Less likely to tear in birthing pool?

[ButteryJam]

Hi,

Am I less likely to tear if I give birth in a birthing pool? I'm not too keen on a birthing pool as I've never been big on swimming pools (phobia of shallow swimming pools) and the birthing pools look really deep ...

I had a second degree tear with DC1 in the pool and a second degree tear with DC2 out of a pool.

Your midwife should have a good idea whether or not there's a difference though.

BigBongTheory, thanks, do you mean the midwife that sees me on the day or any midwife?

If you have a phobia of shallow swimming pools, a birthing pool probably isn't for you. :)

I don't think the birthing pools are deep, but if you have a phobia of them, perhaps don't take on getting over that phobia at the same time as preparing for childbirth. I think tearing can happen either way, but trying to sort a birthing pool as I have spd and apparently it might help in some way to alleviate additional pain from that. To be honest, spd will be the last of my worries, but fingers crossed...

I've been told by an antenatal teacher that birthing pool can lessen likelihood of tearing upmto a point, but if you're in for more than about 4 hours continuously it can actually increase chances of a tear as the tissues then get more fragile. I'm planning to use one if poss for my DC2 (due in three weeks) as that should in theory be a quicker labour than first time round...

The second part of your post suggests you shouldn't go for a water birth!

I had a water birth at a MLU and had second degree tear.

I dont know whether being in a pool can stop tearing but you could try perineal massage? It looks and sounds rather icky but apparently its meant to gently stretch and soften the area to help avoid tearing???