If you tore badly with your first baby

[CharlieB93]

Did you tear with your second?
(Third degree tear first time round 😩)

[quote CharlieB93]@HumunaHey I gave birth on my back (not by choice) was pushing for over 2 hours aswell, the urge to push didn’t come naturally to me. I’d of preferred to be left alone to wander and do it at my own pace but baby was getting distressed. I often wonder if the tear was caused by me unnaturally pushing.[/quote]
Yeah those things probably did account for the bad tears. There is a lot to be said about pushing at the "right" time. Something I never understood the ins and outs of.

If you are able to for your second birth, request a birthing pool and avoid being on your back (if possible!) and I'm sure this will help alot.

Anecdotally, second births do seem to be quicker, easier anyway (again, this is anecdotally from what people have said in their own experience).

Third degree tear first time
Second time I did tear but it's wasn't as bad

It's not a case of being allowed to request one - everyone has the right to request. I requested one at my very first booking in appointment and I have held firm at every appointment since. I've cried, stated my reasons in no uncertain terms, made professionals aware that I understand the risks of a c-section, and undergone a 2 hour mental health assessment with perinatal mental health. The Clinical Psychologist has recommended that I have a c-section. If the consultant refuses, I will be threatening legal action. My body, my choice.

I had horrific tearing with my first and requested a C section 6 years later with ds.
The consultant I saw was the person who stitched me up and still remembered me and asked to examine me to see how the healing had ended up: she approved the c section

Episiotomy and 3b tear with our daughter, lots of pelvic floor issues, and have already been advised by the perineal midwife to have a ELCS for any subsequent children. TTC at the moment and that’s the plan. Our trust’s policy is to offer an ELCS to women with previous third degree tears .

@EarlGreywithLemon that’s interesting! My trust was really dismissive and was all for another VB

3 2nd degree tears the first time plus an episiotomy. Nothing at all 2nd time, not even a graze.

4 day induction, bad tear and stitches failed and infected, horrendous recovery with DD, needed two years of private physio (NHS physio put me in a class of elderly ladies to control continence while I had a rectocele, it was mortifying) and private counselling.

ELCS approved for DS due in six weeks. I am scared about the initial few weeks after the section, but think this will be better to manage than a long period of confusion and frankly dreadful aftercare going on for months.

No helpful experience but I just wanted to say I’m in the same boat. Had a third degree tear and some other complications (needed follow-up surgery). I haven’t had my consultant appointment yet but the midwife at my booking appointment did the whole ‘there’s no reason why you can’t have a vaginal birth’ thing. The gynaecologist who repaired me the second time said there was so I think that’s just their standard line. Anyway, I’ve got a consultant appointment in a few weeks to discuss.

First baby was a long labour with an episiotomy and second degree tear. Second labour was very fast 1cm dilated to born within an hour) and I only had grazes!

@MissChanandlerBong22 it’s scary isn’t it! If you wouldn’t mind could you let me know how you get on?

Second degree tear and episiotomy with DC1. Back to back labour. Epidural.
Second degree tear with DC2. Very quick.
Don't remember much about any of it.
All healed fine.

@CharlieB93

Of course, no problem. It’s quite a few weeks away but I will update!

@MissChanandlerBong22 thank you!!