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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

how can MW help you not tear with a waterbirth?

44 replies

mad4mybaby · 27/10/2008 17:49

Im planning on a waterbirth as never got time with ds1. I tore badly and want to do everything i can to prevent needing stitches. Alot of people say down to listening to MW but when i had ds1 was on a bed and MW could see everything and i DID listen to her but it still happened. Ive my bottom half is underwater how can they see well enough (apart from mirror) to help prevent tearing?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

liahGeneMutatedMonster · 27/10/2008 19:19

the thing in trying to prevent tearing mad is trying to control the emergence of junior.

Was your first birth fairly quick?

As you are planning on being in water, chaNCES ARE, THE WHOLE LABOUR WILL BE CALMER IF THAT MAKES SENSE, SO MAKING IT LESS LIKELY, (ALTHOUGH NOTHING IS 100%)

bugger stupid cap lock

She can use a mirror,or you could put your own hand down and support baby's head as it births. Thats a nice way of doing it.

BigAxeToChopOffYourThread · 27/10/2008 19:24

i had a waterbirth and only had a small tear (no stitches) not sure it was down to the mw, more the water.

Star1ightExpress · 27/10/2008 19:28

I tore, but I probably need not have done.

My fantastic mw was sitting on a stool 8 feet away with her mouth shut - exactly as was written in my birth plan.

Littlefish · 27/10/2008 19:29

Sorry to tell you that I had a wonderful, calm waterbirth and an excellent midwife, but I still tore and ended up having lots of stitches.

Star1ightExpress · 27/10/2008 19:34

stitches is where you find out that the gas and air actually does something!

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 27/10/2008 20:46

yes ds1 was only 4 hours. Although im pretty sure it wouldve been quicker if i stayed at home as i was 8-9cm on arrival of hosp but got stuck on my back on a bed and the pushing was the longest part and i could feel he kept sliding back up for quite a while...

OP posts:

Star1ightExpress · 27/10/2008 20:52

If you're on your back it makes the hole smaller. Perhaps that's why you needed to tear?!

reikizen · 27/10/2008 20:56

In my experience sometimes women just tear. One minute you are having a lovely controlled delivery and the next that awful 'giving' popping feeling and you know the perineum has gone. The midwife won't be able to control the baby's head crowning during a waterbirth but you probably will! You may have had a tear for any number of reasons last time which may not apply this time around even if you don't end up with a water birth. Have you thought of perineal massage as preparation?

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 27/10/2008 20:58

well thats my thoughts on it now 2 yrs later and reading up again on birth positions. When i was at home the only place i was happy/comfortable (as much as you can be) was sitting on the toilet with the seat up and a hot water bottle right at the bottom of my bump. I was freaking out when i had to get out to go to the hospital!

OP posts:

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 27/10/2008 20:59

sorry x post. I didnt do the massage thing with ds as it grossed me out plus i couldnt get the knack and didnt want dh doing it. This time round i can barely wipe my own arse i just barely reach! I have spd and a problem with the joint on the right hand side of my pelvis so any sort of unusual/bending type movements is agony.

OP posts:

chocbiscuits · 27/10/2008 21:07

Oh I wondered that as well...

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 27/10/2008 21:08

wondered what choc?

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chocbiscuits · 27/10/2008 22:30

Sorry, bit cryptic probably as very pg! Wondered about tearing and waterbirths I meant. Tried for waterbirth last time but the water tubs were busy, also bit fretty about water getting awfully bloody or something and baby coming out and being difficult to find.

Maybe am just a bit of a worrit!

beanbearer · 28/10/2008 00:40

Water helped me I'm sure. Had a bad 2nd degree tear with DD (on birthing stool, at my transitional insistence) whereas didn't need stitches when DS arrived even though I was in a similar position (squatting with my arms over the pool edge). Midwife and student had just said to each other "shouldn't be long now" when he popped out so it was quite quick too - they didn't even have their gloves on so just told me to reach down, bring him through my legs and up into my arms. Lovely!

Star1ightExpress · 28/10/2008 12:16

choc My pool had NO blood or anything in it. I sat in it feeding for 40mins after the birth. Believe me, there is no way you would loose your baby though. In any case you could always follow the string .....

morningpaper · 28/10/2008 12:18

I can't imagine what they can really do

I had a waterbirth and also tore to bits

I think you just have to hope for the best

morningpaper · 28/10/2008 12:20

lol at following the cord

My pool was a mess but she still found the baby (I really should have done this myself but was so relieved it was OUT that I didn't care about anything else)

CharleeInChains · 28/10/2008 12:23

Not sure about the waterbirth aspect of it but with ds1 i had a bad 4th degree tear due to my ds coming out with both hands clamped over his ears any way i needed over 40 stitches ect.....

With ds2 i told the midwife of my conerns and when his head emerged she (god this is embarrasing) held me open to let him come out slower and more carefully plus he was trying to force his hand out with his head and she was able to delay his hand for a few seconds to let his head come first.

electra · 28/10/2008 12:25

If you spend some time in water it can soften you up so that tearing is less likely. Have ou considered perennial massage? I did that the last time and sat in water for a lot of the time I was in labour and I had only a tiny tear.

chocbiscuits · 28/10/2008 14:55

lol star1ight

reikizen · 28/10/2008 15:00

The midwife should be 'hands off' in a waterbirth so as not to stimulate the baby to breathe, so won't be able to control the head or your perineum. Have you thought of natal hypnotherapy or hypnobirthing as a way of taking more control of your delivery?

Star1ightExpress · 28/10/2008 15:03

I had gas and air just for the pushing stage. I was told I did a fab job of 'breathing' the baby out, which the g&a definately helped with but.......I still tore!

Thomcat · 28/10/2008 15:07

There ws no bhlood in the pool after I hd DD3. Think a pic is still up on my profile if you want proff. I stayed in for as long as poss with her. Then got out to deliver placenta. Don't know how to prevent tearing. I never did tear and think it was 8 parts luck 1 part preperation 1 part breathing her out and not doing a thing once the head was out.

Good luck.

Original poster

mad4mybaby · 28/10/2008 15:10

seems to be luck of the draw then? I practised hypno birthing with ds1 but the labour was so quick and so intense from the second it started that i didnt have time to 'get in the zone' so to speak! Ive put on my birth plan i want as much help as poss with it but i guess im going to have to take 50/50 chance on it?

OP posts:

mabel1973 · 28/10/2008 15:22

I thought the effect of the water softened the skin so that it was less likely to tear in water?

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