3rd degree tear means I can't have homebirth

[brockleybelle]

With ds1 I had third degree tear. I was very interested in having a homebirth for our expected dc (due May 10) but the midwife told me it wouldn't be allowed as there's an increased risk of bleeding.

Does this mean I will never be able to have a homebirth if we go on to have more children? Or just for this second child, and then if that birth goes well homebirth can be an option again?

Anyone had a homebirth after having a 3rd degree tear? I tried googling but couldn't find anything. Thanks!

Try the homebirth website (.org)

There's no such thing as 'not allowed' a homebirth. It's your decision and you enter into it with all of the facts, benefits and risks weighed up.

Congrats btw. My dd was born on May 10th (attempted homebirth btw).

Really? The midwife definitely presented it as if there was no choice involved.

I tried that website a little while back but I couldn't find anything.

Congrats to you too. May's a special month for me as ds1 was born in May too.

Here

Click on the 'you can't have a homebirth because...' link on the left hand side and then choose 'previous tear'...

Some info and birth stories on there.

I have a friend who had 3rd degree tears with her first baby and is now booked for a home birth with her second. She had to see a consultant and talk it through with him, but he hasn't said she can't birth at home. There is always a choice involved - they can't force you into hospital. I would ask them to explain in detail why they wouldn't recommend a home birth and do some research of your own. HTH.

Thanks LOTMW, I feel embarrassed now - that section on the site was very findable!

heth, thanks for letting me know that. I'm seeing the MW next week and feel more prepared to discuss things with her.

Brockley, what you have been told is complete and utter bollocks. There is no increased risk of anything after having a 3rd degree tear. You are less likely to tear with a second birth, than you were with your first, whether or not you tore first time around.

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first, at home, and had to go in to have it stitched under a spinal anaesthetic after she was born. Not the nicest experience but I was still glad I had her at home. I went on to have three more homebirths.

Can you request a change of midwife, as yours clearly doesn't know what she's talking about?

Thanks flamingo, I was hoping for a personal MNetter story. She's told me utter rubbish, hasn't she? I had this midwife with DS1 and was most disappointed to find she was still at the surgery.

Where you say that you're less like to tear with second birth, I've found out that statistically you're even less likely to tear if you birth at home because forceps, ventouse can't be used at home. How could my midwife be so misinformed??

In defence of some MWs that use the "you can't do XYZ" line, I do think it can come down to pressures of time. What's often meant is "our hospital policy is to recommend against this", but that then opens the door for a big discussion and lots more work - which is, arguably (by me as well as lots of others, btw!), the MWs job - but when you're overworked already and struggling to fit in all your cases I can see it being very tempting to present things as more cut and dried than they are just to try and keep your ridiculously tight appointment schedule on track.

That said, you don't deserve to be treated like an idiot. If you do some research, raise the issue again and get the same response there are things you can do to get some more support. If you really don't like this MW then you can request a change without giving a reason (although you may want to suggest she needs more training...) - you just need to write to the Supervisor of MWs in charge of your CMW team - although you may find it easier to cover the whole HB issue at the same time. It can be amazing how fast attitudes change once you start doing things in writing. AIMS can also be very supportive and have some letter templates on their site. The homebirthUK yahoogroup (there's a link on the HB website - let me know if you can't find it) are also very helpful and there will be women there who have been through a very similar experience, managed to arrange the birth of their choice and lived to tell the tale.

Good luck

My second birth with dd1 resulted in a third degree tear.

I went on to have several more births, 3 at home.

I only ever had at worst a 2nd degree tear after that.

are you in brockley se london? i had third degree with first birth in kings and then homebirth with lewisham midwives.had to see two consultants before they would agree to it but then was fine. tore second degree at home in water but all healed fine. let me know if you want more info on specific consultants

I had a 3rd degree tear with Tom and just had Erin last week, and had a 2nd degree tear/labial laceration. My consultant did recommend me having an elective section at 39 weeks. Glad I didn't!

Sorry, hadn't finished my post.

With Tom I was told i'd had a placental abruption, so a homebirth was pretty much out of the question anyway. My consultant wrote to the hospital i'd had him at and there was no mention of an abruption, just that i'd had a bleed. I'm overweight as well, which was the only thing that was a big question mark over a section.

I am glad I didn't have a section and managed to only suffer a 3nd degree tear this time. My consultant had said I could be left incontinent completely but I really didn't fancy a section, although knew that I might end up with one in an emergency.

My consultant also said to get to hospital asap as soon as contractions started as labour first time was quick, or ask for an ambulance!

I would just go with what you want if you can. Speak to other midwifes and consultants. Do the donkey work and show them how clued up you are.

Rosiemw , just wanted to say you consultants advise and give information for YOU. They don't "agree to it", it's YOUR choice. No-one can force a competent person to do anythign they don't want to.