Undiagnosed third or fourth degree tear ?

[Hann376]

8 months pp after 1st child after long pushing stage ending in delivery with forceps, episiotomy and another smaller 2nd degree tear.

since birth I’ve had trouble holding in wind, the first few weeks after the birth it would literally come straight out, it has improved a fair bit but I still have moments (mainly when walking / standing).

I’ve been seeing a private pelvic floor physio which has helped im sure but they recommended following up to make sure its not an undiagnosed third or fourth degree tear / anal sphincter damage.

Ive seen a GP who checked inside my rectum and said there was no third or fourth degree tear and said to keep doing pelvic floor exercises. I am wondering if a third or fourth degree tear is something that would definitely be seen in a rectum exam with the naked eye?

Has anyone else had a similar problem that healed eventually that wasn’t a third or fourth degree tear ?

Me! I could have written your first paragraph! 3 hours of pushing really screwed my pelvic floor!

DC is now 3 and all is good! I’m now expecting DC2 and can’t say things have become worse (that was my fear). 100% keep with the exercises, I thought they were doing nothing after 6-8 months but as soon as you’re running around after a toddler you’ll notice the difference!

Only time I have issues now, is if I need to pee and DC wants picking up/jumps up at me! And that I can live with!

I had a 3rd degree tear with my second as he came out unexpectedly like superman! My recovery has been fine. It has no effect to further children and deliveries as my 3rd baby was the easiest birth and I didn’t even get a scratch! I just keep up with my pelvic floor exercises now and then, probably not as much as should be. However, every now and then when I haven’t been good doing my exercises I notice a little lack of control with things down below. I do the exercises more frequently and then things improve again.
I don’t think a tear can be undiagnosed as it’s quite visible. My surgeon did an examination at 9 weeks post partum and your physio can do too.