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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

CSection after previous tear...

32 replies

mamablondie2 · 21/05/2020 21:14

Hi

Just wanted some opinions on this as I have been told it’s up to me, but that I would have support if I choose a CSection. Tbh I’d have preferred to have just been told I need it and that be that, as I now have to make a choice and I am just not sure what to do for the best.

What would/did you do? What would influence your decision?

My overriding preference is for a calm and controlled birth so would either be an epidural vaginal or Csection, I’m not bothered about how ‘natural’ it is etc.

OP posts:
Amberb82 · 21/05/2020 21:30

Hi

I'm exactly the same! 3rd degree tear last time so both midwives I saw said I would
be offered a section so I started reading up on it and decided that was the best option.

Then I had my appointment with a consultant and she very much encounter to go natural but said 'it's up to me' ... so now I haven't a clue what I'm going to do 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️ even asked my husband to decide for me but he won't 😂

Amberb82 · 21/05/2020 21:31

Encouraged

Timeforsinging81 · 21/05/2020 21:31

I opted for an ELCS after a previous 3c tear. I was, and still am, happy with my decision but it was one that I'd decided before getting pregnant with my 2nd. I have some mild issues related to my tear but I wanted to make sure they didn't get worse. It was a different and more pleasant experience and allowed me to relax during my pregnancy knowing that I had a cs booked.

loubieloo4 · 21/05/2020 21:34

If you don't have any lasting damage I would go for a vaginal as the recovery time from a section is 6 weeks minimum. It's a huge operation.

Original poster
mamablondie2 · 21/05/2020 21:36

@Amberb82 tbh I had already come to terms with having to have a section when we started trying for baby 2; it’s literally only because the consultant said I have a choice that I’m even considering it.

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Lougle · 21/05/2020 21:37

I had a 2nd degree tear with DD1 (she had her hand by her face as she came out) and went on to have two more vaginally. No mention of CS. I suppose it depends how bad the tear is.

Original poster
mamablondie2 · 21/05/2020 21:38

@Timeforsinging81 do you mind me asking what issues you still had/have? This sounds ridiculous but I’m not actually sure if I have issues still or not? It was two years ago, I never managed to get the follow up tests done either. That said, no faecal incontinence which is what the consultant seemed most concerned about.

OP posts:
Original poster
mamablondie2 · 21/05/2020 21:38

@Lougle it was a 3b. Probably should have mentioned that to begin with!

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Willow4987 · 21/05/2020 21:40

I had an ELCS after an episiotomy/tear & forceps for my first

The recovery from the ELCS was one million percent easier than my first.

It was calm, controlled and I was home within 24 hours

I kept on top of pain meds and came off them within 2 weeks. The worst bit was the gas pain in my shoulder but peppermint oil tablets cleared that up

I took it easy in terms of lifting my eldest etc for a few weeks but felt mainly back to normal within a few days and could drive at 4 weeks

Yes it’s major surgery and yes the recovery is ‘technically longer’ in that you can’t just start lifting weights etc (I’m still taking exercise lightly at 13 wks PP) but for me this was a much easier experience with less overall pain. The risk of tearing worse (backed up by a physio and consultant) and worsening pelvic floor issues that may be permanent were not worth the risk for me

Llamapolice · 21/05/2020 21:44

I had 3b tear, failed ventouse & forceps and I plan to have a C-section should we have a second. My only ongoing issue is occasional stress incontinence but I'm worried that another vaginal delivery would risk worse damage next time, particularly as it took the best part of a year to feel recovered.

Original poster
mamablondie2 · 21/05/2020 21:52

@Llamapolice yeah that’s pretty much my worry. I cant help thinking I have had something of a lucky escape as I only really get the odd ‘cough and wee’ when I’m ill etc. And I keep thinking of the wider context - looking after a toddler and going back to work etc with long term issues if I tear again.

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IncyWincySpiderOnRepeat · 21/05/2020 21:54

Hi, facing the same decision here am currently 16 weeks pregnant with my second after a 3C tear with my first 5 years ago.

I too still have some mild issues from my first tear, unable to control wind, throbbing scars, occasional urgency etc.

I’ve been referred to a consultant but won’t see anyone until around 30 weeks so I’m not actually sure at this point that I’ll be offered a csection.

The recovery after my first tear was awful and it took about 18 months for me to feel relatively normal.

If a csection is an option then at the moment I’m fairly sure this is the route I will take. It is major surgery with it’s own set of risks but I just can’t face the risk of tearing to the same degree again, or worse, with all the recovery problems and long term issues that this could cause.

ncqtime · 21/05/2020 21:58

Dc1: natural no interventions, tear with stitches (think it was 2nd degree). Wasn't a problem. Healed up fine.
Dc2: same
Dc3: certainly not calm or controlled but no tears
Dc4: learnt breathing techniques so felt in control throughout, much calmer (pain aside!), No tears.

The idea of a c section never came up.

