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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

if you have a 3rd or 4rth degree tear can you tell me if you had a child later through caesaerean or vaginally?

88 replies

oranges · 05/01/2010 22:30

And how you recovered, and what happened? I had a 4th degree tear and healed really well and am dithering now about whether to try again vaginally or go for a caesarean. and did it have any effect on breastfeeding?

OP posts:

frumpygrumpy · 05/01/2010 22:34

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first delivery. It took a long time to heal thoroughly although wasn't painful for too long.

I had a vaginal birth for my twins afterwards with no problems whatsoever.

Original poster

oranges · 05/01/2010 22:45

wow! twins. that's encouraging.

OP posts:

santaschristmascakeywakey · 05/01/2010 23:04

I had a fourth degree tear and am now pregnant with #2. I also healed well and had no problems, but have been told a number of times that a c-section is really the best option. Like you though, I'm really wondering if it is.

I was told after DD's birth that I'd have to weigh up the risk of being left doubly incontinent if I tore again at subsequent births, but a c-section isn't exactly risk-free either. I'm seeing my GP tomorrow to get the antenatal ball rolling and this will be one of my burning questions - will let you know what they tell me.

Oh and on the breastfeeding front, a lot of my friends with c-sections have had no trouble BFing.

tiredlady · 05/01/2010 23:11

Had 2 3rd degree tears.Started getting symptoms after dc2.Was really worried about serious bowel incontinence problems, so had dc 3 by CS.Glad I had it done, but wouldn't have had it done for dc2

lucyanna89 · 06/01/2010 11:46

I had a 3rd degree tear with my DS, DD is due anyday now (atm am 40+4) and I'm going for another vaginal birth, so I shall report back, if I remember. I did get offered a CS but decided against it, must admit I am starting to get a teeeeny bit worried about having another serious tear & being left incontinent, but it's too late to back out now, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes ok.

cakeywakey · 06/01/2010 14:29

GP couldn't really tell me much today - running late on surgery times. I will have a proper chat with the midwife though - and obstetrician if I get see one - as it's really turning over in my mind.

Original poster

oranges · 06/01/2010 14:32

thanks for all your thoughts. its keeping me up at night too as i just can't decide whether to "risk" another vaginal delivery.

OP posts:

TuttiFrutti · 06/01/2010 15:10

On the breastfeeding side, I wouldn't let that influence your decision Oranges, as I have never been able to find any medical evidence that having a cs interferes with bf. I have had 2 cs and have breastfed both times with no problems.

No advice on the choice of birth I'm afraid, but good luck with whatever you decide.

bellissima · 06/01/2010 15:50

Agree TuttiFrutti on bfing - I had two sections and bf after both. Found bfing a lot easier the second time but, talking to friends who have given birth in manner of ways (ie at home, water, section) that's often the case and seems to have little to do with birth method. I have a family history of big babies and problems inc tears and that influenced my decision to discuss section (which in the end was carried out for that and other reasons) - but obviously as I never tried a VB I can't really answer your question properly. As others have said, best wishes with whatever you decide. - it might help if your GP can refer you for a discussion with an ob at the hospital who is not gung-ho for either section or VB.

frumpygrumpy · 06/01/2010 16:21

Did you work out why you tore?

I tore because of a combination of a much too speedy birth and a student midwife who didn't really know enough about what was happening to stop it.

My next birth was showing all the signs of being fast too but it was slowed down, calmed down and all in it was a much, much better birth with a tiny, tiny little tear, hardly worth mentioning and certainly not felt at all.

Original poster

oranges · 06/01/2010 16:28

I tore for similar reasons - a fast labour and a midwife urging me to push as hard as i could. the baby wasn't particularly big and i had no forceps or anything like that, which is what alarms me about it. can pusing too hard really cause such a bad tear?

OP posts:

LittleSilver · 06/01/2010 20:25

I had a 3rd degree tear with DD1. Badly sutured by mw (no mw ever allowed near me to suture ever again)

DDs2 and 3 born VB. (only 1st degree tear and grazes respectively). No regrets, I would have hated to have had a CS. TTC DC4 now and will prob have another VB, but do have a degree of incontinence which I have been advised will get worse as I get older.

Incidentally, IMHO GPs very poorly educated about this problem, and would def ask obstetrician/colorectal surgeon for advice rather than a GP who, in my experience, was hazarding ill-informed guesses rather than evidence-based advice.

Lionstar · 06/01/2010 20:30

3rd degree tear with DD, she arrived with hand up to her cheek. Stitched in theatre, painful for 2 weeks but healed well.

2nd degree tear with DS, but he was 9lbs 5oz and it was a very quick labour. Stitched by midwife, but they fell out within days, took another painful 3 weeks to heal, but seems OK now (DS only 14 weeks). Do have a rectal prolapse though and Kegeling like mad in the hopes it will fix itself.

I'm done now, but if I was to have another birth I'd probably attempt it vaginally - theorectically they should just fall out no?

