Hoping for positive birth stories after previous 3rd degree tear

[Sgj91]

Hi Ladies, I’m wondering if anyone has any positive stories of having a second vaginal birth after a 3rd degree tear.
I had a 3b tear in 2022 and it didn’t heal well. It’s left me with pelvic floor issues and painful sex, I’ve done 10 months of physio and had steroid injections etc but haven’t had much improvement. I’m pregnant again (by home insemination due to sex being too painful) and my midwife has suggested that another vaginal birth could fix these issues for me. I know it could go either way but I don’t feel it could really get much worse anyway so I’m thinking I’ll give it a try.
Reluctant to have a c section as I had a huge PPH shortly after giving birth and I’ve been advised that my chances of a PPH are increased with a section. I know all circumstances are different but I lost my mum to a haemorrhage so I really don’t want to increase my chances of another PPH.

Hoping to hear some positive stories if anyone has any to try to ease my anxiety 🤞🏻 xx

Hi OP, does your hospital offer any sort of assistance for birth injuries or trauma? I didn’t tear like you but I had a traumatic birth, PPH my episiotomy broke down taking months to heal. I’ve got support from a specialist obstetrician and midwife and what they’ve said regarding the PPH contradicts what you’ve been told when I asked about a section for my current pregnancy. Please as for a second opinion from the hospital, I found my community midwife wasn’t very supportive of a section but the hospital have been the opposite.

Just remembered it was an endoanal scan not vaginal. Sorry about that.

I had a third degree tear (b), and a large ppl with my first. The recovery was long and slow. I’m not completely right 7 years later. My second birth (3 years later) I opted for a section, I know you are reluctant and that’s completely your choice, and I understand your fears. I was never told I was at an increased risk of pph from a section, following my first birth. The staff were very understanding, and it felt the right decision for me.
As it goes during my section I did begin to lose more blood, but I didn’t know about this until afterwards when I’d been moved to recovery. It was all so calm, I wasn’t even aware it was happening. It was stopped extremely quickly, had it not been it would have been easier for them to try another way to stop the bleed, with me already being cut open. I felt relaxed and they knew just what to do, I felt totally safe, it was far less traumatic than my third degree tear for me.
I know you have to do what feels right for you but I just wanted to tell you how positive I found my elective after my first birth. I was up and walking around the next day, where as recovery was much Longer and harder after my third degree tear.
Good luck which ever way you go, you will be fine, your in safe hands.

PPH obvs, not PPL.

How did you fair out after your tear second time around? I've a section booked for next week but very reluctant about it. My head has been fried my whole pregnancy and not sure I can go through with it. Part of me knows i can do labour again. I had a 3c tear first time around but healed very well afterwards. To top things off c section has been brought forward a few days due to scheduling. I really just hoped I'd go myself before then but running out of days now. Very scared and it's just made the last few weeks stressful (purely brought on by myself)

I had a 4th degree tear with my first. Even though I've healed well and have had no other complications, the suggestion from all medical professionals has always been elective c-section. I think this was due to my own risk, but my daughters life was also severely at risk during the birth (emergency forceps caused the tear).

I had a ecs in 2023 for my second child and it was brilliant. I would have been so anxious etc. pushing that I don't think it would have been a good option.

Good luck!