Third/ fourth degree tears

Mumofonexo · 2025-07-16T20:43:39+00:00

So I’m a month off being 2 years pp. I’ve just had a repeat scan following a 3b tear. Apparently my internal sphincter is still complete. The external sphincter is apparently complete but has allot of scaring/ scar tissue holding it together. I was told to have a c section for any future pregnancies and to leave it another 1/2 years as I’m still healing? Has anyone else been given this advice and had a similar diagnosis. TiaX

Moveoverdarlin · 16/07/2025 21:45

I had a 3b tear. It was bloody agony for a good year. It got infected a lot. Three years after I had another baby via c section. I could not have coped with that again.

Original poster

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 21:56

Moveoverdarlin · 16/07/2025 21:45

I had a 3b tear. It was bloody agony for a good year. It got infected a lot. Three years after I had another baby via c section. I could not have coped with that again.

Honestly it’s awful isn’t it! Same I think it took me a good year to feel ok again.
did you get recommended a c section or did the leave it up to you?

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Moveoverdarlin · 16/07/2025 22:28

They recommended it. I was quite unsure at first but honestly it was a completely different experience. The natural birth was long, painful, traumatic and I genuinely couldn’t sit down properly for about four months. I sat on a pillow to drive for about six months. When I had a c section it was just so different, far more serene and calm. The recovery from a c section was much easier than with the tear. With the c section scar I just looked after the wound, wore big knickers and leggings and it was just tucked away nicely. Whereas with the tear it was impossible to keep clean, they gave me laxatives so as not to damage the tear from pushing, but it was just hideous, I had diarrhoea for months.

Littleguggi · 16/07/2025 22:41

I had a 3b tear and was advised a csection for future labours which i opted for when the time came 2.5 years or so later, not worth risking further damage and long term consequences.

Original poster

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 22:42

Moveoverdarlin · 16/07/2025 22:28

They recommended it. I was quite unsure at first but honestly it was a completely different experience. The natural birth was long, painful, traumatic and I genuinely couldn’t sit down properly for about four months. I sat on a pillow to drive for about six months. When I had a c section it was just so different, far more serene and calm. The recovery from a c section was much easier than with the tear. With the c section scar I just looked after the wound, wore big knickers and leggings and it was just tucked away nicely. Whereas with the tear it was impossible to keep clean, they gave me laxatives so as not to damage the tear from pushing, but it was just hideous, I had diarrhoea for months.

Honestly so reassuring to hear that. I couldn’t imagine going through the pain of a tear again. Yes i agree the tear was a nightmare to clean and mine kept getting infected 🥲 it didn’t matter how many times i seemed to shower.

can I ask did you suffer with any incontinence while pregnant? I was warned it might happen in the third trimester and as baby gets bigger

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Original poster

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 22:43

Littleguggi · 16/07/2025 22:41

I had a 3b tear and was advised a csection for future labours which i opted for when the time came 2.5 years or so later, not worth risking further damage and long term consequences.

I completely get that. How was your c section experience and did you experience any issues because of the tear during pregnancy?

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BBQBertha · 16/07/2025 22:46

Also had a 3b and a c section for the next one. Honestly? The c section was a walk in the park by comparison to the so-called natural but actually very painful assisted birth I had first time round. Stitches need to be where you can see them!

Littleguggi · 16/07/2025 22:49

Csection recovery was far easier than the vaginal one! Really straightforward, no complications. I do however feel my pelvic floor has weakened over time, maybe a combination of the 3b, 2 pregnancies and age, plus I used to do a lot of running/ weights, still do weights mind you! I've had a couple of incidents of incontinence which have been scary, but as long as I remember to do pelvic floor exercises I'm fine!

Original poster

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 22:50

BBQBertha · 16/07/2025 22:46

Also had a 3b and a c section for the next one. Honestly? The c section was a walk in the park by comparison to the so-called natural but actually very painful assisted birth I had first time round. Stitches need to be where you can see them!

