Once a tear, always a tear?

[Tomliboo]

After having dd2 as a VBAC and experiencing a 2nd degree tear, been thinking ahead to a third baby and was womdering what would happen to the perineum and old scarring during subsequent births. More likely to tear again? Worse than before as an its an old wound opening up?

mmm it's difficult to say, I had 2nd degree with both VBAC's but, that is probably because DS2 had a HUUUGGE head (wears mens hats at age 4) and I had a 'silent' labour with DD, when it came to it, I still couldn't feel what was happening and had no urge to push so MW had to tell me that her head was right down and pushing would be good about now, so I was doing it blind if you like and probably gave it too much welly 2nd tear wasn't as bad as the first though.
lisa x

ive never had a c section, i did have a 2nd degree tear with my first and not so much as a nick with my second. hoping that this ones the same. also panting when the heads crowning really helps nomatter how strong the urge to push

I had second degree tear with my first and was terrified of my 2nd birth (18months later) I wasn't entirely sure the scarring had had time to heal fully, but as it was I didn't tear at all, even though my second was over 9lbs and with a 75th centile head.

I think the difference was that I REALLY listened to the midwife second time round and breathed the head out rather than pushing full force.

It was a totally different experience and I was home same day.It can be done! Good luck

Hiya Spugs

I felt the crowning and tried to pant the baby's head out but the mw told me not to!! She said i should hold my breath and push with each contraction. There is so much conflicting advice re how to give birth; i also asked to stay upright/on all fours but mw said 'what good will that do?'(!) Erm... gravity maybe??!!!

when i had ds1 i had an epsiotomy that took ages to heal and was very uncomfortable

when preg with ds2 i massaged my perinium (or got dp to) and tho i tore when i had him it was only a little tear and healed very quickly and well

with ds3 again i massaged my perinium and had a tiny graze, no stiches at all

both ds2 and ds3 were over 9lb, i am now expecting no 4

i was really paranoid when preg with ds2 that i would tear badly, need an episiotomy and end up with some kind of 'patchwork fanny' but that hasnt been the case at all it was fine, hth xxx

I know a lady who had quite a bad 3rd degree tear for her dd and then 'enjoyed' birthing her ds with no tears at all!

Tombliboo, that mw is in the wrong job I fear.... Being on all fours would have helped immensely along with panting, cos if baby was coming too fast you could have dropped your elbows to keep your bum in air then straighten arms again to allow descent of baby again. Well that's my opinion anyway....

Research I've come across, but don't have to hand, doesn't seem to think that elasticity of perineum is reduced due to perineal scars. Must go look it out again.

Perineal massage technique.

Hi, thanks for all the messages. I started another thread about the state of my perineal wound; if i can overcome that obstacle, i'd love to have 2 more kids!! You always hear that susequesnt babies are much easier to give birth to so maybe i'm worrying far too much already. But if i do become preg again, going to bring up with the midwife about the birthing techniques used at this hosp: i.e not allowing me to move/pant at crowning. Plus, the doc that stitched me up was very unkind to me down there- i felt like i was being punched as he shoved a tampon in me!

Poor you tombliboo, what an awful experience.

I had a 3rd degree tear VBAC with my dd, a 2nd degree tear with 3rd prg, 2nd again with 4th prg and again with the 5th prg. Each one was better though, i had some crazy healing herbs from my active birth teacher that really helped. Im hoping for a teeny tiny graze with the next pregnancy!!

Good luck

1st baby episiotomy and 3rd degree tear. 2nd baby episiotomy as they were concerned about h/b. 3rd baby - a graze. Next 6 no episiotomy and no tears.

1st baby big tear, second smallish, 3rd no tear, just a careful doctor, not a midwife.

My first tear was small. But then the baby was only 6lb 10oz. The subsequent two, 6 and 7 year later, I tore from back to front, but I suppose it stands to reason that the old scar re-opened as it was only 18 months since it originally happened!

They will actually cut a scar (episiotomy)to top it ripping and make it easlier to stitch.

There is oil you can rub into your perimium to make it stretchier I think? Someone will know..

One word: EPIDURAL!

Oh.. someone did know! See!

Good luck xx

Hi largeginandbloodpunch, funny thng is, i had a great overall experience with a quick labour and delivery! Prob why i tore in the first place!

Tomliboo i think my 3rd birth was like that, i had such a lovely labour with him that the tear didnt bother me in the slightest! I had him at home and had to go in to hospital to be stitched. The 4th birth was much the same just quicker, and the midwife stitched me at home.

Sure you will be fine, do the massage thing if you can face it and get hold of some crazy herbs. Will try and link what i used for you.

The last 2 products on this page were fab.