Grade 3c tear

[Newhere9]

Gosh here again..I've posted before about if anyone has had a vaginal birth following 3b tear. Sadly had an endoanal ultrasound and it was reclassified to a 3c tear. So consultant are more encouraging towards C-section. Thankfully I'm asymptomatic but keen to hear from any other ladies who have had 3c tear and gone on to either have vaginal birth again?...

Sorry to hear that. I had a 3b tear and had a c section afterwards. To put it into context, I still have problems from the tear 12 years on. I have zero problems from the c section 9 years later.

Obviously this was my experience and choice, but just to share a positive experience of deciding to go for the c section.

Good luck!

@FedUpandEatingChocolate thank you for your reply. Sorry to hear you're still having issues :( it's so frustrating having had a tear. In grateful to be asymptomatic but the implications for future births is heavy on my mind. Reassuring to hear a positive c section story. Thank you x

Nope. I had 4th degree tear with my first. Opted for section (and consultant strongly agreed I should) with my second. It was so much better. Calm. Under control and the recovery was brilliant even with a newborn and toddler

I had a 3b tear and episiotomy, followed by two C sections. The C section recoveries were so much easier both times!

Thank you all for replying. I am daunted at the idea of c section, did you find initiating breastfeeding ok with c section? Thanks in advance x

Yes, absolutely fine both times; no different for me to the vaginal birth. The first section was at 39 weeks and the second at 38 weeks (because of non tear related reasons).

I had a 3b tear with DC1 and elective c-section 2.5 years later with DC2. I’m glad I had the c-section, as DC2 was 9lb10, I can’t imagine that wouldn’t have caused further damage.
C-section healed fine, I breastfed DC2 until 10 months, and had fewer problems establishing feeding than with DC1.
I was back in my jeans and sat cross legged on the floor when DC2 was 4 weeks old, recovery from the c-section birth was much smoother than with a tear.

Edit to add: the only bit that I found awkward with breastfeeding post c-section was that ‘laid back’ feeding didn’t work for me as his feet were around my scar. It wasn’t a position that I felt particularly comfortable with anyway so really not an issue.

I had an episiotomy that became a third degree tear. The consultant used forceps to get my dd out. I had physio and it took months to heal. I had a natural second birth two years later, four hour labour, a couple of pushes and a second degree tear. Healing was significantly better the second time. I didn't entertain having a c-section, but that is just my personal preference (no one suggested I have a c-section either, not that I would have accepted it).

Hi! I had a 3c tear with my first. Recovery was agonising, so you have my full sympathy. Was advised to have c sections for subsequent pregnancies. Had my second 18 months after my first (elective c section) then my third 2.5 years after that (another elective c section). Recovery from the c sections was easier BY FAR. I was on paracetamol within a week (they obviously give you stronger stuff initially). Obviously you have the tricky thing of having other children around and not being able to pick them up, but hopefully you’d have help. There’s also just the beauty of having your delivery date booked in, full night’s sleep the night before, shower that morning - my first birth was horrendous so it was a low bar to compare the next two to but, you can see what I’m saying!

I really don’t know anyone who has had bad experiences of elective c sections. Of course, emergency ones are a different story.

Yes i did and i had another vaginal births 3.5 years later. I had a really good gynae the first time who did decent stitching.

Thank you for updating on breastfeeding I really am reassured it worked out for you with c section options. Thank you also @schoolrundashsprint and @Luxembourgmama for sharing positive stories of vaginal births. I think that's what I'm keen to hear or even those who maybe tore again but recovered ok. I am finding it hard to consider how there's still a 90% chance I won't tear to that degree again Vs 100% chance of abdo surgery if opt for c section... Its so individual and so so personal depending on subsequent pregnancy etc and even though not pregnant yet it's weighing heavy on my mind. I'd love to try for a vaginal birth again.

@Newhere9- I breastfed both my c section babies with zero issues. My third was also in NICU for a day (nothing to do with the c section and nothing serious) but meant I didn’t breastfeed him for 24 hours and was still fine. No issues at all with holding or carrying either of them with the c section recovery. On the other hand, I couldn’t sit down without crying in pain when I had my first (the 3c tear)

I had emcs first time then elcs second time

No issues with breastfeeding both times

Never had an opportunity for a vaginal birth so can’t speak to the tear, but the planned c-section was very calm
and no problems with recovery whatsoever

Good luck with whichever way you choose 💐

I don't have answers for you but in a similar position. Had a 3c tear, have been lucky to recover well from it and advised to have a section for future births. I'm not pregnant again yet but it's on my mind so much. I want to have another vaginal birth so much, but if I should tear badly again and end up with incontinence or worse I would find it hard to forgive myself for taking that chance. You're not alone!

Edited to add: I'm toying with the option to try a natural birth if go into labour naturally but c section over induction (first birth where I tore was induced and a very rapid labour). Obviously would discuss with midwife and consultant if I get to that point with another pregnancy. But would hate to end up with labour followed by emergency section when I could have just done elective.

@calone @jackstini thank you so much for sharing your insights with breastfeeding! Really helpful.

Oh gosh @SpringOne I am sorry it's so rubbish isn't it! I'm glad you have recovered well. I am the same. What's interesting is that whilst verbally consultants etc will mention c section the actual rcog guidelines do say 'many women go on to have a vaginal birth'... Apparently there's a 7-10% chance of tear recurring in a subsequent birth but then only a 3% chance within that 7-10% of long term issues. Considering how high chances are for c section issues, it seems odd to opt for c section. Sorry for word vomit but I'm just so conflicted. I appreciate you sharing your experience too I have had the same thoughts about beating myself up if I was to have any issues post birth again :(

Yes I feel exactly the same! Sorry you're in this position too. While the consultant who reviewed my repair and scans etc recommended section, they did say that there is a lack of evidence so it's ultimately down to me. While the risk level is low the stakes are so high!

