Recovering from C section and third degree tear at same time

[radlovesqotsa]

I suppose some of us just get all the luck! I had my baby 6 days ago. I had a long 4 days of stop start labour following induction and switched from planned vaginal birth to C section as my baby was predicted to be over 4kg. I went into spontaneous labour so was taken for emergency C section only to discover that baby was crowning after they got the spinal in. They told me it was safer to deliver by forceps but my baby was in wrong position and the attempt to turn him was unsuccessful but I got a third degree tear in the process. They then had to switch back to original plan of C section.

Not sure what the point of my post is- I guess to see if anyone else has experienced similar? I'm not sure which injury to worry about most days!

Bloody hell! I haven’t heard of this happening before. You poor thing. 💐

This sounds almost negligent. I’d be asking for a birth debrief and then decided how to proceed from there

I’ve had a fourth degree tear and a C section, but not from the same birth!! I feel for you. My tear was far harder to recover from than the section. That was pain free and healed well. The fourth degree tear was bloody agony for weeks. Didn’t drive for ages as sitting was so painful.

Jesus OP. I hope you are ok 💐 That’s a lot. I hope you have good pain relief like Oromorph. If not go back and demand some!

I also hope they are keeping an eye on you. If you’re worried about anything at all then don’t hesitate to call labour ward and get it checked out. Even if it’s just for reassurance.

Gosh op that sounds brutal I hope you have someone great looking after you x

Oh dear..
I was a neonatal nurse and when someone had a 'failed' vaginal birth which sometimes included episiotomy and/or forceps, then had to have a c section it was always remarked on (between us) and massive sympathy given to the Mum..
Look after yourself and accept all help and rest...
Then rest some more...

Similar to a PP, I've had a c section and a 3rd degree tear in 2 different births, make sure you rest in the early weeks and also get some decent physio.

I remember lifting our every heavy car seat the wrong way at 8 weeks after my tear which caused my pelvic floor to give in, so take your time. Your pelvic floor and core need rebuilding so be kind to yourself. In my trust there's a perineal trauma clinic so if you've something similar get seen by that team too to get the right support in place. They can do referrals for scans, urology, and more if you need it. Also, there are lots of women's physio accounts online, particularly on Instagram.

I'd definitely ask for a debrief too. I don't understand how forceps without the birth could cause the third degree tear. My tear was an extension of the episiotomoy when baby's head came out, not sure how could rotation alone cause the tear.

Hi OP, how are you recovering?

that sounds like medical negligence to be honest and I think you should be seeking legal advice x

Hi all, thanks for your kind replies and sympathy! I'm recovering from C section well enough but really struggling with constipation and the tear. Think I have read every thread on here about third degree tears...! I've started fybogel and on lactulose so hoping for some relief on the next day or so. Physio mw has been in touch and will probably ring her tomorrow if no improvement for more support and help.

I'm in 2 minds about whether to get debrief or legal advice tbh... think I just want to get well again first.

I've heard of where they've given an episiotomy for forceps but they didnt work, so did a section
It sounds horrific. Take care of yourself as best as you can. Gentle hugs

That's a bit of a jump! - what's your medical qualifications? If a lady is fully and about to deliver it is fat safer to try to deliver vaginally than cesection at that stage, hence we nearly always try forceps first. To section at fully requires putting a vaginally water filled pillow to shove baby back out the pelvis and it's often far harder to deliver a section when babys heads rammed in the pelvis

Op as an obs anaesthetist - it's unfortunate and thankfully not that common (because they'll do an episiotomy before forceps to try to reduce tear risk) but it happens. Take the painkillers regularly even if u don't have pain. Pour warm water out a jug when u pee so doesn't sting as much. Keep up ur laxatives x

Baby crowning + episotomy + forceps can easily cause a tear

Definitely get a birthing debrief to help you understand what happened (but from what you've written and 8yrs doing csections/forceps deliveries in theatre there's nothing obvious that shouts negligence to me

Definitely get a birthing debrief to help you understand what happened (but from what you've written and 8yrs doing csections/forceps deliveries in theatre there's nothing obvious that shouts negligence to me

That's reassuring to hear and exactly the reason the docs gave after getting me into theatre. I feel like I gave birth to the same baby twice!

Hi op, if you had already torn they should have carried on with the vaginal delivery not made you go through major surgery in 2 areas. I would ask for a de brief and ask a solicitor if you have a case. These type of tears can cause long term issues now or after menopause.

Im currently seeing if I have a case as I also had a third degree and it’s ruined my life. No amount of physio can fix what they’ve done unfortunately.

This happened to a friend I made when we both had our first babies. It's a rough recovery but certainly doable. I'd make sure they keep up with the pain medication and definitely ask for a debrief.

Best of luck, I've also experienced both (separately) and the tear was much much worse recovery wise. Be gentle with yourself x

What on earth?? You want them to carry on failing to pull the baby out vaginally (when it isnt going to work) .. and either cause the baby to potentially end up with a paralysed arm for life from brachial plexus traction at best... or a hypoxic brain injury that leaves them in a vegetative state or dead???!! Thank God you aren't an obstetrician

There is a reason that forceps are limited to a max of 3 attempts and the entire of theatres is on board to over ride any thoughts of "maybe we could try once more"

It is negligent what they’ve done to OP

they should have noticed baby wasn’t in a good position before using the forceps.

op shouldn’t have to accept what the hospital have done to them and the life long consequences that can come with a third degree tear. More women should pursue legal action after sustaining OASI and not accept it as one of those things.

That's horrific op, please do seek legal advice.

So you think wrecking a mother’s body is the best option??

this is what annoys me about you nhs workers you don’t care about the damage you inflict on the mother! The baby is treated like a priority when the mum should be the priority! I’d rather my baby had unfortunately passed away than sustain a third degree and episiotomy! Im now left with a prolapse, fecal incontinence and have pain daily! It’s ruined my life.

Did I just read this correctly?! I’m sorry that your birth affected you so badly and left you with these awful issues, but you would have preferred your child to die?! Have you ever experienced the death of a child? Because I can assure you that would also have ruined your life.

Yes I could have gone on to have another child but I can’t get my fully functioning healthy body back. My child now has a parent with severe depression and ptsd. I also lost a child prior to this so I know how it feels.

They wouldn't have even known she had torn at that point as they're hardly paying attention to what her vagina currently looks like..... when they're stressed knowing the baby that in theatre as baby is v distressed in the first place, baby l is still stuck, they haven't succeeded and now have to rescrub (make themselves sterile) and retrieve baby from an even more stuck position before its blood supply is compromised to cause disability

I have total admiration for them, I couldn't do it... so yeah no I'm grateful at the time of fetal distress they don't stop to assess the degree of tearing

The whole point of using forceps is because baby is in the wrong position to deliver without assistance... the spoons are there to guide and rotate baby from its stuck position so it can get out the birth canal