tearing / not tearing questions for those who've been through labour!

[user1465146157]

Hello

I'm reading various threads on tearing, episiotomies, prevention etc - but not everyone states what their circumstances were. Some put not tearing down to luck, others mention perineal massage, others talk about best position. Be good to know what was going on during your birth and see if there's a common theme, or if it is just purely luck!

Wondered if you could answer these specific yes or no questions?

Did you tear?
Was this your First time?
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth?
Did you have an episiotomy?
Did you take any other pain relief?
What position were you in when birthing?
Were you in a birth pool?
What did your baby weigh?

Thank you in advance, this would really help me (and others I hope)

8 minutes not 8 pushes. I think it was only a few pushes.

Did you tear? no
Was this your First time? yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? no
Did you have an episiotomy? yes
Did you take any other pain relief? gas and air
What position were you in when birthing? back (vontous)
Were you in a birth pool? no
What did your baby weigh? 7lb 4

Did you tear? YES, tiny barely needed a stitch.

Was this your First time? YES

Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? NO

Did you have an episiotomy? NO

Did you take any other pain relief? GAS AND AIR, TENS - both really helpful

What position were you in when birthing? Holding on to the side of the pool while my body floated free in the water, great for not tensing up between contractions.

Were you in a birth pool? YES

What did your baby weigh? 7lbs13

I know it's not for everyone but hypnobirthing was so helpful for me I stayed relaxed throughout and soft touch massage was amazing early pain relief.

Hi,
Yes I did have a few minor tears.
It was my first baby.
I didn't do any perineal massage at all.
I didn't have an episiotomy.
My pain relief was my tens machine through 4 days of early labour, and until 4 hours before I gave birth. That was all I needed. I tried a tiny bit of gas and air but it made me feel so sick so I didn't have any more. The birthing pool helped a lot. Then I was given a pethadine injection so I could sleep because I was physically exhausted.
I ended up giving birth laid on my back on the bed, my husband holding my hands. I found that the most comfortable position.
I was in the pool for about an hour. I would have stayed in the pool and probably had a water birth had I not needed the pethadine so I could sleep.
My baby weighed 6lb 7oz.
I tore because of involuntary pushing while I was asleep.

(Next time, hopefully I won't be having contractions for 4 days, keeping me awake most of the night. So I won't be as tired. And pain relief I'm hoping to use my tens machine as much as possible and for as long as I can. Then the birthing pool. I'm keen to avoid anything else really).

Hope that helps.

5 labours, 4 vaginal births (one ended up with emcs almost fully dilated)

I tore with ds1 (3Rd degree labial tear and vaginal) just grazes with second, third and fourth.

I didn't do perineal message with any.

No episiotomies. But ventouse delivery second.

Babies weights were 6lb11, 9lb, 6lb13, 5lb15 and 3lb14.

Pain relief was pethidine with first, pethidine with second, tens and gas and air during pushing with third, tens with fourth and nothing with fifth.

No pool, wasn't allowed :(

Birthed all laid on my back because each baby was being carefully monitored and they told me not to move.

I had two 3rd degree tears. My first was back to back and the contractions were so painful I pushed hell for leather as I didn't want to have another one and I thought this was perhaps the cause. The second was much more controlled but the same thing happened. Both were born in the pool with gas and air only. The only link is that they both have very large heads according to the centiles (99.6th centile at birth for both) although only average weight at around 8lb.

It sounds horrific but apart from the actual birth (which I'm not sure is more painful if you tear or not!) I didn't find either of mine to be particularly painful afterwards, I could sit down fine although very carefully! I took only paracetamol and ibuprofen, and precautionary antibiotics for the tear. I have healed quickly although not quite as well the second time so I wouldn't risk it a third time!!

