i will say is when you feel the stinging sensation ( you'll know it when you feel it ) pant don't push , that will reduce your risk of needing stitches.

Yes, second, nearly third degree, but my labour was fast and I was only 'pushing' for maybe half an hour (it's a bit fuzzy) so that was likely why. I didn't notice at the time; I didn't enjoy being stitched. But they healed very quickly and I had no issues with them afterward. Best of luck.

Yes I did. It was a second degree tear but they were concerned it could have been a third degree one so gave me a spinal block to repair it. Healing was fine. In the moment it was definitely a "ring of fire" feeling but I couldn't have told you if I teared or not. I blamed myself for pushing him out before a contraction came (his head was out and I was worried he was going to drown 😂).

With my second, also a water birth, I did perineal massage and was very careful with my pushing. Had a home birth with no pain relief, totally manageable short labour and pushing stage. Still had a second degree tear! Was a bit gutted about that as, again, at the time I didn't feel it and was hopeful it wouldn't happen again.

Yes, I did. 2nd degree. Didn't feel being stitched though, that I recall. Baby was 8lbs 8.

Yes, quite badly. But it was still a very positive experience

Very slightly, needed 1 of those dissolving stitches. Healed no problem.

2 water births and 2nd degree tears both times which took what felt like ages to be stitched. The stitches themselves were by far the worst part of childbirth but they healed fine and I don't even notice them anymore