3rd degree tear or c- section

[Kkb88]

Hey ladies,
I had a third-degree tear with vacuum birth for first and second child. Thinking about having one more child. Dr. suggest C-section. Doctor said if baby is around 7 pounds, which is bigger than my other two, could risk 4th° tear or maybe being stuck. Should I have for a C-section or try for tearing again? Worried about recovery for C-section. Any advice?

I haven't had a vaginal birth, but did have a planned section, and honestly, the recovery was embarrassingly easy. I was up and about in less than 24 hours, perfectly fine getting in and out of bed, fine to pick up the baby and breastfeed him. It's annoying having to use your arms to push yourself up, and I kept forgetting I wasn't allowed to pick up heavy things, like the dog but that was probably the worst of it.

I was in hospital 2 nights, but home after that and quite happily pottering around the neighbourhood and going out and getting coffee. I was a bit achey and uncomfortable, but I kept on top of my painkillers and it was fine. No actual pain. The most painful part of the whole thing was having the cannula put in my wrist. The hole from that took longer to heal up than the c section scar

I loved the whole experience 10/10 would c-section again.

EMCS here but yes embarrassingly easy once i could stand up. Due to not being planned and not having eaten for over 2 days I kept throwing up everything I ate for the first 20 hours but at the 24 hour mark I got home and had the BEST steak and potatoes ever cooked! He was born Thursday, came home Friday, first walk Monday, went to the next town over on the train to register his birth on the Wednesday which included a long walk. Didn’t stop walking since.

I’d say the hardest was getting in and out of bed but our bed is very low. And get a pram to support yourself when walking Because sometimes my centre of gravity had no clue what it was doing.

Hi OP I had this same dilemma after a 3rd degree/forceps/episiotomy with a 6lb baby! She was back to back and got stuck.

I considered myself lucky not to have long term issues as hard as the recovery was. I've opted for ELCS this time as I'm not so much worried about the recovery of another 3rd degree tear but to avoid any long lasting or permanent damage.

I had emcs with 7lb baby and recovery was easy.

Planned cesarean second time around but no one realised how big dd was and my recovery was awful. She was very very big though.

Have the ELCS.

I've had four and recovered each time within three days to the degree that I was able to push the baby to the local shop and home again.
I have a suspicion that the medical establishment in this country vastly over estimates the risks and recovery time of ELCS. If they didn't more people would probably choose them.

Natural childbirth is much more detrimental to a mother's anatomy in the vast majority of cases.

C-section.

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first but was fine with the next 2 but as you've already torn twice, I wouldn't risk it.

I'd go for a c all the way! Loved my c-section. Plus then you've experienced both.

And agree with all the posts that my recovery was pretty easy.

I have a suspicion that the medical establishment in this country vastly over estimates the risks and recovery time of ELCS.

Or it could just be that everyone is different and for everyone with a recovery like yours there is one who had a nightmare.

I had a forceps birth with my first. Despite an episiotomy I still ended up with a 3rd degree tear.

I had an elective c section with #2 (and again with #3) and the recovery was so much easier.

Vaginal birth isn't the be all and and end all, and the risk of birth injuries is real even in this day and age.

Yes a c section is major surgery; but unless you've had the ignominy of a 3rd degree tear, and been told that you can attempt another vaginal birth but it may result in a 4th degree tear and/ or colostomy bag I don't think you can fully judge how the recovery compares.

I am still recovering from my third degree tear 5.5 years later.

Go with the ELCS OP, it is (usually) a much easier recovery and you can prepare yourself for it.

I also had a very easy section recovery, even though mine was an emergency one. And I had been terrified of a section beforehand and determined not to have one. But I was very pleasantly surprised by how easy recovery was and I have no lasting effects from the birth at all, bar the scar which has faded hugely anyway. Of course there are no guarantees, but I would choose a section now (and I never thought I would say that pre-baby!)

Yes! My babes were 5.6, and 6.12, and still had vacuum with both. In hospital 6 days with first due to preeclampsia and 3 days with second. First babe was in nicu for 7 days.

go for the C-section!

I had an unplanned C-section for DD1 and the recovery was a breeze. By 6 weeks, I was ready to drive again and my incision healed easily.

I ended up with VBAC for DD2 and it was a nightmare. The actual birth was ok and DD2 is fine but the complications for me were long lasting.

I nearly bled out due to placental adhesion (common after C-section) and DD2's 99th percentile head stretched my undercarriage irrevocably. Instead of the quick recovery the midwife used to convince me to have a VBAC, I was on a catheter for 3 weeks! It's normal after a C-section not to drive for several weeks, but I couldn't even walk around my village!

Furthermore, I needed corrective surgery on my lady parts. That couldn't be done until nearly a year after her birth so I ended up having to take even more time off work for the op and recovery time too.

I would go for the c-section. I had an emergency section with my dd1 and relatively easy recovery. Had 4th degree tearing with dd2 due to forceps and despite months of physio, my pelvic floor is trashed. It's been 8 yrs since dd2 was born.....