Vaginal delivery after third degree tear?

LemonLimeDivine · 22/07/2023 20:55

I had a very bad tear with my firstborn.
I had to have an ELCS due to a concern about the umbilical cord with my second baby. Not going to lie - I was terrified. It was a very calm and positive experience and I recovered so much quicker from c-section than I did with the vaginal birth / tear.
Not exactly what you were asking I know but just wanted to pop on and say don’t be too quick to discount the c-section.

Pandax3 · 22/07/2023 20:59

I had a 3b tear with my first DS. I recovered well and didn't have any issues afterwards. I then went on to have water births at home with DS2 and DD, and just had a graze (no stitches each time). I was much more aware of controlling my breathing, I did a daisy birthing course and didn't push at all. It may have just been luck but I think it helped.

I had an appt with a doctor mid way through my second pregnancy to discuss options as I was offered an elective c section too. I found the doctor's approach quite negative and very risk approach whereas my midwife was much more positive and encouraging.

I researched as much as I could and asked lots of questions of the doctor and midwife. there is a higher risk of problems following a third degree tear but there are steps you can take to reduce it, such as applying pressure with a warm compress and different birthing positions.

Tiredandannoyed2023 · 22/07/2023 21:00

I had a third degree tear with my first child and chose an elective section with my second. It was a really calm and positive experience, which felt completely controlled. The recovery was much more predictable than from my tear, and I was driving again within 3 weeks. Absolutely no regrets.

justmyluck1234 · 22/07/2023 21:02

I had a 3C tear with my first forceps delivery... fast forward 18months later I had another baby I decided against c section (due to having a toddler to look after) had such a positive birth did end up with a second degree tear but I honestly haven't had any discomfort after and no far no real issues.

Tiredandannoyed2023 · 22/07/2023 21:02

I’ll add that I’m a HCP and I like controlled medical situations!!!

1packetofhobnobslater · 22/07/2023 21:10

I had a 3b tear and opted for an epidural with my second. I had it as soon as I felt the first painful contraction, spent the next few hours in a very relaxed labour and when it came to delivery I was calm and in no pain at all so i could follow exactly what the midwife said on when to push how big to push etc. I think having done it before I knew where to focus the push even though I couldn't really feel it. Baby was born 9lb 13 and I no tear or any issues at all other than a knackered pelvic floor for a few years

Blaggingit123 · 22/07/2023 21:26

I had a 3a tear in a water birth and like you found the experience positive overall (even despite ambulance transfer from midwife unit to hospital after the birth and other issues see below!). I opted for the same experience again, and had another 3a tear, but again the experience was a positive one (better than my first actually which was back to back, extremely painful, and the spinal block for stitches didn’t work so I had to have a GA - but I still found positive overall). I’m glad I made that decision but I did find the healing a bit slower second time, and while I won’t be having any more DC, I don’t think I’d have risked a natural birth for a third time.

The consultant told me it was around a 10% risk of a second tear, and was happy to sign me off to midwife led unit (would have been equally happy to sign off ELCS though). For what it’s worth, both my DC had a head circumference at the top of the charts at birth (99.6th centile), despite being average weight, which I’m convinced was part of the cause.

Beachhutnut · 22/07/2023 21:35

I had 4th degree tear with my first had a water delivery with my second and did need stitches but only first degree tear. Second baby was a week early so smaller though but the water birth was a lot more relaxing.

Original poster

bexboz · 24/07/2023 21:20

@LemonLimeDivine ah so glad you had a positive experience second time. I am very sure a c section isn't what I want as my plan a (call me crazy but I enjoyed the wild ride that was childbirth too much!) but so glad it was an option for you

OP posts:

Original poster

bexboz · 24/07/2023 21:23

@Tiredandannoyed2023 so glad you had a positive second birth thanks for sharing :)

OP posts:

WingingIt101 · 24/07/2023 21:31

I could have written your op myself. Word for word.

