Is tearing 2nd time around a given?

LittleBug wrote:

It really depends on what kind of labour you have and what position that the baby is, how fast he/she comes, etc. so every birth is different, just like every baby.


I agree with this also.

#1, i tore and needed stitches, 3690g, 35cm head - birthed on back
#2, no stitches, 3890g, 36cm head, birthed on side and she came out with the waters
#3, e-csection, 4250g
and #4, no stitches, 3780g, 35cm head - birthed kneeling on back of bed

Wow Mum2Keira, congrats! Sorry about your terrible birth experience first time round though

Emmecat.... your Dec thread is up and running!

Kellz wrote: My midwife said the latest info is that you are more likely to tear with a water birth, which I had thought was the opposite.

Wow, that's interesting Kellz.  I had a water birth last week and got a 2nd degree tear in the same place as the 3rd degree tear I got when DS was born, which surprised me.  Strangely, I didn't feel the 3rd degree tear happen (but was concentrating on pushing DS out asap as his heart rate had dropped too low), but did find it more painful during the pushing stage of DD's water birth, even though that was more "controlled" and not rushed .

In the end I was just grateful that the tear at DD's birth (she was 3.42kg) wasn't as bad or worse than the one I got at DS's birth (he was 3.09kg).

Here's a bit of humour for you Emmecat - when I was lying on our bed waiting to be stitched up last week my MW handed me two combs and asked me to hold them in my hands and press them into my palm several times to counteract the pain (accupressure).  I stupidly freaked out for a moment and asked "This isn't the part where you tell me you're into natural stitching without anaesthetic is it?"  - she is a pretty staunch homebirth MW.  She laughed and reassured me, no, it was just to help me while she adminstered the anaesthetic as it can be a bit ouchy  .

I tore quite badly with my first. I actually tore twice so needed lots of stitches. The internal tear was the worst. There were a few things that probably contributed to the tearing. Big baby (9lb 11oz), epidural which meant i was on my back, ventouse, and he came out with his hand beside his face. I lost 2 litres of blood too. So wasn't a very pleasant experience.

My 2nd birth was MUCH better. A much smaller baby too at 8lb 1oz. I only had a couple of grazes with her. Her birth started out much the same as my first. Had to be induced due to labour not progressing after my waters broke. So i was SO worried things would turn out bad again. WAY faster labour this time and only 15mins pushing. I just used the gas that time. I ended up giving birth on my back again as i was in too much pain to change positions. lol.

Recovery was so much faster. It's just a shame i had problems with bleeding for 10 weeks after her birth!!

I agree DebandKaelen, very reassuring!! Not a good first birth experience, but luckily a smoother 2nd birth!

I hope I have one of those orgasmic births, like they documented on 60 minutes

Oh yay this gives me some hope!

With Daniel I had an episotomy cause he was posterior and after an hour and half pushing he just couldn't come out and everyone was saying I was a good pusher lol.

With Jared I didn't even have a graze even though him, my waters and placenta all came out at once .

I don't really want an episotomy again, I'm really surprised I didn't tear with Daniel as I was pushing hard out for a long time.

For DD I had a second degree tear and a few grazes . I delivered on my back on the bed , she came out with her hand by her face. I had quite a few stitches and could still see the scar. She was 3.25 kg and head was 34 cm

12 weeks ago I had a waterbirth @ home. One tiny tear that needed nothing and his head was 36 cm he was 3.96 kg.

I think the position you deliver in has a lot to do with how much you tear.