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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

what is grazing?

20 replies

chloesbaby · 27/05/2010 15:10

sorry to be a bit dim, but I am pg with my first, and keep reading on these threads about grazing during childbirth. Can someone explain what it is? Is it lots of tiny internal tears or something else? And is it less severe or worse than actual tearing?

Thanks

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CUNextTuesday · 27/05/2010 16:03

Oh I was going to say it is continually picking at food until you are nice and fat

Now I see - can't help I'm afraid, this is my first too. I'm inclined to think they are not the type of grazes that would respond to Savlon and a plaster...

Original poster

chloesbaby · 27/05/2010 16:15

i am definitely an expert in the first type of grazing!

i'm thinking a plaster might not do the trick either - i'm kind of horrified and fascinated at the same time, so hopefully someone will give us an honest / gruesome description soon

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 27/05/2010 16:23

do you know, i have no idea what it is exactly, but it's all i had with my second and third babies... it's not as bad as a tear

SambuccaKelly · 27/05/2010 16:26

Think of a grazed knee or elbow. Not dissimilar. Broken skin, but not torn. Quite sore, but generally heals very quickly. if you get away with just grazing, consider yourself lucky!

minipie · 27/05/2010 16:40

Am I being dumb - I must admit I can't work out how childbirth could physically cause that sort of grazing? are babies coverd in tarmac or something?

now tearing, I understand how that happens.

SambuccaKelly · 27/05/2010 16:51

It's the stage before tearing - a sort of 'burning', when the head crowns, putting intense pressure against the vaginal entrance and perineum, and the skin stretches but doesn't quite tear.

StealthPolarBear · 27/05/2010 16:57

i had a graze with both dcs, wouldnt have known if they hadn't told me - had no soreness from it at all

Arcadie · 27/05/2010 17:27

For me grazing hurt worse than a little tear but was a less "severe wound|". I had a lot of grazing with DS1 (1st child) as the crowning stage took a few minutes. Afterwards peeing was properly sore. MW advice with grazes is that they'll probably not bother stitching anything but that like when you have stitches you should use a sports cap lidded bottle to squirt the area with warm water when you pee (or do it in the shower which didn't appeal...) to stop it from stinging.

minipie · 27/05/2010 17:57

Ahhh Sambucca - now I understand. Sounds almost like a stretch mark but made at great speed.

notjustapuppymum · 27/05/2010 17:58

Grazes just happen from the friction of pushing the baby out. I had really bad grazes with my first baby and also a tiny tear. None were stitched. The grazes were amazingly sore for weeks and weeks and weeks and ultimately needed corrective surgery (and should have been stitched in the first place according to my gynae) but the tear I wouldn't have known I'd had unless I'd read it on my notes.
I've since heard that asking the midwife to cover you in KY or similar whilst crowning can be effective in avoiding grazing and will certainly be asking for that next time!

MumNWLondon · 27/05/2010 20:39

Grazes are internal tears. Skin rips apart but no stitches required. I had grazes with both my first 2 births, stung like mad when I weed and took weeks to heal.

TrippleBerryFairy · 27/05/2010 22:07

notjustapuppymom, what is that magic KY? Is that an abbreviation for something? (Want to know for when I have my 2nd sometime in the future)

Arcadie · 28/05/2010 09:13

KY jelly. Water based lubricant stuff. Buy at any pharmacy. Most people ( I think) use it as a lubricant for sex so just be aware as you buy it

BertieBotts · 28/05/2010 09:16

Ugh yes I agree that they are horrible IME and worse than the actual tear. But I am heartened to see other people didn't find them that bad at all

Olive oil warmed in the hands also works as the KY jelly does apparently and is a little bit more natural. I don't know whether a midwife would do this or not though, I suppose it depends on the midwife.

I want to have a waterbirth next time and hopefully that will help

MumNWLondon · 28/05/2010 13:54

I had my worst grazing on my 2nd birth, which was in water. It was the slowest one he was born in very controlled slow way and the only one (of three) where perineum was intact and only one in water.

CantSupinate · 28/05/2010 14:08

Unfortunately grazes don't seem to hurt any less than proper tears (ime).

slushy06 · 28/05/2010 18:18

I have had two dc both times only grazing. It stung for week when peeing and that was about it they sting but not that bad IMO. I had both internal and external so I think it means not deep enough for stitches.

I would definitely prefer them to stitches which just makes me cringe. Buy long skirts for after where them outside and they should heal in a few days even if you only go in the garden for a bit.

Mishy1234 · 28/05/2010 18:36

Thanks for asking this question OP, as I've wondered this for ages!

SirBoobAlot · 28/05/2010 18:43

I had a slight graze (got off very lightly with my birth, in reflection... DS has a rather big head ) and it was okay.

It will sting when you wee post birth regardless, so just be prepared for that - position yourself so the wee goes straight into the bowl (), have a jug of water ready to pour at the same time, or wee in the bath.

Southwestwhippet · 28/05/2010 22:35

I had quite a few grazes with DD, she took a long time to crown which apparently was why it happened although it also meant I escaped with only a tiny 1stdegree tear.

Was very stingy to pee afterwards but I thought within a few days it was pretty much fine, the tear was sore for longer although not really stingy, more bruised and tight.

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