3rd degree tear or sphincter tear?????

[bubblebell1]

this is a rather personal problem and i was wondering if any of you have experienced the same or heard of someone with the same prob.

during my previous labour i incurred a tear in my sphincter (please excuse spelling). it was very very painful and after 15 months i was finally operated on and the muscle was repaired.

at my 30 week check the midwife mentioned, after flicking thru my notes, that this may cause trouble with my bottom again. baby is large and muscle is weak after having operation.

if i tear again it is unlikely they will be able to repair the muscle as it leaves a high risk of incontinence

then that was it. no come back see a consultant nothing, i do have an app at 36 weeks for a growth scan but i wondered what you would do. its awful being left in limbo.

any advice would be gratefully recieved

thanks xx

It is not you. It is not you. It is not you.

It is a sad but true state of the NHS but you have to stand up for yourself because from you have typed I don't think they are going to. I bet the real reason is that they are short staffed and don't want to supply a medicl tem for section. But it isn't they who will have to live with incontinence. So, probably, they don't give a toss.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't let anyone tell you you are overreacting. If it was me, I would be freaking out loud and clear. Wonder if they normally stock maternity straight jackets?

i live in welwyn garden city hertfordshire.

the hosp is called QE2.
there is another 10 miles away in stevenage but its not normal to change between the 2.

when i was pregnant with ds i lived in a villiage midway between the 2 and had to pretend i lived somewhere else just to get to go to a different hosp.

There must be more than that. Can you do a search on birthchoice.co.uk. Also, if they refuse to schedule a section, what is to stop you turning up at another hospital in labour.

I would goto my GP and beg for a referral to another hospital. Tell him/her you aren't going there. Full stop, sorry, not gonna do it.

Please go to your GP and asked to be referred to another hospital / Dr whatever it takes. I had a fouth degree tear, which didn't heal well and left me with incontinence issues. I now have a temporary colostomy after having a sphincter repair. My colorectal surgeon has said that I would have to have CS for any subsequent births. Not that that is on the cards at the moment - however, it is Xmas and there is always the possibility of 'divine intervention".

Seriously - your future health is more important than worrying about upsetting a Dr who clearly has no real concern for your emotional and phyisical well being.

Please don't wait -you don't want to risk going into early labour.

Bubblebell, I really am very sad that you are being treated so badly. Would Luton and Dunstable or St Albans hospital be an option for you ? (used to live in Harpenden).

Take the view in your meeting that you are having a C section and that is that Explain that you are becoming stressed because of all the worry about a natural birth and it is not helping your pregnancy.

Remember that doctors are under a lot of pressure to cut costs low - bottom line is that a C section costs 3 times as much as a natural birth and so they may be acting in the best interests of the department budget rather than your health.

Point out that if your problems become worse post birth you are likely to need a huge amount of care which will cost the NHS more money.

Glad you are taking in your husband - he will be able to back you up and if you do get upset he can carry on insisting for a section.

Hi bluebell

Had another thought on how to tackle this one in a less confrontational way. Could you get the consultant who did your bottom surgery to write to your gyny consultant advising that you are best to have a CS to ensure less risk to the repair etc. He may take more notice from a fellow professional.

Bubblebell1 - If you would like an elective section all you have to do it tell your consultant that is what you want. Honestly it is that simple in this case. Go back to my previous post and print off the RCOG guideline and present it to him. There is no way you will be forced to labour. It clearly says that for women with ongoing problems it is reasonable to offer C/S. It also says that there is no evidence to support an elective episiotomy. Print a copy for the midwife too.
Be assertive with them.

Listen to Mears.

Especially the part about "be assertive".