Third degree tear

[Mummamegsssss]

Hi all,

I gave birth to my son 12 weeks ago but sadly suffered a 3B tear.

I have a follow up appointment tomorrow at the gynaecology ward to see a perennial specialist.

What should I expect from this appointment? Does anyone have any experience with this kind of appointment following a similar year?

I would feel much more at ease and less anxious if I was going to this appointment with some idea of what would happen. There is absolutely no details on the letter and I have been unable to get through to the gynaecology department.

Thank you in advance x

So sorry to hear about your tear, and hope that it’s healing well and not causing you too much trouble. I had a 3B tear too, and I had an ultrasound scan followed by an appointment with the perineal specialist midwife. The scan confirmed that the tear was 3B and not 4th degree - they wanted to double check if the muscle had also torn, which it hadn’t. The appointment with the midwife was over the phone, because it was already the start of Covid. We discussed ongoing symptoms, physio (I had already been seeing a private physio at that point through my work health insurance), and future births. I said I thought I wanted an ELCS for future babies and she agreed with me.
I could be wrong, but your appointment might be similar plus any referrals for scans, physio etc if needed.
Best of luck, hope it goes well!

Hello,
I also had a 3B tear during my first baby's birth. The physio appointment I had was to do an ultra sound check and make sure everything had healed properly (it had) - although there was a mix up and that appointment was a couple of years later, just before I had an elective c section for my son (which I chose to limit any risk of tearing again). In the meantime I had several sessions with a physio, as I had some incontinence issues after tearing. Just to reassure you, despite the initial shock and incontinence, with physio sessions I have no more symptoms and never had any pain. Choosing the c section was reassuring and was a really good experience. I hope you get all the support you need!

I had a 3rd degree tear. It was 15yrs ago and thinks may have changed but I had an appointment with an obstetrician rather then a perinatal specialiat. I had a physical examination to check that everything had healed. It had but he mentioned that not everyone is completely recovered st that stage and some ladies need to be seen again a little later.

We also discussed c section for any future pregnancies but when the time came 3 yrs later I had a vaginally birth with no tears. Midwife just had to make especially sure baby was supported as she came out.

Sorry to hear about your problems. You have done the right thing following up.
I had a third degree tear and stupidly left it nearly a year even though I was having problems.
My GP referred me to a consultant gyno and I saw him in clinic. This involved an internal/external examination and discussion of the birth and ongoing problems. I then had a follow up surgery about 6 weeks later.
The surgery was classed as minor and done as a day patient. Because I was breastfeeding I opted for local anaesthetic. I wish I had gone for general if it had been possible- I found the experience more traumatic in a way that the original surgery post-year,when I was pretty out of it and in loads of pain/exhaustion/blood loss. I also found the recovery more sensitive/painful than after birth. I couldn't sit down for a few days, so I needed help from family.
The good news is that after about 4-6 weeks I was fully recovered and I haven't had any sort of problems since (9 years) so it was worth it!!
What happens for you will depend on the specifics of your tear and any ongoing issues.
Fingers crossed you get everything sorted.

Can't advise because I never got offered a thing 😂 all the midwives came in saying "oh it's the famous 3rd degree tear" 🙄😂

I had a 3B tear too and the appointment was to check how it was healing, the muscle tone around it and a discussion around options for future births. She recommended an elective C-section which I had last year but also said a vaginal birth was an option if I wanted.

I found the appointment really useful as she had my birth notes in front of her so I got to ask some questions as my DD’s birth left me with some trauma. It helped me hugely to understand some of the decisions and get things off my chest.

Also don’t take the baby, if you can sort someone to have them then it’s best you go on your own as it was quite lengthy from what I remember.

I had a 4th degree that was diagnosed during labour, so repaired as part of the delivery, under spinal block. Follow up was a few weeks later, gynae exam, using the small speculum, 😁 and 11 years later I don't remember it being particularly uncomfortable or painful, no worse than a PAP screening. Discussed contraception and future options for childbirth. I don't think Ive been left with any long term issues, perhaps that may change in the future. I also went on to have a 3nd child 3 years later and had a normal vaginally birth with only a 2nd degree which healed with no intervention. Just a quick midwife check of stitches.

