Vaginal birth after 3rd degree tear?

NewMummyJelly · 2022-10-18T21:16:27+00:00

Hi i’m trying to decide whether to have a vaginal birth after having a 3rd degree tear with my first. I can’t make a decision. reasons for a vaginal birth (if all goes okay this is)…. More natural, get the first cuddles, recovery is quicker, may be a quicker labour the second time round, may help with breastfeeding reasons for a c section… no vaginal tears, planned surgery so less painful, less fear of the unknown. what do you think? Thank you all

Phizpop · 18/10/2022 22:23

I think it varys on many things, but for what it worth, I opted for the c section, which was the right decision for me. For the reasons you listed above.

Although I had cuddles within minutes and baby stayed there all through monitoring then back to the ward I think in a cot, I can't remember. I recovered quicker, it was planned. Only downside was not bring able to drive, but it didn't affect my breastfeeding (it was easier if anything, but I'd stopped only 11m prior).

It was much worse first time round being whipped away from my baby to theatre, I'd had no idea that would happen. Stayed in 2 nights with number 1,but only 1 night with number 2.

I tossed and turned on the decision got a long time, but I definitely made the right decision for us!

hmb255 · 18/10/2022 22:39

I had a c section with my second after a 3rd almost 4th degree tear with my first. For me it was the right choice. I held my second straight away and she was with me the whole time. With the first I was away from her for hours whilst waiting for theatre to be stitched up. The section was a million times easier recovery for me than the tear.
Obviously it's your choice but the section was much better for me personally.

Indianna2006 · 18/10/2022 22:43

@NewMummyJelly I will be having to make this decision too. Only just entered my second trimester though. It’s so hard to know what to do.

My tear recovery was awful. I was taken from baby streight away. I had to go home with a catheter in. I got pelvis girdle pain after birth. It was all just awful.

don’t think I can bear the idea of another tear. But the idea of a shirt easy labour and home few hours later seems lovely. And no surgery.

not sure I can take that risk though. I still feel very undecided. But swaying more towards c section.

ellieboolou · 18/10/2022 23:11

Planned C-section 💯 I've had 2 and the difference is amazing, tearing was my biggest fear, the recovery from a section is not bad, I still got first cuddle, was relaxed and not exhausted and traumatised from labour.

Original poster

NewMummyJelly · 19/10/2022 20:55

Thank you all for replying.

I have a worry about baby possibly needing oxygen if I go for a c-section… fluid isn’t squeezed out of the lungs like it would be in a natural birth. Is this something you worried about? Is this common? Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

NewMummyJelly · 19/10/2022 20:57

the breastfeeding is something i really want to happen, did you ask for baby right away to get breastfeeding?

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keeprunningupthathill · 19/10/2022 20:58

You get cuddles after section, I didn't after vaginal as was losing blood and being sewn up. It's a no brainer for me after third degree year with my first and having section with my second, section was fat and away the best birth and recovery.

keeprunningupthathill · 19/10/2022 20:59

keeprunningupthathill · 19/10/2022 20:58

You get cuddles after section, I didn't after vaginal as was losing blood and being sewn up. It's a no brainer for me after third degree year with my first and having section with my second, section was fat and away the best birth and recovery.

Sorry typos! But the gist is c section all the way if you can.

keeprunningupthathill · 19/10/2022 21:01

NewMummyJelly · 19/10/2022 20:55

Thank you all for replying.

I have a worry about baby possibly needing oxygen if I go for a c-section… fluid isn’t squeezed out of the lungs like it would be in a natural birth. Is this something you worried about? Is this common? Thank you

Wasn't an issue at all

Itisbetter · 19/10/2022 21:02

I went on to have three more vaginal births and all was fine. Second birth was very quick but so amazingly uncomplicated (and healing emotionally). Not tears at all, and went home 6 hours later. I gobsmackingly different start.

SingingWaffleDoggy · 19/10/2022 21:16

I had a 3rd nearly 4th degree year with my first and opted for a CS for my second.
My tear was much more debilitating. Pain, movement, driving, mood, all worse with my first.
My planned section was a doddle by comparison! The only downside is although she came out screaming and they put baby straight on me for cuddles she then didn’t breathe so well for a minute or 2. It was awful at the time but they just gave her a few breaths and some oxygen and she was fine. The dr said that sometimes they just don’t realise they’re born and need to breathe themselves. I guess it’s a bit of a shock being pulled into the world. She latched in recovery and virtually didn’t leave my boob for the first 12 months of her life. I did express colostrum before delivery which I had as back up until my milk came in but it wasn’t needed.
She’s now a super energetic little toddler who is doing perfectly (except going to sleep at bedtime but that’s a whole other story)

LokiDokiArtichoki · 19/10/2022 21:22

I had a 3rd degree tear with my 3rd (9lb baby)

I had vaginal delivery with my 4th (8lb7) and didn’t need a single stitch.

Original poster

NewMummyJelly · 19/10/2022 21:23

Indianna2006 · 18/10/2022 22:43

@NewMummyJelly I will be having to make this decision too. Only just entered my second trimester though. It’s so hard to know what to do.

