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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Paranoia back with a vengeance re. tearing!

32 replies

staranise · 20/04/2008 19:05

I've posted on here before re. my fear of tearing again with my third child (due December). Had just managed to talk myself into some PMA, but then my sister gave birth yesterday to her third child (a lovely baby boy ) after a short labour, nice homebirth - but ended up with a 3rd degree tear, which meant a trip to theatre and a night in hospital (after a HB!). She's now on laxatives, ABs, painkillers etc and all my paranoia re. tearing again is back full force. And my sister's baby wasn't even that big at 7lb 12, about the same as my two DDS!

I would be grateful for any reassurance or positive advice. I'm going to ask for a waterbirth though I know it can't be guaranteed. really I want a c-section

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staranise · 21/04/2008 14:34

seem to remember using olive oil (lived in Spain!!). Will try EPO as I know I was stitched quite tight last time .

Thanks for your comments, I appreciate everyone's interest and advice. Will report back in seven months time! (Not forgetting that I am v grateful even to be pg after mc at Christmas).

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beforesunrise · 21/04/2008 14:50

Hello Staranise- aka fellow tearaphobic- ddeeeeep breath and huge hugs to you.

given your baby is not due til december i think you actually have enough time to get yourself in the right place psychologically to deal with this. ask your mw to be referred to a counsellor asap (most maternity units do have counsellors attached) to work through your previous births and any fears/issues arising from them, in particular the tearing fear. the mws i have seen during this pregnancy were very sympathetic (admittedly i am going private this time...) and told me it's a very common fear and a very common thing that they encounter. they were all quite open about what they can and cannot do to help prevent tearing, here's what i can report back:

perinaeum massage- although most mws are quite evangelical about it, there is actually no firm evidence that it does work. i was very squeamish about it and one mw said to me "if it makes you feel worse, rather than better, DON"T do it!". if you do decide to do it (not until much later in pg) then i think wheatgerm oil is supposed to be the best as it's got lots of vitamin e which softens scar tissue

positioning- certain positions (all fours) are really meant to help- so discuss this as a possibility

water- is supposed to help, but no firm conclusion

supporting the perinaeum- mws can do that during second stage, again you may want to ask

re pain relief- ultimately it is YOUR choice, if you really want it again discuss it calmly and openly and make sure they understand it's not just a whim but a real phobia

if you are seeing a consultant (i did at about 16 weeks) ask him/her to really look at your scar/s and tell you his/her opinion of the state of your perinaeum. mine did have a good look and poke around and told me that she was not concerned- all was as should be and that reassured me enormously. much better imo than having a theoretical conversation about elective c/s etc.

but having "conversed" on this topic for a while, i really do think the most important thing is to work on the psychological side of things and put previous births behind you. AND remember- what happened to your sister doesn't necessarily have to happen to you!!!

sending you huge hugs, take good care (and i really, really, really do hope that in a few weeks time i will be able to report on a positive birth experience- in truth i am shi**ing myself with fear of tearing!!!)

oh and... it may be a good idea to stop googling "tearing in childbirth"... come on you know you are guilty

staranise · 21/04/2008 17:09

Thanks you beforesunrise!! I was doing quite well with my PMA until my sister's experience this weekend... Will defintiely put your plan into action - raelly want to get the mws onside adn it's a different hospital to last time so I feel like it's a fresh start. C-section not really an option for me (I swear, I'm hoping it's twins jsut so I'll be offered a section!!) so am jsut going to have to amke sure that Im prepared as much as possible. Best of luck with your birth - looking forward to hearing a v positive birth story!

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VictorianSqualor · 21/04/2008 17:28

staranise, you say cs isnt an option, is this ebcause you think the nhs wont offer you one?
You can get one on the NHS if you decide its what you really want, I just personally wouldnt recc it, but then I've never given birth and had a tear so cant comment there.

staranise · 21/04/2008 17:33

Yup, I'd feel silly even asking for one TBH as I know I'm pretty textbook in terms of pregnancy and childbirth, give or take the tearing, and I'm not v good at fighting my corner. Plus I do recognise I probably regard c-sections with rose-tinted specs and I'm sure they are super-painful. Just can't get over the idea that at least the stitches would be in my stomach and not my bottom! And I know they put you out of action for a while but I could call on a fair bit of help from family for my older DDs, I rarely drive and have never had problems with bfing/milk supply. Am going to work on that elusive PMA now...

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VictorianSqualor · 21/04/2008 18:04

Not quite text book what with the tears, but bear in mind if you don't feel psychologically able to cope with birth again then you should ask for consultant referral and see what they say.

AuntyAnnie · 23/04/2008 16:00

Hi,

An Australian friend of mine swears by an Epino - a sort of contraption you use before birth to help stretch the perineum. She has used it in both her pregnancies and tore only slightly during her second birth (very rapid) but didn't need stitches.

I've seriously considered buying one but at 75 quid it's a bit steep for me, unfortunately.

I think I'm going to try EPO and perineum massage.

Annie

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