third degree and now for c section or not?

[donnakav]

Hi there x i had my first baby almost 4 years ago and resulted with third degree tear of which has not caused me any problems since apart from unexpected wind x but now 13 weeks pregnant again i have been offered a c-section due to risk of faecal incontinence. My initial reaction was i want a vaginal delivery this could be the last time i experience this x but now im thinking been incontinent for rest of my life coukd cause all sorts of problems, but only 5% of people are x any advice or thoughts on this would be appreciated x x

I'd have the elective section. Most C-sections, especially planned ones, are straightforward. Nothing would make me take the risk of being faecially incontinent when I had such an easy option to avoid it!

I'm having an elective in 2 weeks due to fourth degree tear a year ago which has left me faecally incontinent. Hopefully, I can get fixed after this time. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! Totally dominated my life and where/when I can go out etc.

However, I'm already suffering. If I had no problems from the first birth, I would go for a VBAC I think. Seems a bit odd that you've been offered it already at 13 weeks?

I had a third degree first time and demanded a c-section second time. I got what I wanted and it was great - much easier recovery. Of course DS2 was a lot smaller so maybe it would have been OK. But I'm someone who doesn't get the whole importance of birth method - giving birth takes 24-48 hours. You've got years of looking after the resulting baby and I didn't want to be incontinent whilst doing that.

I had a 3rd degree tear and would go for an elcs. I've recovered okay but really need to keep on top of my PFexs. I wouldn't want to risk it.

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I had a third degree tear with dd 3.5 years ago and have very few, if any, symptoms as a result of this. I made the decision, when pregnant last year, that I was not willing to risk a further tear so requested a ELCS. Ds was bigger than dd with a larger head so I'm glad I stuck by my initial decision (a registrar tried to talk me out of it at 36 weeks). My recovery from my section was much easier than recovery from my tear despite a post-op wound infection and I feel 'normal' vaginally. Even the slightest risk of either urinary or faecal incontinence was too horrific for me to consider and I was concerned about the possible need for me to have corrective surgery in the future necessitating time off work etc. I have no regrets - I've delivered both ways so don't feel that I've missed out on the birth experience.

Same here, for me it was a no brainier. Not worth the risk, recovery was easier and didn't have the stress of worrying about whether things would go wrong again.

Your unexpected wind is probably a sign of ongoing weakness which is why they are seeing you as symptomatic and a risk of double incontinence.

I had high forceps and ongoing urge incontinence after dc1. I insisted on an agreement for elcs for number 2 as I read up and with my permanent symptoms I was very scared of a stuck baby again and double incontinence for life.

Wearing Tena daily, having issues when on period as period pads and urine absorbing pads work differently and hormones make it worse, menopause approaching and likely to worsen then. It affects my life all the time and it is only urine incontinence. My nerves were damaged so pelvic floor only helps a little.

I didn't want another baby after number 2 so for me the elcs was the safest option for my baby and me.

Here's the Royal College of Obstetricians guideline on it. Your doctor should be going by this so you might want to have a read.

It would help if I remembered to put the link

guideline