Worried about tearing again.

[dancerandprancer]

I had quite a nasty tear when having my DD. I was stitched up but left with a lump type thing that my GP says is scar tissue. She says there is not much that can be done about it.

Am due to have DC2 in August and am worried that due to scar tissue not being very flexible, I will tear again.

Anyone had experience of this?

I have a lot of scarring from my first delivery (episiotomy, infection) and did tear on my second. But it wasn't nearly as extensive and I didn't have the lasting problems that I had with my first.

Have you seen a specialist about the scar tissue? Or just the GP? I didn't find the GP very helpful at all with my scarring - any of them, and I saw 4 different GPs.
Could you also talk to another midwife - one at the hospital where you'll give birth? - and discuss birth options to reduce tearing again and protect your scar. Could you also see a specialist physio about working on your scar now to make it more flexible?
I feel for you as I'm due in October and I am really concerned about a repeat of DD's birth, where I was given a very large episiotomy and haven't healed well. I'm lucky that my MW has so far been sympathetic, but she has suggested a private midwifery centre if I want to discuss my concerns with someone else and get "independent" advice - could that be an option? Is there anyone private/independent in your area?

I, like you, tore really badly with first child and was worried about the second. The second was a water birth and I didn't tear at all. Apparantly being in water makes the skin round yr bits much softer and more stretchy. In Victorian times, midwives used to press a warm, damp compress on when the baby was crowning for the same effect.

Worked for me anyway. Good luck x

I am similar to Madonna (I love saying that). I was worried when I returned to the midwife to 'book' for dd1, and she remembered me. Her words were'Your bottom was a filthy mess' - also episiotomy and infection. I had stitches after the dds, but nothing like after ds. (He is 16, but I will never forget). I stayed at home as long as possible with the others, but nothing else re position etc. was different. Good luck, I hope you get more positive stories because I know I was worried in the same way.

I tore when I had dd. It wasn't a terrible tear, but the stitching job was pretty crap and too too tight. I had a restich done when dd was 7 months. Not lovely, but job done.
Meant though that I was pretty worried about tearing with ds. In the end it was a rapid delivery and I did tear. Possibly more than with dd. However... the repair work was fantastic and I healed well and no lasting effects.
I have a friend who had similar to you. When she was expecting her second child, she discussed options with midwives and consultant and it was agreed that if she tore, then the repair work needed could be done when immediately after the birth. Is worth talking to your midwives to see what the options are. IN the end, she came out of the labour with a better repair than she had had during her first delivery. She didn't tear as badly and has had no problems.

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I also recommend waterbirth. Huge baby, no stitches, hence my nickname.

pooka - I think I have been stitched 'tighter' - not sure that DH is complaining but sometimes it can be a little snug IYKWIM...... how dd you go about getting restitched?

I had a 3rd degree tear with my dd (not good) and had to be repaired under a spinal, i was advised to have a section with ds as i had toilet trouble for some time afterwards but....

I wish had had gone natural with ds now, i think as long as you do lots of pelvic floor exercises AND have a controlled pushing stage you can seriously lower the chance of tearing 2nd time around, there are quite a few women on here who had very nasty tears like mine who went on to have 2nd natural labours with either no tearing or very little. Ask your MW if you can go and see the physio to get some information on other methods to help prepare the area before hand.

Start doing them pelvic floors now.

I too had a 3rd degree with operation under a spinal with my 1st labour. My second labour (only 14 months later) was completely different to first and I only had a minor tear.

I was terrified before giving birth, and really didn't want to have a C-section, (which they tried to 'persuade' me to have - even in the middle of labour), but I found a fantastic MW, who was willing to sit down with me and go through my notes from my 1st labour, and discuss all my fears and best ways to avoid tearing so badly again - eg water birth, breathing etc.

BTW Good luck

Well, Ilovenutella (so do I by the way), when I had my post-natal check at the GP, my lovely GP kind of winced and said she was concerned. At that stage hadn't even thought about sex, but tried and just couldn't - was that "snug".
I think that you can sometimes get prescription for steroid cream which can help get rid of granulation/thin and stretch the skin.
GP advised me to get drunk and use lube, but unfortunately neither helped.
So had a referral to a gynaecologist, who booked me in for repair. Was done as day surgery, and involved basically doing an episiotomy before restitching so that was not so tight. It healed beautifully (not sure that it looks beautiful - haven't had a look-see) and meant that was able to resume sex life and eventually conceive ds.
I was unlucky, but not as unlucky as some, and in the end was all sorted. Didn't put me off the idea of vaginal birth with ds (which was a wonderful delivery, just lovely), but then it wasn't related to severe pelvic floor damage/loss of continence and so on.
If you have any concerns it cannot hurt to see your GP for advice. If you've had a smear since the birth, then did you notice that that was particularly uncomfortable (though I know it's never really comfortable ).

actually smear was ok - just think maybe still a little tense still...... maybe I should practice more!!!!!