I had a 4th degree year with my 3rd (and last). They took me into theatre to stitch up under a spinal (pissed me off after I’d been begging for an epidural as I was in a lot of pain for hours but they wouldn’t give me one because my husband said no as I’d said I didn’t want one up front and then I had to have the giant needle anyway).

I had an outpatient appointment a few months later - they basically had given me some pelvic floor instructions after I left hospital and checked how the muscles were looking which doing my exercises (internal exam), asked how everything was, then signed me off and sent me on my way.

Good luck!

Very common to tear. I've had 2 children and tore with both. The first time they used a scalpel to make the tear.
They will just have a good look at it to check for no infection and if it's healing well. As far as I know they should be self dissolving stitches. You do go back to normal, just takes a few weeks, so try not to worry about it.

Can I ask do you know how common it is to have a worse tear on a 3rd labour please? 2nd labour was 2nd degree tear that was millimetres away from being a 3rd degree & it's a big turn off having a third. 😅

Hi, so sorry to hear you had that, it’s so painful in the aftermath. I had a 3c tear with my first. I now have three children and my second two were elective c sections - recovering from c sections was a walk in the park compared to the pain of my tear! Just to reassure you, should you want any more children

No a 3rd degree tear isn't the norm. You clearly don't know what this type of tear is.

It was quite a few years ago but after my 3rd degree tear I was referred to a physio and had a few physio sessions quite soon after the birth. It was basically pelvic floor exercises but with advice on how many, how often etc.

After about 6 months I was sent for an ultrasound so they could assess how things had healed. It's not the most dignified but basically there's a probe involved to measure how well your bum muscles can squeeze. My results actually came back as not very good but it's been 17 years now and I haven't really had any problems.

When I fell pregnant with my second child I had a constant led pregnancy. I was strongly advised to have an elective c section which I did. The risk of any further damage was too much. The elective c section was a very calm, straightforward experience compared to the rather dramatic first birth experience that ended in the tear. If I'd had any other children I'd have been very happy to have an elective section again.

I healed well and actually quite quickly from the tear although I do have a lot of scarring. I recommend baths with a few drops of lavender or tea tree oil in. I also would have a quick lower body shower after going to the loo to make sure everything stayed completely clean whilst healing. Keep taking the painkillers. There's no need to be in pain.

I hope you recover quickly.

I haven’t got a clue as I’m not a medical professional and no one warned me in advance - I think my second was close to a 3rd degree tear too.

HOWEVER - my son came out with his arm up against his head which is what caused the 4th degree tear in my case. If his arm had been where it should have, I doubt it would have been as bad.

Tearing may be common but a 3rd degree tear is far from it! Apparat approx 3 in 100 vaginal births result in a third or fourth degree tear.

@bringmecheesecake I just read the risk is higher for first time mothers (6%) compared to women who have had previous vaginal births (2%)!

Just to add that I also had two elective C sections for my second and third children, and my recoveries were also so much easier. I had a tear and episiotomy with my first, and could only sit on a valley cushion for months. Specialist physio helped a lot though, so it’s well worth trying to do that if you can.

Hi I know this is an old comment.
I had the scan done yesterday and they’ve said pretty much the same thing they said to you.
can I ask did your next pregnancy get affected because of your tear? As in did you have pain down below and any incontinence?

that’s really good to know you are still ok 17 years later 🩷

@Mumofonexo My second pregnancy was absolutely fine. My tear didn't cause any problems at all and still hasn't to this day.

Once it healed everything was back to normal and has held fast. There are scars and some scar tissue but obviously it's all hidden away so it's not a problem.

Make sure you keep up with your pelvic floor/physio exercises. I still try and do them fairly regularly although I'm not the best at remembering.

Thank you so much this is very reassuring 🩷

I never went to my follow up after a 3B tear and surgery as everything was fine and I didn't want any more poking around. Not sure in retrospect if that was the best decision. Good to hear from some PPs that they had subsequent VBs without further tearing 🤞

Sometimes ignorance is bliss! Wish I never looked at the ultrasound and saw the damage to be honest. It’s made me feel worse seeing it. Grateful to be symptom free though