LittleSilver · 06/01/2010 20:36

You'd think so wouldn't you Lionstar? DD3 14 hour labour. Sorry!

Original poster

oranges · 06/01/2010 20:59

yikes! all this is inclining me towards a c section which is a shame as Id booked a lovely doula.

OP posts:

FishInMyHair · 06/01/2010 20:59

I had a 3rd degree tear with ds. Induced, gas and air, ventouse.
I was incredibly scared at the final delivery stage and would feel that afterwards when I remembered it. I didn't want to risk getting overly panicked in labour remembering my ds' delivery, I know what I am like.
I was also worried about bowel incontinence.
I spoke to my consultant about having a cs with my dd and he was supportive for my reasons from his point of view medically.
I was fully aware of the cs risks.
I think it is about weighing things up for yourself. Only you know what happened to you, how you felt during and after. Everyone's experience is different and if I was a different person I may have tried for a vaginal birth. I always remind myself that my dc will not be concerned with the ins and outs of their deliveries. It helped me.

Noseprawn · 06/01/2010 21:22

A good place to look for info is the RCOG Guidelines www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/uploaded-files/GT29ManagementThirdFourthDegreeTears2007.pdf

They recommend a c section only if you have symptoms or side effects from the original tear.

Original poster

oranges · 06/01/2010 23:34

oh, that's a really helpful document thank you. Though it also makes me want to cry because they recommend physiotherapy, antiobiotics, and a six week followup after a tear and I got NOTHING. Was just discharged and forgotten about.

OP posts:

mumtojennifer · 07/01/2010 09:19

I am 34+2 and am booked for a section in 4 weeks with dd No2. DD No1 was 4 weeks early and weighed 8lb! I think this is why it all went a bit awry in the delivery room!

I had a 4th (though I'd prefer to think 100!) degree tear (was actually cut, thankfully) with 1st daughter and though I physically healed as new (due to am amazing surgeon who fixed me up properly afterwards none of this swift stiching in the labour ward) mentally I'm just not prepared to go through the same again. Though I know that not necessarily what would happen I just can't risk it.

That said, I now also have 3 prolapsed discs in my lower back and have gestational diabetes leading to a larger baby and after No1 being large but not suffering diabetes that pregnancy (tho hubby is 6'5") I think I'm making the right choice for me.

Make the decision that is right for you and fits your circumstances.

I live in Jersey so can't comment on the NHS as far as support goes for this sort of thing but here they have been wonderful. Absolutely behind all choices I have made.

Good luck!

cakeywakey · 07/01/2010 12:17

Really sorry to hear that your treatment fell short of what it should have been Oranges. Are you going back to the same hospital this time around? What does your midwife say about it?

Original poster

oranges · 07/01/2010 12:27

No I'm going to a different hospital - the last one was St Thomas which was meant to have excellent care. The stiching up was good, but nothing else.

One of my midwives is pro vaginal birth and the other one I saw is dead against it. And I was for a vaginal birth, but then got the feeling my consultant's attitude was a bit meh. I also am not convinved this hospital will be as good at stitching up if things go wrong, though I get the feeling the midwives and after care is better.
Oh I just don't know.

OP posts:

cakeywakey · 07/01/2010 12:33

Are you able to speak to the senior midwife at the hospital at all? And try to get them to also come to your next consultant appointment? As this is such an important issue for you, they really should be helping you to make as informed a decision as possible.

FishInMyHair · 07/01/2010 12:38

IF you do decide that a cs would be the right thing for you, then be firm with that decision. It's a bit like chossing a baby's name. If you ask people before, they will give you their opinions but once the baby is born and you tell them what it is called, they tend to be positive. If you will be having an elective cs and come across as confident with this, the mw etc will tend to back off.

spookycharlotte121 · 07/01/2010 13:01

Hi oranges. I had a really nasty 3rd degree tear with ds. It really traumatised me as there was very little in the way of explanation given to me at the time and I was only 19 at the time so didnt even have a clue these things could happen.
I was repaired in theatre which in a way was a good thing as I couldnt feel anything and I think they did a really thorough job but being seperated from my baby just after birth for an hour or two was horrible. I had a lot of problems afterwards with regards to going to the loo and it was very painful for quite some time. I kept getting infections too which i think is why my recovery took longer. I managed to get pregnant again when ds was only 3months old (madness.... not even sure how we did the deed as it ws extreemly painful)
Dd came along and I had an amazing mid wife. my sister explaained my fears of a repeat of what happened with the previous labour and she took everything into account. Dd was born and I had a 2nd degree tear which was only superficial so didnt even require stitches. I did have quite a few issues with pain and the loo and some of these issues are on going.... when i have to go i have to go (sorry tmi!) but I dnt regret having her that way.
I think as long as you get some good support from your mw and feel confident about your body then you shouldnt worry to much about it happening again although im guessing everyone is different.

hope you get the birth you want.

Vronsky · 07/01/2010 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

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