Just seen this thread and have posted a simular one in pregnancy as worried about tearing again.

I will lurk around on here too and see what people say but looks like from most experiences 2nd time round is alot better.

With regards to fear of tearing, I'm on my 4th baby and have requested a C Section.

My first was a forceps, on the second, the old forceps scar gave way and by the third, that gave way and also went up my bottom causing 3rd degree tear.

I'm petrified on this one that I'll rip myself a new ar$ehole again and end up pooing myself for a month after baby is born (sorry if TMI).

I've practically begged my consultant for a C Section to which she's agreed to. I'd have prolly got one anyway as I've got GD, high B/P etc.

My advice to anyone out there who's had a really bad tear is to talk things through with either your MW or your consultant and look at all the possible options rather than go into a vaginal birth absolutely terrified.

I tore with ds towards my bum and was stitched up, then I tore with dd towards the front and had stitches. Both were quite complicated repairs and it feels a mess down there.

I am due a week tomorrow and am terrified of tearing again. I spoke to consultant a few weeks ago to discuss options but he was useless and just said there was a good chance of not tearing with 3rd baby and that if there was any doubt they would do an episiotomy

My midwife said I would probably tear due to 2 previous tears. So contradictory info.

I was unable to have a water birth cos I was induced last time. I am a mess down below and am dreading this one too! I have been using baby oil every day in the shower for the last few weeks!!!!

soph28, don't want to scare you, but I was told by my last MW that old scar tissue will give first as it's your 'weak' spot.

Also, babies tend to get heavier/bigger as you go along.

I'd get some def answers BEFORE you go into labour!!

well that's exactly what I thought and my first 2 were 16mo apart and this one is 21mo after 2nd so not a lot of time for healing IFYSWIM.

But what else can I do. I've voiced my concerns to MW- she was useless and referred me to consultant, who just said when I go into labour make it clear to MW that I want a controlled delivery and episiotomy if necessary - shouldn't that be the case anyway so why did I tear before.

So seriously, what else can I do? I had considered an EC but there's no guarantee that will be any better, could be worse and anyway I don't think they'd let me. No one's even asked me to do a birth plan this time and I wasn't offered any classes or anything so am feeling a bit scared and unprepared.

I had a second degree tear with DD1 and have extra bits down below now, was terrified of tearing with DD2 but she was 3lbs heavier and I didn't even have a graze.

Combination of waiting at the end and controlling the pushing and having a homebirth I knew the MWS and put on birth plan I was scared of tearing again. MW said she seen the scar tissue start to go and supported that area and guided the baby out.

soph28 also, make sure you talk to your delivery midwife as soon as you are there in case things go quicker than before. With DS I had an episiotomy and then when I had DD, I requested another episiotomy because I didn't want to tear my original episiotomy and then have the tear go even further. As it happened, DD was too quick, I got no episiotomy but ripped the old episiotomy open. Fortunately did not rip any further than the original episiotomy so it is OK.

Both of mine have been pretty quick. With ds entire labur was 8 hours and with dd I was induced, they broke my waters and she was born 30-40 minutes later. I told the MW as soon as I got into the labour room that I thought it would be really quick and that I wanted them to be ready with pain relief etc cos it was too late to have any with ds but it didn't make any difference.

I can't have a homebirth because of the previous tears and it is likely that I will be late and be induced which means no water birth and lying flat on back due to having to be monitered the whole time.

Have 39wk MW appointment this afternoon, what else can I say to her?

I had a 2nd degree tear with my first birth and had no problems with the stitches. I was fanatical about salt water bathing and keeping them dry though. Bathed and dried them with a hairdryer after each wee .

I requested to tear with my next two births and had no problems either.

Midwife explained that a tear will follow the natural weakness and may not tear through all layers of muscle whereas a cut is usually a straight line going through all layers so longer to heal. Not sure if that is true or not.

johnworf - my second baby was lighter than my first, a boy and two weeks late so not always heavier for each subsequent labour.

Had two fast labours. The first was 2 hours long, the second was 35 minutes. Both times I had 3rd degree tears and needed a spinal to be sewn up (the repairs were longer then the labours).
Was utterly shit scared of tearing again with child#3 so had a section. Even though a section is a major operation and the scar hurts like hell for the first couple of weeks, it was still better than the pain from my stitches. Good luck!