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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

those of you who didn't tear - please tell me...

28 replies

QueenFee · 20/01/2009 23:27

did your midwife tell you to pant through the pushing stage?
I have had 2 3rd degree tears and neither time was I asked to pant through it. I am wondering if there is a connection ready for this time
TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mrswoolf · 20/01/2009 23:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovelysongbirdie · 20/01/2009 23:41

wasn't asked to pant got a 4th degree tear.
queen did you have the choice to have a cs second time round? did oyu decide against it?

MirandaG · 20/01/2009 23:44

I didn't tear either time - first baby was a ventouse delivery. Second time round is kind of hard to remember, but I definitely remember the midwife telling me not to push at one point. Was never told to pant - I think I would have found that impossible. Didn't find it hard not to push though (no urge to push at all). Sorry I don't know whether that helps at all.

MrsMerryHenry · 20/01/2009 23:45

I'm watching this as I'm desperate to avoid another 3rd degree next time around.

for songbirdie's 4th degree.

StarlightMcKenzie · 20/01/2009 23:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

QueenFee · 20/01/2009 23:49

CS hasn't ever been mentioned to me and tbh I have healed well. Just wish to avoid another one if I can
My 1st one was borderline 4th degree so you def have my sypathies. I had an episio the second time and still got tear as well so won't be bothering this time.

OP posts:

CaliforniaBrit · 20/01/2009 23:52

Have you considered waterbirth? I had no tearing at all for my 8lb waterbirthed baby. I had second degree tearing for 6lb 11oz DD2 who was born 'on land' although she was born posterior. Both times, I was pushing like hell.

Apparently hot water can make a big difference. I think the Bradley method(?) recommends hot wet towels pressed over the perineum to make the area more stretchy.

CaliforniaBrit · 20/01/2009 23:54

Oops, just saw Starlight's post.

Oh well, just an idea

ThumbBurns · 20/01/2009 23:54

I didn't tear, no MW with me for most of stage 2 labour.
Had done some perineal massage/stretching during last few weeks of pg, but not every day so don't know how much difference that made.

I was left alone with DH as a non-progressing induction for a few hours - I progressed v. fast while on my own and was 2 pushes away from delivering when the MWs rushed back in. I was on my L side throughout Stage 2 labour until the last 2 pushes, when I was on my back (for a whole 3 minutes, I believe!) - I had a small graze.
I was later told by my discharging MW that that is the best position to deliver in while lying down to avoid tearing.

I had no breathing instructions, there wasn't time.

GinaFordAteMyBaby · 21/01/2009 10:08

Midwife wanted to give me episiotomy but I refused and in the end I didn't tear. I didn't pant but also did some half-hearted perineum massage. Definately not ever day but would do it whenever I had a bath.

scorpio1 · 21/01/2009 10:09

no tears for all 3; all 3 times told to pant.

jeee · 21/01/2009 10:14

Never told to pant - first 2 births bad tears, second 2 births no tears. Didn't feel any difference when giving birth either.

UpSinceCrapOClock · 21/01/2009 10:16

Wasn't told to pant (that I can remember or noticed ) and I didn't tear for either of my (2) births.

I had long labours for both of them though (2 days of irregular contractions) and the midwife at the second one told me afterwards that I probably didn't tear either time because labour was long and drawn out, so I dilated slowly? Not sure of any midwives or doulas on here can confirm that theory?

notsoslimnow · 21/01/2009 10:17

yes screamed at by midwife...''STOP,PUSH,STOP, PANT'' the whole way through.pushed him out in 20 mins with epidural no tears or grazes, and laying on by back!

Gemzooks · 21/01/2009 10:19

didn't tear.
had long, long labour with epidural.
couldn't feel to push so he came out slowly (I was pushing but couldn't feel it).

I did however do extensive perineal massage (stretching) from 37 weeks, and I put it down to that more than anything..

CatIsSleepy · 21/01/2009 10:20

I didn't tear but I think it's because it took soooo long to get the baby out
they used a ventouse in the end
don't think panting or not was an issue

CatIsSleepy · 21/01/2009 10:21

well panting wasn't an issue for me but perhaps I should say if things are happening more rapidly, I guess it could be...

purpleflower · 21/01/2009 10:31

I had a second degree tear and a graze with DS (8lb 4). I wasn't told to pant and can remember having a warm cloth put on my perineum. It took 20 mins to push him out but it was a slow labour till then.

I didn't tear with DD (8lb 10.5) just a small graze. Again I wasn't told to pant and didn't have the cloth as there was no time. It was all very hurried so I didn't get transfered (homebirth with poo in the waters) I pushed her out in 6 minutes with a lot of force, the midmives were very shocked at the lack of damage.

With DS I was on my back and DD I was half sitting but on my side (on the sofa!) The midwives did stop me pushing with DD after her head was out to let her turn a bit whereas with DS they made me push his body out straight away so I think that made a difference.

FairyLightsForever · 21/01/2009 10:33

I had slight grazing with both of mine, and I gave birth on my knees, braced against the back of the bed. I had read that either on your knees, or crouching lessen the chances of tearing. Don't know about the panting though, sorry.

Wisknit · 21/01/2009 11:59

ds1 - not told not to push/to pant no perineal tear.
ds1 - not told to pant no tear.

I think a lot probably depends on postion and stuff.

georgiemum · 21/01/2009 12:06

Perineal massage
Keep upright
Do not push/pant unless you are having a contraction
Do nou try to rush the birth
Water birth if poss.

maretta · 21/01/2009 12:21

Never been told to pant, never done all the massage stuff, never had a water birth, never given birth upright.

Never had a tear and have had 3 of them.

thisisyesterday · 21/01/2009 12:25

no, i wasn't6 told to pant. BUT I could feel baby starting to crown and told the midwife I wasn't pushing any more cos it hurt too muchj.
she just said "ok, don't push next time".

in hindsight I guess she knew he was literally about to come out and so if I wasn't pushing so much he would come out nice and slow.

it worked. even though he was posterier and had a bloody big head lol
I had spent a fair bit of my labour in the birth pool though, so that may have softened everything up a bit

Ingles2 · 21/01/2009 12:27

I didn't have any damage at all down below on either birth, not even a graze.
This could be cos I did some perineum massage
or that I had really long labours
or that my very lovely but very scary midwife screamed at me to pant and told me none of her mum's ever tore and I wasn't going to be the first.
or it could be that I had a really baggy fanjo.

lovelysongbirdie · 21/01/2009 15:58

its probably down to luck tbh,

i did all the "right" things
perineal massage
gave birth on all fours
no pain relief
water birth

still ended up with a 4th.

thanks for the MrsMerryHenry
gotta admit it was horrible.

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