PhoenixBuchanan · 21/05/2020 22:02

You only have about a 6% chance of having another third degree tear if you've already had one. It's much more likely that you will have lesser or no tear this time. Of course you have to make the decision that feels right for you, but if you haven't actually had any problems with ongoing pain or healing, having an ELCS seems a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

PhoenixBuchanan · 21/05/2020 22:06

From my own experience, I had an extensive episiotomy the first time and had ongoing aching, throbbing and heaviness from it. The second time I had a second degree tear, which healed much more easily. The repair of that tear actually resolved all of my previous issues and now everything feels normal again If I had had an ELCS, I would still have those problems. I don't think it's always as straightforward as an ELCS being the right choice to prevent problems.

StarsOnAMat · 21/05/2020 22:09

I had a 3b tear with my first when he got stuck with a shoulder dystocia during a waterbirth. I asked for an elective section with my second and was granted it. However I ended up with a vaginal delivery because I went into labour a week early in the middle of the night. The surgical team were doing an emergency and I progressed too quickly to wait for them. Ended up with just a couple of stitches even though the baby was a pound and half heavier than the first. The midwife offered to be very hands on at the point of birth when she was told the story of the first and I think that made a difference.

Timeforsinging81 · 21/05/2020 22:11

@mamablondie2

I had problems keeping wind in, sometimes had to rush to the loo in time and either a bit of a rectal prolapse or prolapsing internal piles (tbh I've not had it investigated Blush ) Physio told me I was very lucky not to have any urinary incontinence from the birth too. I didn't want to push my luck and try for a vaginal delivery a second time.

Recovery from the ELCS was far easier than the tear, I was climbing around on soft play with DC1 at 3 weeks post c section with DC2! And the midwife during the c section said that my baby was in the same malrotated position as DC1 so I'd have ended up with another forceps delivery or EMCS anyway.

ThanksItHasPockets · 21/05/2020 22:14

It also depends on your healing from first time around. Scar tissue does not stretch like normal perineal tissue and if you have a lot of scarring then you are more likely to tear or need an episiotomy again. I elected for a CS for DC2 after a horrendous and protracted recovery from a badly infected episiotomy from DC1's birth. Recovery from the ELCS was a breeze in comparison but I was particularly unlucky first time around.

Willow4987 · 21/05/2020 22:14

Have you seen a physio or consultant OP?

It’s all well and good saying chances of tear is x% vs this that and the other CS risk but have you been examined to see what your individual case is?

My PT agreed that a CS was best in my individual case due to pelvic floor issues, extremely shortened perineum, scar tissue and lack of stretchy ness would all contribute to a very high likely hood of worse tear and all the delightful potential consequences of that

But that’s my individual case which further cemented my decision to have a CS after the first traumatic birth and recovery

Hopefully you can see someone at some stage

3rddegree · 21/05/2020 22:23

I was in the same position OP, 3 degree tear. Consultant was good in being neutral and setting out the risks. She very humanly put it to me that the question to think about was what was 'scaring' me more? (I think she picked up on my anxiety).
I went for the ELCS and it was a brilliant experience. But I did not (and still don't!) intend on having a 3rd child so that helped slightly. Of course, a natural birth could still have been a brilliant experience second-time round!

3rddegree · 21/05/2020 22:26

btw the first doctor I saw (before the consultant) was disgraceful. Didn't seem to know anything, just was like 'yeah, there's a chance it could tear again and be even worse... but a c-section is major and there's more risk of not bonding with your baby .... shrug!'

Luckily I knew he was talking absolute shite otherwise that could've scared me.

Babyboomtastic · 21/05/2020 23:39

Lots of people that try to warn you off a section by saying how major it is, and how hard/long the recovery is either haven't had one, or they've had an emergency section which are much harder to recover from.

Like most people have said on this thread, my experiences of planned sections is that they were a breeze. It may be 'major surgery' but I've had colds that have floored me far more than it. I was largely back to normal within a week in terms of activity levels, no pain etc, I just took it a bit easy on the lifting for a few weeks in case I actually needed it, even though I felt fine.

FromtheZoo · 22/05/2020 05:51

I had a 4b tear with my son and it was the most traumatic experience ever. I'm still not recovered 14 months on. I'm not pregnant with my second yet but when/if I do have another one I've already decided I will want a c section, even though my gynaecologist has told me the risk of tearing again is low and they will do everything they can to prevent it happening. Whilst I'd be really nervous to have an operation and all the risks that come with that, the thought of doing any more damage down below just doesn't bare thinking about. However, if I was fully recovered and didn't have any lasting issues, even though the Labour itself was traumatic, I would go for a vaginal birth again. It's the lasting damage I have that really makes the decision for me

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 22/05/2020 06:23

I had a csection (not planned), but would 100% do it again.

Honestly, people say its a huge recovery time but its totally manageable. I was up and had a shower within 24hrs and was able to pick my baby up if I moved myself sensibly. By the 2nd week I was fine.

Original poster
mamablondie2 · 22/05/2020 06:23

Thanks so much everyone

@Timeforsinging81 I’ve had recurrent piles - has never occurred to me this could be a prolapse or related to my tear but will definitely ask to have this looked at at my next midwife appt and now wondering if I’ve got more issues than I previously realised. I had involuntary pushing in my labour as well and a big baby which is making me think maybe I need to just bite the bullet, go for the section and stop overthinking it

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