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Childbirth

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

Original poster

If you tore the first time, did you the 2nd?

30 replies

mama2moo · 16/12/2009 10:07

Dc2 is due next month and I had a 2nd degree tear with dd that was stitched and healed ok.

Just wondering if I am likely to tear again and curious to hear what other people had. Thanks.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 16/12/2009 10:08

tore first time (2nd degree)

no tear second time

GooseyLoosey · 16/12/2009 10:08

Smae - tore first time and not second. Things much have stretched so much by then.

TheMysticMasseuse · 16/12/2009 10:10

bad 2nd degree tear first time round, very badly stitched with lots of subsequent problems. small 2nd degree tear second time which healed in no time at all

good luck!

DingALongCow · 16/12/2009 10:10

2nd degree first time
Tiny first degree the second time (along the line of my previous scar.)

StayingSantasGirl · 16/12/2009 10:15

I had an episiotomy first time, and worried that this made me more likely to tear the next time, but I had only a tiny little tear that didn't need a single stitch and wasn't painful either.

merryberry · 16/12/2009 11:12

same tear both times, despite 2nd baby being almost twice size of first.

madrush · 16/12/2009 11:14

I tore both times too, sorry probably not what you want to hear.

However when healed the second time, I realised what a clumsy stitching job the first go had been and was quite pleased that it was redone

bogie · 16/12/2009 11:15

tore 1st time not second

goingtohaveagoodnightssleep · 16/12/2009 11:18

Tore first time and had quite a few stitches, baby was 7lbs 12oz.

No tear the second time and she was 9lbs 1oz.

Needed 1 stitch the third time and he was 9lb 9oz.

craftynclothy · 16/12/2009 11:27

Fairly similar tears both times BUT the second one healed much better because I had a week in bed and a week of doing hardly anything afterwards (on advice of midwife). Mw said that by lying in bed you're keeping the skin in the place it needs to be to heal and not putting pressure on it (like when sitting) and that going up/down stairs is one of the worst things for it because it shifts the skin about so much.

First time took 10 weeks to heal, second one took 5-7 DAYS.

Oh and I refused stitching both times.

Lionstar · 16/12/2009 11:30

Episiotomy & 3rd degree tear with first (7lb 3oz). Stiched in theatre

2nd degree tear with second (9lbs 5oz). Stiched by midwives

Healing time and soreness was about the same

alana39 · 16/12/2009 11:41

episiotomy 1st time, tore 2nd time (not on old scar though), both 3rd time but that was with ventouse.

Assuming the tear isn't too bad quality of repair is most important thing IME so make sure you are stitched by experienced mw / registrar if it happens.

notnowbernard · 16/12/2009 11:43

2nd degree tear 1st time (stitched, no probs)

2nd degree tear 2nd time (stitched, no probs, and quicker to heal)

Am fully expecting to tear this time too

FrogmellaMoonbeam · 16/12/2009 11:56

3rd degree tear 1st time due to DS being face up and also flying out at a great rate. had to have spinal and stiched up in theatre.

2nd time although I tore a little bit I didnt need any stitches and healed up fine.

jumpyjan · 16/12/2009 11:57

episiotomy first time, 2nd degree tear second time.

sparklefrog · 16/12/2009 19:40

Tore 1st time. (Don't understand what degrees of tear mean, sorry)

2nd time, just a graze

Kathyis12feethighandbites · 16/12/2009 19:46

Tore first time and second time, just a graze the third time.

octopusinabox · 17/12/2009 21:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

moomaa · 17/12/2009 21:16

First time nasty second degree tear and episiotomy, second time nothing! Hurrah!! I was in shock when she had a look and said all was fine. So glad I will say hurrah again

Here's hoping for a repeat if I get to number 3.

thisisyesterday · 17/12/2009 21:20

1st baby- 2nd degree tear, lots of stitches (9lb 1)

2nd baby- slight graze (9lb 5)

3rd baby- slight graze (9lb 11)

first baby was born in hospital, long labour, ventouse delivery.
second 2 were born at home, nice and relaxed, no pain relief.

all 3 had bloody big heads too I think they were 36cm, 37.5 and 38cm

hazeyjane · 17/12/2009 21:24

Dd1 - 3rd degree tear (stitched in theatre)

dd2 - 2nd degree tear (MW nicked and arter whilst stitching, had to have repairs)

dc3 - due next July, not sure whether to go for c-section?!

IckleJess · 17/12/2009 21:37

Ist - 2nd degree tear, many many stitches

2nd - first thing I asked after delivering (even before asking what sex DD was was had I torn, and thank goodness no I hadn't. I did graze which actually was really rather 'stingy'

3rd - a slight tear which MW offered to stitch but as it was a home birth I didn't want to run risk of her not being able to for whatever reason and me having to be transferred to hospital so I declined her offer. Had a graze too which took about 10 days to heal. I think this delivery was almost as painful afterwards as 1st baby, maybe it was because I hadn't been stitched or maybe it was my awful piles but I really felt I had been turned inside out and had a fair bit of pain for well over a week.

IdrisTheRedNosedDragon · 17/12/2009 21:40

2nd degree tear first time and episiostomy.

Just a "small graze" second time

mollybob · 20/12/2009 22:39

1st - episiotomy
2nd - small graze
3rd - I'll tell you in May

Purplebuns · 20/12/2009 22:47

No tears, just cuts from her fingernails!

PERINEAL MASSAGE was my saviour!

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