If you had a third degree tear first time around...

[Jessesgirl13]

...did you risk a vaginal birth again? If so how did it go?

I had a very fast water birth with my first which resulted in a 3a tear. He had quite a big head too so that prob contributed! I was lucky in that I was stitched very well and healed well so have no ongoing issues from the actual tear.

I did though have the very heavy feeling down there and was under the womens physio for 6 months to correct that.

Im now in my third trimester with my second baby and thinking about my birth options. So yeah I was just wondering what other people did and how it went?

Absolutely fine 2nd time around and even 3rd!

I had stitches still for both but not 3rd degree tear. All healed fine.
Good luck.

I had a 3a after DD - the birth was long and drawn out and I ended up with epidural and a ventouse for the last push. I had stitches and recovered very quickly and easily. Went on to have a vaginal birth for DS 2.5 years later which was totally trouble free, I only had a tiny graze otherwise not any injury. So my experience was positive.

I had a 3rd degree tear and episiotomy and minor pph with my 1st. It healed well.

When I saw a consultant 9yrs later when pregnant with DC2 a section wasn't offered/suggested and I didn't realise to ask. I was told, I had a less than 5% chance of tearing badly again (which at the time I heard as tearing again)

I have had 3 more (large headed and heavy babies) vaginally and had a 2nd degree tear with each. Again each healed fine, no discomfort.

I'm expecting again in June. I do have a rectocele now and had physio for urinary incontinence between 3 and 4. This was improved by exercise, the rectocele, I realise had been with me since my first birth but I didn't realise what I was experiencing was abnormal if that makes any sense.

I've subsequently read in groups of people being offered Sections after a 3rd degree tear, so I'm really unsure why it was never suggested here. That said I my 2,3,4 births were all very straightforward, home within hours etc so I'm content with my "decision"

Thanks for the replies, its good to hear some positive stories from second time around!

@BurningBenches

I had a 3rd degree tear and episiotomy and minor pph with my 1st. It healed well.

When I saw a consultant 9yrs later when pregnant with DC2 a section wasn't offered/suggested and I didn't realise to ask. I was told, I had a less than 5% chance of tearing badly again (which at the time I heard as tearing again)

I have had 3 more (large headed and heavy babies) vaginally and had a 2nd degree tear with each. Again each healed fine, no discomfort.

I'm expecting again in June. I do have a rectocele now and had physio for urinary incontinence between 3 and 4. This was improved by exercise, the rectocele, I realise had been with me since my first birth but I didn't realise what I was experiencing was abnormal if that makes any sense.

I've subsequently read in groups of people being offered Sections after a 3rd degree tear, so I'm really unsure why it was never suggested here. That said I my 2,3,4 births were all very straightforward, home within hours etc so I'm content with my "decision"

A prolapse is my biggest fear at the min, after having the heavy/dragging feeling first time around.

I mentioned this to my consultant and she said that it isn't caused by vaginal birth but rather by pregnancy so a c section wouldn't change the outcome. I was quite surprised by that. And not sure if i fully believe her

3rd degree tear first time due to shoulder dystopia (and induction, and large head etc). Again, all healed fine but was defo part of the plan to have elective csection second time. I thought this was because of the SD but consultants seemed to focus on the tear instead. Csection super straightforward though and I’m happy I went with that option x

@Jessesgirl13 my friend with 2 sections has a prolapse so I just don't know.

Mine is fortunately painless it just affects bowel movements, almost the opposite of incontinence but not constipation either. But I've lived with that 20yrs since my first so I'm used to it, it was only with physio for urinary incontinence between 3 and 4 I realised it wasn't normal.

Hi all. So im currently 6 months pregnant with dc2. Also had 3rd degree tear with first child. Labour/birth was fast (under 4 hrs). Midwife care was pretty poor. However, surgical team were fab and i can honestly say i dont think i would have recovered without severe consequences if they hadnt acted so quick - surgeon actually delivered baby then whisked me off to theatre because midwife broke down crying in corner! Long story!! Despite no major issues, i did find recovery long and hard. This time i am leaning towards a c section. I also started a thread on this last year and had some really lovely responses from people about their experiences. I found it really useful to read other peoples stories about choices they made in later pregnancies and feel fairly at ease with my decision. Although that doesnt stop me being petrified at the thought of major surgery! Hope this helps

I had 3rd degree tears with dc1, went on to have dt both vaginally with no problems. I was told because of a previous tear and also having twins the fresh hold for converting to a c-section was lower.