Did you tear? Yes
Was it your first? Yes
Did you massage? Nope I've never heard of it.
Did you have episiotomy? No
Pain relief? Gas and air, meptid and pethedine.
Birth position? On my back on the bed.
Birth pool? No but had several baths during labour (4 days)
Babies birth weight? 5lb 14oz (39+6)

Did you tear? Yes
Was this your First time? DS 1 and 2
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? A bit
Did you have an episiotomy? 1
Did you take any other pain relief? Gas and air for DS 1, nothing for DS 2, both bad tears ( 2nd degree for DS 1 and a 'bad; 2nd/3rd' tear for DS2, that had to be repaired under spinal in theatre
What position were you in when birthing? kind of dangling off the bed for DS1, and I have no idea in the birthing pool for DS2!
Were you in a birth pool? For DS2
What did your baby weigh? 6lb 5 and 8 lb 12.

DD ( no. 3, elective C section on the advice of my consultant to avoid double incontinence that she thought was a significant risk given my first 2 natural deliveries. A much harder recovery than either of the other two, but worth it to avoid the risk of the incontinence by putting myself through it a third time. Even with tears - recovery was much easier for the natural births.

Did you tear? No
Was this your First time? Yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No
Did you have an episiotomy? Yes
Did you take any other pain relief? Yes
What position were you in when birthing? On my back due to epidural.
Were you in a birth pool? Yes
What did your baby weigh? 11lb 9oz

My baby was back to back and undiagnosed large birthweight so really I wasn't ever going to give birth unassisted. I was in 2nd stage labour for 6 hours in the birthing pool before I was taken for an epidural and then episiotomy and forceps.

Did you tear?
Dd1 yes 3rd degree
Dd2 yes 2nd degree
Ds no - ELCS

Was this your First time?
Tore first 2 times

Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth?
Yes for Dd1, no for dd2

Did you have an episiotomy?
Dd1 yes
Dd2 no
Ds N/A

Did you take any other pain relief?
Dd1 gas & air
Dd2 epidural
Ds N/a

What position were you in when birthing?
Dd1 active birth, giant bean bags and lots of other things that I was too knackered to clamber over after 3 days of labour! Ended up in stirrups on back
Dd2 had to be induced, on back in stirrups
Ds n/a

Were you in a birth pool?
No for dd1 - started to but made me feel sick, and tire and slowed stuff down
Dd2 - unable to due to meconium in waters
Ds n/a

What did your baby weigh?
Dd1 7lb 4 Oz
Dd2 7lb 6oz
Ds 8lb 9oz

I honestly don't think I could have done much differently!

Did you tear? No

Was this your First time? First / Second

Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No / No

Did you have an episiotomy? No / No

Did you take any other pain relief? Gas and Air / Nothing (too quick!)

What position were you in when birthing? On back / On back

Were you in a birth pool? No / No

What did your baby weigh? 8lbs / 9.10lbs

DD1:
Did you tear? Yes - 2nd degree, up and down
Was this your First time? Yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? Nope
Did you have an episiotomy? Nope
Did you take any other pain relief? Yes - epidural
What position were you in when birthing? On my back - had continuous monitoring as I had preeclampsia and was induced
Were you in a birth pool? No
What did your baby weigh? 7lb 3oz

DD2
Did you tear? Yes - 2nd degree
Was this your First time? No
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No
Did you have an episiotomy? No
Did you take any other pain relief? No
What position were you in when birthing? All fours
Were you in a birth pool? Yes
What did your baby weigh? 7lb 13oz

I had 2nd degree tears both times. First daughter was 9lb 8oz and when she finally decided to come out it was like a cannon. It took ages to heal and I never felt quite right until I had my second who was born very suddenly in my trousers .whatever the doctor did when stitching me up this time fixed the soreness that I had before. I tried perennial massage but it made no difference.

DC1

Did you tear? No
Was this your First time? Yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No
Did you have an episiotomy? No
Did you take any other pain relief? TENS machine that's all
What position were you in when birthing? Upright kneeling
Were you in a birth pool? Yes
What did your baby weigh? 8lb 11 (I'm very petite in RL)

DC2

Did you tear? No
Was this your First time? No
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No
Did you have an episiotomy? No
Did you take any other pain relief? None
What position were you in when birthing? Upright kneeling
Were you in a birth pool? Yes
What did your baby weigh? 9lb

I insisted that I be told when to pant and not push while pushing. The water birth I think really assisted.

