Link between stretch marks in pregnancy and tearing in labour?

[Naetha]

I was pondering this while driving in the car the other day...

Is there a link between people who get stretch marks, and those who tear during labour?

Presumably it all relates to the elasticity of the skin?

I'm pretty sure not -- had the most hideous s/marks with dd2, and a very quick labour (so I guess not much time for relevant bits to stretch) but didn't need stitches as I hardly tore at all (I was in a nice warm bath at the time).

I guess it's more to do with how much your bump grows, so how much yr skin has to stretch. Am prepared to be corrected by slightly more medically qualified person, of course ...!

don't think so. i've had 2dd's and not one stretch mark in sight!!! but tore badly during labour

I got horrendous SMs with DS1 and a 2nd degree tear in water.
With DS2, said horrebdous SMs stretched some more (extended) and just got a little nick in water.

I think totally unrelated.
Tears occur mostly when you push while contracting/stressing pelvic muscles rather than "breathing out" baby whilst relaxing pelvic muscles.
I know, easier said than done!

Don't think so - not a stretch mark in sight for me but I had a (bad) 3rd degree tear

I dont have a stretch mark after 2 dc but did have 2 tears the first one worst

I would say no connection i have realy bad strech marks after dd2. Had only a few with dd1 both babies were over 9lb's and had no tears only few grazes.

maybe if you get stretchmarks you are a no-tearing person?

That's what I'm hoping bunny!

for me
2 pgs
no stretch marks
no tearing

I don't think there is - I reckon it's more to do with the speed of delivery and the size of your baby's head. Not that I'm an expert but I have lots of friends who had stretch marks, and several who tore badly, and no obvious correlation.

No, I don't think so.

2 pgs, no stretch marks but internal 3rd degree tear with pg1

Do you think there any truth to the size of your feet being an indicator of size of pelvis/ease of delivery?

I am over average height (5ft 6) but have small feet for height (size 5) and have a tough time popping babies out!

hmmm, I had no stretch marks, have size 4 feet and ended with em/c. so little feet are bad for me...

i had NO stretchmarks in pg but a 2nd degree tear wish there was a correlation!

Stretch marks are caused by lack of collagen in the skin which means when it stretches there the fibres get long and scar. Tears in labour are caused by a great big ficking baby shooting out your fanjo!

Quite different I think

pmsl!!

2 pregnancies, no stretchmarks, 2 grazes, 8lb 7oz babies, size 6.5 feet .

No stretch marks. Bad tear.

Prg1 SM's and episiotomy
Prg2 added to 1st set of SM's and 2nd degree tearing up and down.

No stretch marks - bad tear!

DD1 no stretchmarks, bad tear caused by her hand by her face and me just pushing and not waiting.

DD2 thought I had got away with no stretchmarks but found 6 hidden under my bump but I was huge (pregnant for a month more and she was 3lbs heavier than her sister, no tears

No stretchmarks with either ds, second degree tear with ds2 (episiotomy with ds1).

no stretch marks for me but i did have a 3rd deg tear!

horrid stretch marks, no tearing for me!