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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Water birth after 3rd degree tear

13 replies

GoingToInfinity · 24/10/2023 21:10

Hi all, I was wondering whether anyone else has been in a similar situation and could advise what they did.

During my first labour with my DS I had a 3rd degree tear. Luckily for me, my recovery was easy and uncomplicated and after 6 weeks I was fully healed with absolutely no lasting effects.

I will be having growth scans later on in the pregnancy due to another pre-existing medical condition, and when I last saw my consultant she said after my first growth scan at 28 weeks, we will then need an appointment to discuss what this next birth might look like once we have a better idea of what size baby is likely to be. I've already had it explained to me that I'm at higher risk of another third degree tear (~7% as opposed to ~1.5% for those that haven't previously had one), but I'm also not very concerned as my recovery was easy and it's still a relatively low risk.

Anyway, my question is, have people gone on to have a water birth post tear? I wasn't allowed a water birth last time due to my BMI being too high for it to be safe, but I have since then lost a significant amount of weight, got to a healthy BMI and have always dreamt of a water birth. I wondered whether any of you have been supported in a water birth by your midwife/consultant in a similar position?

OP posts:

Danielle9891 · 24/10/2023 21:39

I could have written this, I had quite a bad delivery with my 1st 2 years ago and I'm doing a bit of research now as I'm now 12 weeks with my second. I really wanted a water birth with my first but the pool was already in use. There's only one birthing pool in my hospital. 😭

From what I understand you have a 4% chance of having another bad tear so it's still really low. But if you do tear it could be even worse. I think they will try to persuade you not to have a water birth so the midwife can slow the baby down when crowning, so you are less likely to tear. But it's your birth so it should be up to you.

I want a water birth too as my sister needed over 60 stitches after having my nephew then she had a water birth with her second (only 11 months later) and only had a graze so needed no stitches. She's alway said she wished she had a water birth with her first as she believes it would have been easier.

TheBirdintheCave · 24/10/2023 22:01

Also interested to see if we'll be allowed it! I missed out on a water birth the first time round as the hospital didn't believe I needed to come in 🙄 I ended up with an episiotomy and a 3b tear as my son came out at a funny angle. I'd love to have a water birth this time.

Original poster

GoingToInfinity · 25/10/2023 10:35

I'll update this thread as and when I've had my appointment in a couple of months.

I don't feel like I advocated for myself very well last time round (I wanted an episiotomy but the midwife didn't listen, then I tore) and my aim this time round is to speak up. If it's not a high risk to me or baby, and it's feasible then hopefully I can convince them it's for the best.

I've read some papers online which suggest that actually having a water birth reduces your risk of a tear.

OP posts:

SisterA · 25/10/2023 10:42

I had an episiotomy & forceps delivery first time round which resulted in a third degree tear. I wasn’t really that well informed/prepared for what my body would be doing physiologically (just wanted to go with the flow and trust my body but in the process of doing that buried my head in the sand).

I was adamant I didn’t want that to happen next time so did my research, understood birth better & had a beautiful home water birth.

so it’s definitely doable & possible! I did retain an element of trusting my body & going with the flow so opted not to have growth scans or find out the predicted weight of my baby etc - I didn’t want to freak myself out & tried to trust that if things weren’t going well I could change my mind at any point. I obsessed over threads of people who’d had 3rd degree tears followed by water births and the majority of what I read was good, and I figured there were so many more positive stories that also weren’t shared.

I took things really slowly in the water and the water definitely i felt helped ease pain and being able to move around more freely helped relieve a lot of pressure.

whatever you decide & however it happens good luck! :)

TheBirdintheCave · 25/10/2023 10:46

@SisterA Good to know!

@GoingToInfinity Definitely let us know :D

Original poster

GoingToInfinity · 25/10/2023 11:03

@SisterA this sounds like really sound advice, thank you. I feel declining growth scans would be a mistake in my situation as baby is at risk of low birth weight, but I can understand why you didn't have them in your situation.

I'm not convinced that growth scans are that reliable anyway though. DS was measuring big all the way through and then out popped a dinky 6lb11oz baby!

So pleased you manage to get your lovely birth second time round.

OP posts:

NancyJoan · 25/10/2023 11:07

I tore badly with 1st, and therefore had to have consultant care with 2nd, so no water allowed. I ended up with forceps and another tear, and really wish I’d had a CS with my second. Kids are teens now, and I have problems with incontinence issues and need to have further surgery. Ask them to give you all the options.

Bigpizzalover · 25/10/2023 11:41

I tore with my 1st, had a water birth with my 2nd - not even a graze and she was 2lbs bigger than my first.

I also had to have growth scans as my first was tiny at 5lb 13oz, they estimated my 2nd to be around 6 and a half pounds and she came out at 8lb 1 so they aren’t reliable in my experience

WhenRobinsAreNear · 25/10/2023 12:12

If it helps @GoingToInfinity my third degree tear healed way better than my episiotomy did.
They like to apply pressure to your previous tear when you give birth again. I don't see any reason why that can't be done in a birthing pool though ☺️ good luck with your appointment

prettycandles · 25/10/2023 12:37

Not quite the same because I had a 2nd degree tear.

1st birth: on my back on a bed, 2nd degree tear internal and external.

2nd birth: on my side on a bed, 2nd degree tear along the scar, though not as long.

3rd birth: in water. No tear, just a graze. Very large baby, easiest birth.

Heatherbell1978 · 25/10/2023 12:49

I had a 2nd degree tear with my first after he was born the wrong way round but head first - I forget the term for it but it was a tough birth. DD was born in about 5 seconds in the water. No tears!

PickledScrump · 25/10/2023 13:42

With my first I had a second degree tear but they weren’t sure if it was a third degree to start with. It didn’t heal particularly well either. My second I had the most amazing water birth, she came out very quickly and I had no tearing at all, just a small graze and I felt absolutely fine after a few days

Codlingmoths · 25/10/2023 13:45

I’d be really wary , because they can’t see /handle as well with you down under water. As I was really paranoid about saying they had to support the perineum, have warm compresses etc for my following births, so I wouldn’t have wanted anything that compromised that. And certainly my 3rd birth rhat i didn’t even have a graze from my wonderful obstetrician was right in it down there supporting everything.

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