Anyone had a 3rd degree tear? What happened at your second birth?

[Gillyan]

I have put something like this on here before but just want some more info.

I had a 3rd degree tear last time, 3yrs ago. Seen MW this time who pulled my notes and she described the tear as being half a cm away from needing a colostomy bag.

MW suggested elective episiotomy and not to birth in water

Consultant said NO episotomy and to try birth in water or have an elective section.

I finally decided to book the elect/sect and then had to see the anesthetist as when they gave me a spinal for the repair job it took 9 attempts to get in. This guy said it might just be better to give me a general. I am not having a general unless there is some kind of emergency.

I am now starting to turn my back on the section plan and just go for it and hope to god I don't tear as bad or worse again.

What happened to you second time round after a bad tear?????

I should point out DD was a 'normal' delivery as in she was only 7.5, I was fully dilated, she was panted out, no instruments were used etc - so no obviuos reason why I tore so bad and nothing I can really do differently this time apart from maybe birth in water.

I had a ventouse delivery and third degree with DS1 (though apparently the mildest form of that) Was advised by the perineal specialists to have section with subsequent children who gave me 40% odds of further problems otherwise. But as the time approached I realised I was very worried, for lots of reasons, by the prospect of a section. The Ob consultant was very happy for me to have a VB and suggested I do this in the midwife-led unit in water. I had a brilliant experience but at the last minute DS2 was in trouble so I had to really push him out and this time I tore in two places and did need to go to theatre to be repaired. However, all seems to be healing well and I'm happy with what I decided.

it's such a hard decision, isn't it? I know lots of women will post on here that they went on to have one or more tear-free deliveries. I found it very hard not knowing for sure what would happen to me and in the end just crossed my fingers that I'd be OK.

Sorry, that's not much help, is it?

No it is thanks. I think thats what I'm going to have to do, just hope that it's not too bad this time. I've never been dead cert about the section. I keep hoping I'll go into labour before the section is booked and then I can make my mind up on the spot what I want to do. If I make it to the section day and they can't get a spinal in then I'm going home. I might even make it to section day and ring up and say I'm not coming in till next wk to give myself a chance to go into labour.

It is just so hard. It's the choices. If I gave birth in 5 mins flat or something and tore then I woudn't be as bothered as out of my hands. If I needed a GA then I wouldn't mind if it was really needed. It's living with whatever choice i make thats doing my head in.

I think what I've got to do is go for it and if I do have a worse tear I've got to think, well I've given myself the best chance of a normal delivery. If I have the section obviously I am defo going to have a huge op and maybe the risk of a GA and missing the birth.

Hi Gillyan,

Sorry I don't have any personal experience of this as I had an emergency section with my DD.
However I have a couple of friends who also had bad 3rd degree tears,including one who had a 6lb baby.One of them had a normal VB after and did not tear at all the 2nd time,(I think she part blames the midwife the first time) and the other friend had an elective section.
Both were really happy with their decisions so it's a personal thing I suppose?The girl who had a section definately wanted one though,unlike you who sounds not too keen!

Good luck,

mumcah
x

Thanks for the info mumcah x

hi gillyan, god its cos its all in ur hands as u say if the desision was made for u, b so much easier.
wot does ur partner think?
i had a third deg episiotomy with my bub. the stitches re-tore i was in terrible pain on and of for a good 6 months. iam thinking bout ttc end of yr and am wondering wot the midwife would suggest for me.
the irronic thing is wen i was preg was terrified of giving birth, next time wouldnt b labour that scared me would b the fear of stitches! thats the lil gem people miss out of this experiance eh!
i hope u feel more settled in ur mind,and feel comfortable with wot u decide soon xx

I was in exactly this position 10 weeks ago, though original tear was because bad induction at 14 days overdue led to nasty forceps delivery, so finally decided that I had to avoid another induction at all costs. If I went 14 days overdue I would have to have elec c/s instead.

I contacted consultant midwife who put me onto specialist mw team in my area (called caseload team) - they went through my previous birth notes with me to see if anything could be done differently to avoid danger as much as possible. With consultant they supported me in making my decision and promised me that one of them would deliver me (there were 3 in team). Apparently having a very experienced midwife can make all the difference.

Planned a water birth - this was recommended - and did perineal massage between 34 and 38 weeks. I felt like I was back in control, and this helped so much - when I finally had to make the decision for a c/s when I went over again I still felt like I was in control and it was a great experience.

Try to see if you can get extra support from a mw team - there often is extra help available but they don't advertise it unless you push for it. It's all about feeling a bit less helpless yourself really...