3rd Degree Tear & 2nd birth

[whitedoe]

Hi Mommas

I don't really know who else to talk to about this.

I had a third degree (3c) tear with the birth of my daughter 10 months ago. I was laid on my back with my legs in stirrups due to an issue with baby's heartbeat.

My husband and I are now at a stage of thinking about a second baby.

I think I've healed well. I'm not how I was before however. I haven't had any accidents - BUT have had moments when holding myself in (for a #2) has been painful and I'm not 100% I'll make it to a toilet. Luckily I have been able to hold myself so far.

I'm scared witless of giving birth again and making things down there worse.

On the other hand I don't know if a C Section is hard to recover from too and has it's own future health risks. I'd also really want to breastfeed a new baby and don't know if a C Section would make breastfeeding even harder than it already is.

Does anyone have any experience of second babies after a 3rd degree tear? What did you do - c section or vaginal birth, how did it go?

TIA for any words of wisdom!

Hi I with my first I had a third degree tear and with my second (4.5 years later) I had a normal vaginal birth with no cuts, scrapes or tears and every gif was fine.

My first was awful also, tore as much as a person could! God, it was awful. However the second birth (5 years later) I didn’t tear at all and everything down below was A-OK. He was the same size (9lb11oz) and I believe he said I had some grazes, but I never felt them and they gave me no grief at all.

Thanks both, I feel a lot more positive hearing about your experiences x

HI I just wanted to add, I had a 4th degree tear, the obstetrician who did my repair and the colorectal surgeon who checked everything at 4months both said I needed to have a c-section for any subsequent deliveries. I have no complications from the tear but was told that the risks of tearing like that again were too significant. With that in mind assuming you were not told that the choice really would be yours x