Help - Expecting No 2 after 3rd degree tear with No 1!

[BexieID]

I am 12 weeks and am due on xmas day. My consultant on friday mentioned me having an elective section at 39 weeks. I'm overweight, BMI is 47, so have that against me. I need to way up the pros and cons off both, but wondered if anyone had any experience? My recovery from having Tom wasn't too bad really, was just a bit shaky for a few weeks after. Recovery from a section will mean I can't drive for 6 weeks, so no idea how i'll get Tom to nursery. Tom is 3.

I had a 3rd degree tear last time(no.3 due in 3weeks) I was told by obs I did not need a cs just because of this as I am not at any increased risk of it happening again.I was not keen to have cs as single mum with others to look after.
My notes just say to have a senior midwife or doc to manage second stage.
The midwife also said it could have happened if the baby had his hand up on face during delivery or chin sticking out.

Hello ladies, for whatever its worth, my lovely sister had NASTY tears with her first, she asked the dr sewing her up afterwards how many stitches she's needing and he just said "errr, how longs a peice of string"!! She had a very long and difficult labour and delivery too. BUT secind time round, her consultant was encouraging her to have elective section, and she refused, she went for the natural way and went into labour at 11.40 at night, and by 2am she had her dd and was supping a cup of tea, now problems, no complications and NO tears/cuts or anything else it doesnt always have to be the same everytime

I got 3rd degree tears after the birth of DS1. He had his arm/hand up by his shoulder. I healed really well and had no problems. I spent the whole of my 2nd pregnancy worrying about the birth and having worse problems. My consultant was very reassuring about trying a natural labour. Last monday I gave birth to DS2 in a birthing pool and only got a 2nd degree tear (where the original scar was) which I hardly know is there

Good luck with it all

A tear the first time doesnt necessarily mean a tear the second time. I had a large episiotomy which also tore the first time around. With DD - who was 1.5 pounds bigger and weighed nearly 9 pounds and didnt flex her chin (so biggest circumference coming out), I had the tiniest superficial tear to the scar - which I wouldnt have noticed and after a lot of debate the MW literally put two quick stitches in.

I spent a good part of the labour in a birthing pool and think it really helps to soften up the tissues.

Good luck with whatever you decide