My tear recovery was awful. I was taken from baby streight away. I had to go home with a catheter in. I got pelvis girdle pain after birth. It was all just awful.

don’t think I can bear the idea of another tear. But the idea of a shirt easy labour and home few hours later seems lovely. And no surgery.

not sure I can take that risk though. I still feel very undecided. But swaying more towards c section.

Hi @Indianna2006 gosh not a nice experience, I remember thinking I wouldn’t tear, only a small % of women tear and it wouldn’t be me… well it was me.

i understand if I go for a natural birth I’ll probably be in the labour ward not the birthing centre because they don’t recommend a water birth after a tear and they want a doctor around ( I think) to use hand movements to slow the baby down if they’re coming to quickly which is to stop another tear or they’d make a cut themselves. The gas and air did nothing for me with the first birth so I’d be looking for an epidural this time, again this would be in the labour ward. Hmmm

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Rainraingoaway21 · 19/10/2022 21:25

I went on to have 2 more vaginal births after a 3rd degree tear with my first. It never happened again thankfully , although I still needed stitches I recovered quickly.

Lindtnotlint · 19/10/2022 21:27

Second vaginal had problems as well. Third was an elective section and was great. Highly recommend and such an easy recovery makes breast feeding easier not harder (compared to a tough vaginal situation!)

DisforDarkChocolate · 19/10/2022 21:31

Clinically advice will depend on how well your recovered last time and if you have any ongoing continence problems.

If you still have issues you need to ask about the potential impact on these and also about the potential for reoccurrence if you haven't.

DumDeeDoh · 19/10/2022 21:33

I had a 3rd degree team with my first and was fine having a vaginal birth for #2 &#3.

Birth 1 was badly managed by midwife constantly telling me to push. 2 and 3 were much better with the midwife tellong me to pant sometimes and push other times.

I had to go to surgery after birth 1 to get sewn up and blood. Had to have the wound fixed at 6 week checkup as there was a lump forming in the wound. Thankfully it has been fine since and no issues with deliveries afterwards (although i was obviously very worried and was afraid of the last big push as I was afriad I would rip open again 😢).

Best of luck to you. Hard decision to make.

NightTimex · 19/10/2022 21:36

For me - first vaginal, second c section.

No pain at all second time round, but my god the recovery from a C-section with a toddler was the worst mum guilt (and physical pain too) that I’ve ever experienced.

Not sure of your circumstances x

duggeescatenid · 19/10/2022 21:42

Interested to see what answers you get on this as I'm in exactly the same position. I am totally undecided and keep swaying between both options, c section was my first choice but the recovery part with a 3 year old at home is what is putting me off. The recovery after my tear last time round wasn't overly bad but I didn't have the birth I wanted and missed out on that first couple of hours with DD because I was in surgery for 2 hours, which I really don't want to happen again.
Are you consultant led this time round? I am due to have an appointment to discuss options in depth with them so I'm hoping that will help me make up my mind.

Original poster

NewMummyJelly · 19/10/2022 21:49

Rainraingoaway21 · 19/10/2022 21:25

I went on to have 2 more vaginal births after a 3rd degree tear with my first. It never happened again thankfully , although I still needed stitches I recovered quickly.

Wow two more natural births, did you consider c section or was it not for you?

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whosaidtha · 19/10/2022 21:59

I had a 3rd tear and an episiotomy with 1st but never even contemplated c-section with my other two. My physio said that the risk of tearing doesn't increase because you've torn before. I had no tears with 2 or 3.

Stinkybrambles · 19/10/2022 22:09

I had a third degree tear with my first and it didn't heal well, needed to have silver nitrate treatment in the end.
My second was a vaginal delivery with just a small tear, I was out of hospital that day and recovery was a piece of cake compares to my first. I had a 22 month old at home second time around and I would have hated being stuck at home with two under two because I couldn't drive due to a c section.

CoralMist · 19/10/2022 22:31

Rainraingoaway21 · 19/10/2022 21:25

I went on to have 2 more vaginal births after a 3rd degree tear with my first. It never happened again thankfully , although I still needed stitches I recovered quickly.

Similar scenario hear with the following vaginal birth. Was way easier than the first which took a long time to properly heal from. I think the second baby actually corrected a lot of issues from the first, including a weak pelvic floor, which has not be problematic since. Only had a small stitch on the second and physically recovered really quickly literally a couple of days and felt like the pre children me.

snowflake29 · 19/10/2022 22:36

I opted for a section following a 3rd degree tear, it was 7 weeks ago now and I feel completely back to normal! After the first week I recovered quite rapidly, was driving after 3 weeks with no pain.

I had skin to skin in theatre as soon as baby was checked (apgar 9 immediately) he came out screaming so his lungs were fine! Wheeled to recovery and both DH and I said how much nicer an experience the birth was this time, it was so calm and baby is also super chilled this time round which I don't think is a coincidence.

Rainraingoaway21 · 20/10/2022 07:11

@NewMummyJelly I didn't even consider a c section tbh. It was never mentioned to me either! My first birth was tough in lots of ways (baby needed surgery when born so we were more focused on that side of things) it was a long labour that resulted in forceps delivery. The other 2 were less complicated, I was induced with 2nd and things progressed quicker. I feel for you, its a tricky decision because everyone's experience and every birth is different. Have you been advised by your midwife at all?