I didn't want a section at all but in the end decided to have one. That might not be the answer you were looking for but if you did want to chat I'm happy to answer any questions!

cannaethink · 24/07/2023 21:32

I had a 3b tear with DS1. For DS2 I read up on ways to avoid tearing and went for a water birth. I decided against any pain relief as I had felt so out of it with DS1 and I wanted to be able to focus! I didn’t push either. I just had grazes, no further issues at all.

Original poster

bexboz · 24/07/2023 21:33

@Pandax3 @justmyluck1234 @1packetofhobnobslater @Blaggingit123 @Beachhutnut

Hope I got the right names in here! Thanks so much for sharing all of your experiences, that's all so encouraging. I actually had a debrief with the head of maternity services today. The debrief was about an oversight in our care (which was otherwise excellent) not related to the 3rd degree tear. Anyway she brought up the issue of birth following a third degree and says she would totally support me in a vaginal delivery and explained that the tear was probably due so some unique things that happened meaning my baby was born suuuuper quickly (less than 20 mins of pushing for a first time mum! Think rat out of a drain pipe!!) so nothing had time to stretch. She thinks it would be unlikely to happen again if the right support was in place and said I could contact her directly or even have her come to clinic with me if any of the consultants were twitchy about it. It was such a relief and I felt so supported.

She also encouraged me to fight harder if I think my due date is wrong again (I think it was off by 5 days) which could take away a lot of the induction pressure if I go "over" again next time. Phew!

Crazy how much can change just from one midwife / HCP to another! Anyway, thanks for listening!

OP posts:

Helenloveslee4eva · 24/07/2023 21:37

bexboz · 22/07/2023 20:38

I had a third degree tear (3b) and recovered well but multiple healthcare professionals have already mentioned an elective section next time. No immediate plans to get pregnant I just can't stop thinking about it - I had a great birth experience even considering the tear. I know the risk of another 3rd degree is higher now and tearing again increases the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction but I really don't want a c-section. What are other people's experiences of vaginal delivery after a 3rd or 4th degree tear?

Personal experience.
nasty year with no 2. 3rd degree repaired in theatre etc.
baby no 3 was breech - so planned section at 39+ weeks . What a great solution to both issues.

however she had other plans. Dot on 38 weeks when I had a day of work booked , I dropped the others at school / nursery and struggled to walk 😂. Just got to delivery suit fully dilated and she short our head first 😱🤣( I imagine some sort of swimmers tumble turn !). Stitches but all good.

I couldn’t have planned a vaginal delivery as a very evidence based person but it worked out

1packetofhobnobslater · 24/07/2023 21:47

Glad to hear your feeling more relaxed OP. Best of luck if you do decide to have another x

Sweetheart17 · 25/07/2023 00:04

Your giving birth the wrong way do not do it on your back if you can go into water and go on all 4s like a squatting positing you should be exercising your pelvic area aswell so when it’s time you can have better and don’t get induced either that makes you tear let your baby come out naturally no pressure

Original poster

bexboz · 05/08/2023 19:29

Sweetheart17 · 25/07/2023 00:04

Your giving birth the wrong way do not do it on your back if you can go into water and go on all 4s like a squatting positing you should be exercising your pelvic area aswell so when it’s time you can have better and don’t get induced either that makes you tear let your baby come out naturally no pressure

Thanks for your reply but I just wanted to come back with that there is no "wrong way" to give birth just risk factors for different outcomes e.g. tearing. Even if you know all those risk factors you mention (which I did) before going into it, so much can happen in the thick of labour that is outside your control. It doesn't mean you "did it wrong". Just putting that out there in case someone else reads your comment and is made to feel bad about their experience.

OP posts:

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 05/08/2023 19:36

I had an absolutely awful tear with my first went on to have 2 more children vaginally with no problems.
2nd baby no tear at all perfect birth experience.
3rd baby small ‘graze’ but no stitches needed.

WooYa · 05/08/2023 19:45

I had a 3b tear with my first and currently 18 weeks with my second. Community Midwifery dismissed my concerns but hospital midwife listened and referred me to a consultant. He just asked me what I wanted. I'm going for a c-section because I had some issues for a while after DS and I don't want that to happen again.