3rd Degree Tear or C Section

[Rollypops]

Hello all,

Just wondering if there are any mummies out there who have had a 3rd degree tear and a c section and which they thought was better?

Plus do they have any long term complications of either?

Asking as I've had a 3rd degree tear and wondering what to do for my 2nd.

Thanks so much! X

[Littleguggi]

I had a 3b tear with my first and opted for a csection for my second which was supported by the medics involved at the time. I was just too terrified of having another natural labour and being so left with any long term damage. 100% the csection was easier both in terms of the birth and recovery, I'd say the recovery was quicker even!

[Mommabear20]

I've not personally had both, but I had a third degree rear with my second, 7 weeks after my sister had a C-section, I was recovered well before her! She couldn't hold baby or stand up inside for ages and then kept getting infections in her incision. She also now has a horrendous scar across her tummy, I don't know if mine scared, no one could see it even if I did! 😂

[Mommabear20]

Stand up unaided*

[Rollypops]

Hello, thanks for taking the time to reply. I had a 3b tear too 😟 I hope you don't mind me asking, but do you feel ok down there now? 🙈 I'm 4 months pp and terrified of being incontinent xx

[colouringindoors]

c section. By miles. None of the trauma and anxiety about future incontinence etc. I breastfed fine after c section and was feeling pretty ok physically after only 2 weeks.

[Mommabear20]

Every thing felt back to normal by 6 months for me. DH said he doesn't notice any difference when we're intimate. And after 2 weeks pp, no incontinence whatsoever! Currently pregnant with my third in 3 years and still not having any problems.

[Stormystar]

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first, and had a C-section with my second. The C-section was hands down better all round. Yes, it’s a major surgery, but I was prepared for it, and the recovery was much quicker for me. All the best to you 🙂

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

I had a 3c tear. Left with double prolapse and shit recovery. Lake of care due to covid (baby born April 2020) didn't help. It's a mess down there now. Had intensive pelvic floor physio which did help.

Die second baby in September and have opened for ELCS. If they could guarantee I would tear past 1 or 2 grade I would 100% do it again. But they can't and I don't think I can face it again with recovery if I tore that badly again. There is a lot of scar tissue

[Rollypops]

A 3rd degree rear 😉 your poor bottom 🙊

Thanks for replying too 💙 sorry fir asking you too, but has everything healed ok? Guessing these things just take time xx

[Discovereads]

@colouringindoors

c section. By miles. None of the trauma and anxiety about future incontinence etc. I breastfed fine after c section and was feeling pretty ok physically after only 2 weeks.

? You can most definitely develop incontinence due to a c section.

[Rollypops]

Thanks for the info everyone.

There must be an easier way to get babies out this day and age 😂

[EnglishRose1320]

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first, recovery took ages.
Then with my second, drs said it was up to me, but with natural, they estimated about a 50% chance of being doubly incontinent- surprisingly enough I opted for the c section! Recovery was much faster with the C section. Went back to work after the C section at around 8 weeks, no way I could have done that after the 3rd degree tear.

[Celeryfavour]

I had a 3c tear then a c section. It took me about a year to recover from the tear, I needed a lot of support as I couldn't walk far for many months, couldn't kneel down. Now I'm ten years on from it and approaching menopause I am noticing continence issues. I recovered really quickly from the c section, it was nothing in comparison to the tear.

[SisterA]

I haven't had a c section but just to give you hope if you want to consider delivering vagina pot again in future;

I had a 3b tear and recovered really well. 3.5 years after I had a home birth with only a very small 1st degree tear that didn't need stitches.

4 months after a massive injury, even if recovery has been straight forward, is still pretty recent. Take care of yourself! And congratulations on your baby :)

[cannaethink]

I had a 3b tear with DC1. I really didn’t want a c section with DC2 so read up lots on ways to avoid tearing. I only had minor grazes with DC2, no problem at all.
I think because it was my second, I was more relaxed and knew what to expect. I used a birthing pool and didn’t push. I decided against pain relief as I don’t think it helped with DC1 and I wanted to be able to concentrate on not pushing 😂

About a year after the 3b tear I had it tidied up a bit after a nurse doing my smear said it was a mess and I shouldn’t accept it! Other than that I have no problems at all, it’s been 12 years.

[PinkFizz19]

Thanks for posting this, will follow along. I'm 9 weeks PP following a 3b tear, still recovering and was told I would be supported if I chose ELCS next time (if we're lucky enough for anymore) was told I would be referred for physio and should hear something by 6 weeks but sick of chasing it now as no one seems interested. Doctors following birth said there is a chance I could tear again but not everyone does and even though they'd support my wishes as long as I wasn't having problems or symptoms from this tear in the future they don't see why I couldn't have another natural birth xxx

[FanOnHigh]

I had a 3b tear with my first - long initial recovery, uncomfortable stitches, prolapse for about a year and I was just generally sad about how it all went and scared about whether or not I would returne to "normal." Things are okay now, but not great. With my second I didn't even consider a vagianl birth because I was so terrified of tearing again. I have scar tissue that I don't think would have flexed very well. It took a lot of campaigning on my part, but I did get a c-section in the end. I definitely made the right choice for me - the surgery was very straightforward and recovery took about 5 weeks until I didn't feel fragile anymore. The scar is so minor and sits right on my hairline so you don't even see it, although it is still numb in that local area. My tummy won't ever be the same again, but I'm much happier with that than the risk of incontinence.

[thejall]

None of the trauma and anxiety about future incontinence etc.

pregnancy alone can cause incontinence though. Also ageing.

[FanOnHigh]

I was worried about fecal incontinence, which is a concern with such a bad tear.

[MassiveSalad22]

I had a 3C tear then 2 elective c sections (during one of which I lost half my blood volume and so obviously had a transfusion).

C section every time. Walk in the park! A year of physio after my tear and still not the same 7 years later.

[Littleguggi]

@Rollypops it took me a good 6 months to recover from the 3b, even now, nearly 6 years on I sometimes struggle to hold in needing a bowel movement. I have to know where a toilet is located when I'm out and about. It's not a big deal, but when I've got to go, I've got to go. I have to admit I am rubbish at remembering to do my pelvic floor exercises!

I can't believe how common this is, I honestly felt like the only one when it happened to me! Maybe people don't talk about it in real life. How are you healing OP?

[Rollypops]

Thank-you everyone.

I really wish it was talked about more and thank heaven for these forums. There's nothing like hearing it from people that have experienced it themselves.

I bet all of you do too.... I keep going through the birth in my head wondering if I should have been offered a c section with him being a "big" baby. A 3rd degree tear, episiotomy scarr, stuck placenta with a manual removal. But I guess I need to focus on him being here and healthy xxx

[MassiveSalad22]

Also see if there is a birth choices clinic you can be referred to - lady took into account various factors and calculated my risk of another big tear.

[Littleguggi]

Your birth story sounds like mine, I also had an episiotomy and a stuck placenta and had to go into theatre to have it manually removed. My baby however was a small 6 pounder!

[namechangedembarrassing]

3B tear and bladder prolapse. Year later still got loads of problems and they keep reassuring me “it’ll get better”
I’m never putting my body through labour again but if I had to would def be a c section.