What position did you give birth in and did you tear etc..

[PlantHasABabyBean]

Hi

Title basically sums it up. I was very active during my first labour until they broke my waters and put me on a sytocin(sp?) drip, my contractions were one on top of other and I just didn't get back up off the bed, ended up having emergency c-section.

Pregnant with DC2 and want to try for a VBAC, want to be mobile again and hopefully want to give birth either squating or on my knees leaning on headboard.

Just looking for others experiences what position you gave birth in and was it quick? Did you tear etc?

Thanks

In what I would call classic birth pose on my back in a semi recline for both had a very slight graze with dd and nothing with ds, I massaged my perinium lots with ds as was told he was going to be big.

Had loads of stretchmarks with dd but lost three stone in pg, midwife said this was the probable cause, didn't get any more with ds though.

ds1 - on back, old style - no tearing at all.
ds2 - semi-squatting - v small amount of tearing (no need for stitches), but more due to uncontrolled speed of delivery I think.

3 labours - squatting for all of them, on a birthing stool for the first one and then on the end of the raised bed for the other two.

Had 2 tiny tears with the first (needing 1 stitch each!) and then no tearing with the other two.

I have loads of stretch-marks unfortunately, but never tore; DS1 and 2 I knelt up and held the headboard, with DD I somehow managed to end up heavily monitored so did it laying flat on my back. I was also very, very fast (15 minutes, 0 minutes and 0 minutes for that stage)

BUT, I got my fair share of stitches afterwards when my super-stretchyness turned into a double prolapse and I had to have everything stitched back into place. Swings and roundabouts I think...

So the most important time to listen to the midwife is when the head is crowning, as they can guide you through it.

LOL at the above....
In theory, yup. Mw told me to stop pushing when ds was crowning but you know what, it wasn't me doing anything. Ds came out with a big rush and there was naught I could do about it. Can't always act on the instructions. Guess ds wasn't listening.

On back: small 1st degree tear (no stiches) but quite a few grazes. And I riding horses for a living which means I should have a perenium like a piece of old leather .

Would echo listen to midwife as head crowns (if you can) and do the perenium massage thing pre-birth.

I wanted to be in any position but on my back, but when it came to it I was just too exhausted and couldn't move. In retrospect I wish I'd asked them to roll me onto my side. I tore but not too badly.

The reason BTW that you are more likely to tear if on your back is something to do with the position of the coccyx. They explained it very well at antenatal classes (NCT) but can't remember exactly how it works, sorry.

I had vbac and ended up giving birth on back but very upright but had 3rd degree tear. My legs wouldn't really hold me during contractions and that position felt comfortable (as you can be!) Didn't feel it happening and had no pain or problems after I had stitches. At the time it was another opportunity for gas and air! I think they had to replenish supplies when I left! {grin}

On my back, legs in stirrups, 2nd degree tear. Baby was being monitored throughout and I'd hurt my back falling off a chair 2 days before. I tried leaning over the headboard but it was agony.
I asked if I needed an episiotomy and they said "if you tear you tear, we'll stitch you up either way." I was quite surprised when they said I'd torn badly because I thought I would have felt it.

DD1, ended up having an epidural, episiotomy and ventouse.

DD2- was labouring on my hands and knees on the bed, then was lying on my back, small first degree tear no stitches.

Planthasababybean- with the episiotomy it took me weeks to recover, epidural takes it out of you, stiches, etc. With the tear i was off the bed shortly after having her and in a nice bath, and felt like i hadnt even given birth. I feel amazing (gave birth 5 days ago).

Have always given birth sitting up on bed.

I tore first time.

Second tear was tiny, didn't need stitches.

Third, the doctor was totally hands on. God knows what he was doing down there, apparently guiding the baby's head out very manually and skilfully, according to DP, but I had not one single graze. Normally it seems like midwives just rely on you to be able to slow yourself down with panting. But a bit of hands-on help/prevention seems a much better idea.

I had also just had an epidural top up which meant I didn't have that awful irony of being told to stop pushing just as it is hurting the MOST... (second labour)

First baby - 4 months ago - on back with legs up on midwives' hips. (Tried pushing leaning over back of bed but she wasn't descending). She had her hand by her head. I had an epidural but let it wear off quite a lot to push - ie was in pain (but not agony) again by the time it got to pushing. No perineal damage at all. Had a small internal tear (from her hand I think) which had a few stitches and a small labial graze. No pain whilst peeing or anything, and wouldn't have known I tore at all really - the area was just swollen and a bit sore from the birth anyway - I was very lucky considering her hand by her head - it could have been a disaster!

Oh also, I say on my back but the back of the bed was raised up at an incline of about 60 degrees or something which obv was more comfortable and helped with pushing.

ds1 inbetween lying on my ed and sitting up. remember mv asking if i wanted to feel head and i did and it was great. no tear
ds2 same position and needed a couple of sitches, mind you he was heavier. ds1 6llb 8oz ds2 7lld 14oz

The varying types of tear made me read up:

1st degree tears are where the fourchette and vaginal mucosa are damaged and the underlying muscles are exposed, but not torn.

2nd degree tears are to the posterior vaginal walls and perennial muscles, but the anal sphincter is intact.

3rd degree tears extend to the anal sphincter that is torn, but the rectal mucosa intact.

4th degree tears are where the anal canal is opened, and the tear may spread to the rectum.

Any sort of tearing can't be nice, but my heart goes out to those of you who have experience the worst.

on left side for most of it until last push - no tear, very slight graze.

The MW who cleaned me up told me that was the best position to be in for avoiding a tear which made me wonder - if they KNOW this, WTF don't they TELL more women??

Standing up - no tear.

both sitting leant back with the bed at 45 degrees - 1st degree tear first time, none the second (the second was like a greased ferret - I'm surprised dd2 didn't hit her head on the opposite wall!)

Both times the MWs were great and were obviously watching very carefully - felt a bit like I was landing a helicopter (left a bit, right a bit, push a bit, stop a bit!), but worked out well I guess!

LOL @ perenium like a piece of old leather

So, with all the pain thats going on down there anyway, most people don't actually feel the 'tear'?

BellasYummyMummy glad your feeling so good. I think that tearing is supposed to heal better than cutting isn't it? So maybe thats the best way after all.

Thumb exactly, you would think they would tell people, I have heard so many different view points i.e staying upright helps to push baby out, laying down to avoid baby coming out so fast and tearing...

Curly I googled tears last night and nearly passed out....damn google!