If you tore with your first labour.. did you then tear again with your subsequent labours?
Just want to be prepared, found the healing process very painful, both physically and mentally last time with ds (I was terrified to poo.. for weeks) so just want to be ready if its more likely now to happen x x x

hiya
my first was a breech forceps and i had a rather nasty and large episiotomy. i still tore tho into my anus (tmi). With my 2nd I only grazed as he came flying out soooo fast. My 3rd I needed one teeny stitch and my 4th I needed quite a few but he was 9lb 4 oz. Last was a section.

d x

I'm worried about this too. I had a grade C third degree tear through to my anus too like dee dee. My consultant did say to me that depending on the size of my next baby from scans they might offer me a C-Section, but If it was something I really wanted then I wouldnt be refused. I would love to deliver vaginally again (less recovery) but am petrified of tearing open again. Sorry not got much advice, but just wanted to let you know your not the only one who is worried.

E x

Hi, I've only had one baby (so far!), and I had to have a cut and stitches. It got me talking to my grandma about it and she had to have stitches with all 3 of her children.
xxx

i was really lucky,the first pregnancy i did have a tear but not big enough for stitches,my second pregnancy (twins) i cant remember if i had a tear or not but they used forceps and i didnt need stitches

I tore with my ds1, he was a ventouse delivery, had to have quite a few stictches. Second time round though I had no stitches at all, and he was a bit bigger. I think like dee dee 2nd one came out faster, body knew what it was doing! But I also had no drugs, so I was a bit more in control of pushing etc, as ds1 I had an epidural.
hth
xx

im sorry to sound smug but i didnt need stitches with either my two, i hope i dont have huge lady bits! hahaha

Hi i had 3 small skin tears with dd1 and omg they felt soooo sore-i was offered stiching but refused as it felt sore enough!!
with dd2 i got a muscle tear which i was told would definatly need stiching-again i refused (i done ALOT of research for myslef involving stiching which i would recommend) and i healed fairly quickly and it was not as sore as it felt with dd1. i wouldnt recommend everyone says no to stiches-i did have to be seen by at least 2 midwifes before they agreed not to stich me-but i think everyone should be given all the info regarding stiches.
also dont be afraid to poo-i took a senna tablet 2 nights after having both of mine and i believe it really helped x

Wannababy - I refused to be stitched too, but the doctor looked at me like I had gone mad, before explaining exactly what the damage was. I went through the whole labour and delivery without any form of pain relief refused gas and air and then ended up having a bloody epidural!!

I was given Fibogel to help poo and the first time I went I was dreading it but it never hurt.

E x

I had a 2nd deg tear with my first but just a small graze (no stitches) with my second 15 months later. I didn't have an epidural with my second so felt more in control of the whole thing, especially the pushing stage, and I think being able to feel everything helped know when to bear down and when to ease off. That and listening to mw's instructions to the letter.

Hi,
With DD1 I had a natural waterbirth which was lovely but she came out in a bit of a whoosh, lifted her elbow and left me with a 3rd degree tear which was stitched up in theatre. She was 8lb 9oz.

I was offered a C-section for my 2nd baby but I said I'd prefer a natural delivery again. DS1 arrived pretty quickly after a 3hr 45 min labour and only took 7 mins to push all 9lb 10oz out!! I put in my notes very clearly that I'd had a previous 3rd degree tear and wanted plenty of guidance and support from the midwives at the pushing stage. They were fab and I ended up with just a small 2nd degree tear that was sewn up with a few stitches. A much better experience.

Also, my advice would be not to 'switch off' (if that's possible in labour!) after the head has come out. Both my tears happened after the head had birthed in a controlled manner. I think I got a bit complacent at the thought that it was nearly all over and got caught by the elbow first time, and shoulders second.

MM

Hi, I had a 2nd degree tear with my first - which was awful and took a long time to heal.

With second and third - I still tore, I think 2nd degree for both, but for some reason the healing process was much quicker and easier. DOn't know why that should be, but it was - possibly the tear from ds1 was that much worse - had mild shoulder dystocia and he got v stuck.

Be sure to ask your midwife in the hospital about the tearing - and then listen to her when she says not to push. I never managed this - I pushed anyway and hang the consequences!

x

lol no2bumo we'll just call yuo wide girl!!! my friend has had 3 with not a stitch in sight!!

with ds1 had forceps and quite a 'large' is that the right word episiotomy with ds2 had another episiotomy but not as big or no where near as bad xx

I'm same as no2bump i got away with just grazing with dd1 and nothing with the twins and one was delivered breach.....my mother effectionalty calls me "slack ally sally!!"

i think it depends on how stretchy or swollen ur bits get in PG, i found mine with the twins very swollen resulting a few stretch marks with i think helped things.
xx

I had third degree tearing, both internally and externally, with my first as she had her hands by her sides during delivery! I am the same petrified of giving birth again - not because of the tearing, but the stitches! My god they were painful!! And the clostomy (Sp?) bag is not a good look!!!
xx

I had 2nd deg tear with ds1, had only gas and air, straight forward birth at 37 weeks and 8lb 2oz baby. the stitches for me were worse than the labour! I Od'd on gas and air!!!

I had gorgeous pool birth with my second son. He was born at 40+4 and was 10lb 1oz. I had another 2nd deg tear as well as a retained placenta (as it was soooo big!). It was removed manually tmi and stitched up in theatre. However my stitches took ages to heal. Ds2 is 1 on 1st Oct and me and hubby have not had sex yet and I've had to see a gyne.... (sorry tmi!). Bloddy 10lb babies!!! lol

xxx

i was cut with my first , and had stitches , 2nd just a lil graze hun xx

pmsl no2bump, i got away lightly too with no tears or stitches! i didnt do any massaging or anything, not even pelic floors! (woops!) AND she came out head and hand first - my god i must have a bucket! LOL

hahaha @ slack ally sally! how affectionate of your mother!

I did tear with both, and my notes say second degree for both - but they were very different experiences. With my first I was very sore down below, felt like I'd been kicked by a horse, struggled to sit and felt like I wasn't walking properly for about 2 weeks, and it was a couple of months before I felt 'normal' down below. With my second the midwife asked for a second opinion on whether I needed stitching or not, so it can't have been too bad, although the stitching itself seemed to take a while - but I felt fine afterwards, was sitting cross-legged on the bed after a couple of hours when it took me a couple of weeks to do that the first time, no trouble walking or sitting and felt 'normal' within a few days.

I also know friends who've torn/needed episiotomy the first time and not the second time - it isn't a given.

im sorry to sound smug but i didnt need stitches with either my two, i hope i dont have huge lady bits! hahaha

ha ha that made me laugh.

I tore and needed stitches with my first but nothing with no.2