Did you tear again?

Question for those of you who've had two or more vaginal births and 3rd degree tears......did you tear again when giving birth to subsequent babies?  If so, did it result in lasting damage?

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first birth, surgeon was called in to stitch me up, and have had no problems, healed well etc.

Edited by kakapo

I had a second degree tear with both my births, but in different places. I was told by several different midwives that a tear second time around isn't very common, but I think I'm in too much of a hurry to push the baby out to make.the.pain.STOP and I don't give myself enough time to stretch. My theory anyway!

Hi Kimber! Nice to see you around these boards

The degrees - as it gets higher, it's a worse type of tear (bigger). So 2nd is bigger than 1st, 3rd bigger than 2nd etc (as I understand it).

As I said in the other thread, I had a 3rd degree tear and (TMI coming up sorry) on my notes it says the perineum was 'shattered' . Thankfully they did a great job in surgery and I haven't had too many lasting implications.

On my follow-up checkup however, the gynae lady said that her recommendation for next time would be an elective c-section because of the extent of damage done. Because apparently there's about a 1 in 4 chance of me tearing again and worse damage being done (ie incontinence of the back passage.. sorry TMI again).

But this is what she said from the checkup and from looking at my notes, looking at why I tore etc. So I'm sure it's different case by case.

If I wanted to I could have a vaginal birth again, but they don't recommend it...... and I don't want to run the risk of being incontinent for 6 months before having surgery to fix it (how humiliating.. and with a newborn and older kid to look after too). At first I was really upset about it cos it was a shock (I'd never even considered about 'next time', hadn't even thought about it) especially cos Harry's birth was drug-free and such an amazing experience. But I've come to terms with it and I think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

But I don't think this is really the way it goes for everyone, don't want to freak you out


edited for typos

Edited by arohanui

I was wondering the same as i had to be cut quite a lot for the obs to get his hand in there and find joshuas other foot (silly mixed up male not asking for directions on how to come out of me) Ive been wondering if i will need to be cut again or if it should just stretch like normal

I had a 3rd degree tear with Ethan (Was in too much of a hurry to GET HIM OUT! LOL)

This time I did tear, along the same spot as last time, but it wasn't as bad and I healed much better this time. I reckon those 5W tablets had something to do with it, the healing faster that is :)

When the midwife read my original notes from Ethans birth, she was pushing for an elective c-section...

My friend had 3rd degree tears with both her children, 9 years difference. They (med prof's) are pushing for a c-sect next time.

Stacey - I didn't have an episiotomy but tore and its still the most sensitive part too. Weird aye?

Fingers crossed it all just stretches so its OK for all of us though!

Liz - ouch I remember you saying about the shattering. It's good though that they're looking out for you for next time.

Hiya Mazz

My 3rd degree tear was pretty nasty, I was in theatre for around 3/4 hour while they fixed me up. Noone told me I'd have to have an elective ceaser thank goodness, but then I went straight to a homebirth midwife when pregnant with my second and never went anywhere near an obstetrician or a hospital anyway :D A plunket nurse after the fact said "I'm surprized they let you homebirth after a 3rd degree tear" which I thought was pretty funny. I wonder who 'they' are ;)

no i didn't tear 2nd time, actually it was soo much easier. And to think the week before I was howling in the OB's office, begging them for a c sect as my tears had been so painful and it took a long time to get over it (emotionally)