Thank you for sharing. I’m dead set on a c section but it’s just nice to hear how positive it can be compared to a traumatic vaginal birth.

was your pregnancy after your tear harder? The doctor mentioned possibly incontinence in the later stages

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Original poster

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 22:52

Littleguggi · 16/07/2025 22:49

Csection recovery was far easier than the vaginal one! Really straightforward, no complications. I do however feel my pelvic floor has weakened over time, maybe a combination of the 3b, 2 pregnancies and age, plus I used to do a lot of running/ weights, still do weights mind you! I've had a couple of incidents of incontinence which have been scary, but as long as I remember to do pelvic floor exercises I'm fine!

I’m really sorry to hear that! I had some issues at the start but thankfully have recovered. Think I’m going to work on my pelvic floor more before thinking about baby no 2 and try and keep on top of it afterwards. Thank you for the advice x

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Littleguggi · 16/07/2025 22:55

Definitely ask to see a womens health physio if you haven't already for advice around pelvic floor exercises. The NHS squeezy app is a good resource also!

Original poster

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 23:00

Littleguggi · 16/07/2025 22:55

Definitely ask to see a womens health physio if you haven't already for advice around pelvic floor exercises. The NHS squeezy app is a good resource also!

Thank you 🩷 I’m going to ask if they take you back on while pregnant after a third degree tear as I’ve been discharged now.

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BBQBertha · 16/07/2025 23:00

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 22:50

Thank you for sharing. I’m dead set on a c section but it’s just nice to hear how positive it can be compared to a traumatic vaginal birth.

was your pregnancy after your tear harder? The doctor mentioned possibly incontinence in the later stages

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It was but weirdly not because of continence, more I was more tired and the baby rested on my sciatic nerve for a lot of the time, so I had a limp for a while 😩 It was actually really hard to walk. You will get better with time, please believe that.

Original poster

Mumofonexo · 16/07/2025 23:03

BBQBertha · 16/07/2025 23:00

It was but weirdly not because of continence, more I was more tired and the baby rested on my sciatic nerve for a lot of the time, so I had a limp for a while 😩 It was actually really hard to walk. You will get better with time, please believe that.

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Oh bless you that doesn’t sound nice 😢

thank you 🩷 I’m trying to stay positive and not let this spoil our chances of another baby. Definitely going to start looking after my pelvic floor better in the meantime.

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HappyHL · 16/07/2025 23:16

I had a 3rd degree tear with second birth but all healed OK (I was done up well under GA as had lost a lot of blood). They said any future births shd be C-section. Had a further child via Cesarean — all went well.

HappyHL · 16/07/2025 23:23

Worth adding that as I came round from GA after tear surgery from birth 2, two docs scared me by telling me I’d be incontinent both sides unless I did my PF exercises religiously (which I haven’t!). I wasn’t incontinent at all with pregnancy 3, but I was constantly preemptively going to the loo, and I have not had problems with leaking since (this was all over 12 yrs ago) but I was fairly young for that (tear) birth 2 (30 yrs old) and I think my PF might have healed well. I know friends who’ve had less traumatic births who can’t run bc of leaking. It’s all so dependent on so many factors.
Don’t let it put you off! There are always things that can be done (yes, perhaps within limits) and childbirth never seems simple but it’s certainly worth it in the long run. Good luck! X

Original poster

Mumofonexo · 17/07/2025 11:53

HappyHL · 16/07/2025 23:23

Worth adding that as I came round from GA after tear surgery from birth 2, two docs scared me by telling me I’d be incontinent both sides unless I did my PF exercises religiously (which I haven’t!). I wasn’t incontinent at all with pregnancy 3, but I was constantly preemptively going to the loo, and I have not had problems with leaking since (this was all over 12 yrs ago) but I was fairly young for that (tear) birth 2 (30 yrs old) and I think my PF might have healed well. I know friends who’ve had less traumatic births who can’t run bc of leaking. It’s all so dependent on so many factors.
Don’t let it put you off! There are always things that can be done (yes, perhaps within limits) and childbirth never seems simple but it’s certainly worth it in the long run. Good luck! X

Omg I’m so sorry they told you that! That must of been absolutely awful to hear.

I’m trying to keep on top of pelvic floor exercises but between working and having a toddler it’s not always possible. I’m so pleased you haven’t had major issues.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I know my mum didn’t have a traumatic birth or tearing after 3 kids but still couldn’t do star jumps or run without leaking.

Much love x

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