Internal 3rd degree tear yesterday

[Maxymoo1]

Looking for some positive reassurance stories please!

My beautiful baby boy was born yesterday and I couldn't be happier of course. It was a shock though to find out that I had had a third degree internal tear, needed to go to theatre straight away for stitches and was away from my baby for his first few hours 😢

Anyway... We made it and are looking forward to be discharged today.

However I am feeling a bit anxious about what this means for me long term. I had an episiotomy with my first born and I remember feeling the same then, it actually healed incredibly well in the end and causes me no problems. All those feelings are flooding back now though and I am feeling a bit upset about it. The recovery in terms of pain and how long it takes I'm OK with, I'm worried about incontinence issues and/or painful sex. Please tell me everything will be OK?

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! I had a 3rd degree with my first and had to go to surgery and lost a lot of blood. I didn’t feel great for the first few weeks (as didn’t really know how you were supposed to feel after having a baby!). But fast forward 12 weeks and a bit of physiotherapy and I was almost back to normal! I had my second baby and more 3rd degree (but not as bad). Anyway they are now 12 and 10 and I’ve never had any lasting effects from it all so hopefully you’ll be the same!

Oh thank you so much for replying, I feel a bit emotional reading your reply, obviously I have to be mindful of the my hormones and the day I've just had!

Do you mind if I ask if they were internal tears as apparently that's what I have. No ongoing issues at all and back to normal within a normal recovery period both times? You have given me hope! Thank you (and for the congratulations as well)! X

Yes the first was an internal 3rd degree - I'm 5ft 5 and 8.5stone and she was over 10lbs! I'm afraid it was pretty sore for about the first 3 weeks (I remember cause it was around xmas), but it really did get better relatively quickly with no permanent issues. The second was was classed as 3rd (she was meant to be a c-section but came out too quick!) It not as severe and at the 6 week check with the physio they said my pelvic floors were pretty much back to normal. I've never been left with any permanent issues. When having baby 3 they tried to encourage a natural birth again (I declined!!) and said that if the stitches are done well then you shouldn't be left with permanent issues so there really is hope. It will be sore to begin with but it really does get better!

I had a 3rd/4th degree tear but it wasn't internal. I was also in theatre for hours and away from my baby, but we have a wonderful relationship so that was ok.

I do remember feeling really sore and like my innards were going to fall out when I walked (sorry if tmi). It did take months before sex was ok again and I remember feeling very emotional when it eventually happened.

But I healed and have gone on to have no problems. With my second I had a second degree tear.

I had an episiotomy and 3c tear and had no issues afterwards, not even pain. Pelvic floor not as strong as it once was but never experienced any incontinence. I think how tears are stitched up plays a big part in recovery (no proof of this, just speculation!) Mine were stiched by a doctor in theatre.

Thank you all very much for replying. I'm 5 days post delivery now and your messages helped me so much when I was in a bit of shock and trying to work out how 'bad' or not things were.

Sorry if tmi, but I have been amazed by the fact that there is no pain at all when I wee, even the very first wee, and everything seems to be functioning completely normally. I haven't looked... I made that mistake with my first (episiotomy) and felt very upset and it was completely pointless as everything healed really well in time. I can feel a small lump which must be swelling from the stitching but my pain relief is mostly needed for lower back pain, I can tell when it wears off a bit too soon that I'm not really in much pain down below.

Fingers crossed for a recovery as positive as yours! So far so good. I'm going to keep updating this thread to help future Mums as you have all helped me. Thank you again