I didn't have a tear but had a small episiotomy. I had a VBAC and ended up in theatre because my DDs arm was stuck which resulted in the episiotomy.
I didn't do perineal massage and I did have gas and air but nothing else.
7lb 1.

fudgefeet wow amazing - how does that even work? In your trousers - assuming it was so quick you mean you had no time to take them off What was transition like? Did you have contractions? Sorry, I'm nosey

Did you tear? No

Was this your First time? Yes

Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No

Did you have an episiotomy? No

Did you take any other pain relief? Gas and air and one small shot of morphine, didn't get full dose due to other health concerns

What position were you in when birthing? Started in pool, then standing/leaning then finally had to go on my back as legs just went to jelly after 3+ hours pushing.

Were you in a birth pool? To begin but then had to get out.

What did your baby weigh? Over 8 lbs

Midwife said I hadn't torn because my labour and pushing was so long, everything had plenty time to "soften up" (her words). Glad there was one positive from it - I was dreading an episiotomy more than anything else!

Hi OP

Did you tear? no
Was this your First time? Yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No
Did you have an episiotomy? No
Did you take any other pain relief? No
What position were you in when birthing? Hands and knees, then kind of sitting up, pulling my knees up
Were you in a birth pool? Yes, home water birth - I think this had a huge bearing on me not tearing
What did your baby weigh? 6lb 6oz

Did you tear? - No
Was this your First time? - Yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? - Yes
Did you have an episiotomy? - No
Did you take any other pain relief? - Gas and air, meptid injection, tens
What position were you in when birthing? - On my back, legs braced against midwife's hip
Were you in a birth pool? - No
What did your baby weigh? - 8lb 6oz

I read up a lot on active birthing techniques but my labour was slow to progress. I was desperate for a water birth. The MW was concerned that it would set my contractions back. I then asked to stand for the birth but my pushes were strong and she advised the baby would come too quickly if I stood. Instead she advised I stayed on my back and followed her coaching to the letter. I was paranoid of tearing or pooing and kept checking if I had. All went well though and there was even a graze.

*wasn't even a graze

Did you tear? Yes, 2nd degree, but repaired in the labour room
Was this your First time? Yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No
Did you have an episiotomy? No
Did you take any other pain relief? Gas & air in labour, paracetamol/ibuprofen afterwards
What position were you in when birthing? In stirrups, but sitting up, not lying totally flat
Were you in a birth pool? No, because I had been induced and hyperstimulated so needed to be on the monitor
What did your baby weigh? 10lb

I'm fairly sure it's luck. I've had three children, never so much as attempted perineal massage or anything that's supposed to help. Three fairly quick hospital labours, one with an epidural and others with just g&a, and never had so much as a graze. Two were induced. My biggest baby was 7lbs 6, smallest 6lbs. I've never used a birthing pool and always been sitting up on the bed with back of bed leaning upwards. Never had forceps.

Did you tear? Yes, a very minor first degree tear that needed a couple of stitches.
Was this your First time? Yes
Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No
Did you have an episiotomy? No
Did you take any other pain relief? No
What position were you in when birthing? On my back
Were you in a birth pool? No
What did your baby weigh? 4lbs 13

Did you tear?
Yes, second degree

Was this your First time?
Yes

Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth?
Yes

Did you have an episiotomy?
No

Did you take any other pain relief?
Gas and air only

What position were you in when birthing?
leaning forward on the edge of the birthing pool on my knees

Were you in a birth pool?
Yes

What did your baby weigh?
3.65 kg

Did you tear? Yes

Was this your First time? Yes

Did you do Perineal massage weeks before the birth? No

Did you have an episiotomy? Yes (+natural tear!)

Did you take any other pain relief? Gas & air and pethidine

What position were you in when birthing? On my back

Were you in a birth pool? No

What did your baby weigh? 8lb 7oz