I also struggled a lot after the birth with feeling that I had some responsibility for how badly I tore, even though I know it's just "one of those things". And how quick the birth was wasn't down to me obviously! So I'm mindful that tearing badly again would probably be catastrophic for my mental health regardless of physical recovery too.

I had a 3b tear and recovered well with no issues afterwards. I was told I had a 6% chance of it happening again. I am very risk averse but I preferred those odds to having an elective c section as I didn't want to be unable to drive etc. and still had to look after my 4 year old. With my second, I just needed a few stitches by the midwife (so no theatre afterwards!). No issues at all since. I did write it on my birth plan and asked the midwives to really help me with breathing and pushing support as I was scared about tearing again, and they really took on board my concerns and thankfully my stitches after were minor. Good luck with whatever you decide, I just knew an elective wasn't for me.

I could have written that word for word @SpringOne I very much feel what you're describing! If you don't mind me asking how far post partum are you? My LO is approaching 12 months and I'm still frustrated I feel this way.

@DeftRubyRaven thank you so much for sharing your story, it gives me hope!!

@Newhere9 as much as I'm sorry you're in the position too it sort of helps to hear of someone else at such a similar point. My baby is 14.5 months so very similar stage to you. I do feel gradually better about it but I am a bit traumatized by the whole experience, even though I also found giving birth amazing, and I know getting pregnant again /making decisions around a future labour will be difficult because of this. When I told her about my birth and subsequent surgery etc a friend of mine who is a midwife said to me very seriously to help validate me, that this is a serious injury and recovery akin to or harder than a section, and I found that helpful. It feels like a big deal because it IS a big deal. I am hoping that when faced with planning another birth I will have more of a gut feeling about what to do, because as it stands I just don't know!

@SpringOne oh honestly I agree so much. I read your replies and think I absolutely could have written this. Thank you for sharing, it helps to know I'm not alone in these feelings of wanting another VB again, people in my life who I've spoken to have said 'just have a section stop overthinking' and it's so invalidating/frustrating. It's also hard to discuss properly anyway since I'm not pregnant yet and of course there are so many variables to consider... For what it's worth, my labour was spontaneous, I didn't have any forceps/ventous, and my birth itself wasn't overly speedy, about 1.5 hours pushing stage etc it was genuinely just a spontaneous tear - I think this makes me more frustrated that it happend as I sort of don't have anything to blame (other than myself - which I did do for a while - still trying to shake that internal critic!)... Sorry for the long reply - just really appreciate you sharing and I am mindful you have said it was traumatic for you so I don't want you to feel you need to continue to reply or re-live anything but if you ever want to PM to discuss thoughts please feel free too. I felt more traumatised by the after impacts than the actual tear experience, it's a strange one.

I am also super grateful of those who have shared their experience post tear e.g. another VB or C section, please continue to post your insights...

I can't really advise on breastfeeding as my second daughter was tube fed from the start! But I managed to pump and had no issues there.

I did have problems with fainting and low blood pressure after the section, that's just me and any type of anaesthetic! Had the same after the spinal for my first.

I had a 3c graded tear after a rather traumatic forceps delivery with my first. 2 hours in surgery afterwards with 2l of blood loss... incontinence for months... it wasn't great!

I had long discussions with any medical professional who would listen to me long enough about my chances of the same reoccurring. Whilst no one had a crystal ball I was told that I could basically do either and I would be supported.

After a bit of soul searching I decided to book an elective C section on my due date. I figured I'd give my son the chance come on his own terms but once he overstayed he'd get evicted. Also meant if he wouldn't hopefully get too plump in there and get stuck!

He got the memo and came 3 days early, I went to sleep one night with faintest of twinges and woke up the next morning in full-blown labour. I arrived at hospital at 9am and he was born just after 10. I had no time for anything other than to hastily request the midwife did all she could to prevent me tearing. I got away with a graze and a tear that she said had to be graded as 2nd degree but was borderline 1st and didn't require any intervention. Recovery was significantly easier than my first time round.

It's so hard to decide isn't it when all you have are "chance of this" and "probability that"

@LetMeOverThinkIt thank you so much for sharing your experience. Sorry you had the tear initially, yes you're so right those early months in recovery are really tough. It's so interesting isn't it as even if in future I were dead set on a c section, what happens if they come early/ are spontaneous - your experience is a good example of this. So pleased the recovery was much easier second time around!

Again, thank you - this gives hope tbh!

I had a 3a tear with my first- he was induced and facing the wrong way and his head got stuck so needed forceps. It was repaired very well at the time (consultant was amazing) but still had issues with a prolapse and incontinence for a long time after (planning for repair after we’ve completed our family). I always planned for a vaginal delivery for second and had a spontaneous delivery with only a tiny tear that didn’t need any stitches. Midwives had been really supportive about trying a vaginal delivery and got me in a position that would minimise the risk of tearing when I was pushing. Could hardly tell I’d had a baby the next day!
Very glad I tried for a vaginal delivery but if I’d needed any intervention I had a low threshold for asking for a CS.

@Daisydotty thank you for posting your experience, so reassuring to hear it went well with your second! X