Chances of tearing again with 2nd baby?

[Shanivy]

So this just popped into my head.

With my 1st I tore pushing her out and had to have stitches. To this day I couldn't tell you how many I had.

I had a water birth & struggled pushed for two hours making no progress. In the end she was in distress, I had to basically get her out asap and felt myself tear when her head came out.

But just curious, do the chances of tearing with a second baby increase if its happened before? Because of previous scaring or anything like that?

 

[candymycandy]

Every birth is different so I don’t think your chances are necessarily increased because of your first experience. Sounds like you maybe tore if she eventually came out really quick?

I had a tear and episiotomy with my lb so have been wondering the same though and am hopeful to have a better time! Have you tried perineal massage? This is supposed to help in the last tri with preventing tearing x

 

[Shepherdess]

I had an episiotomy with my daughter and 2 years later I can tell the skin is tighter so I will definitely be doing massage as I'm terrified it'll rip. however, my friend had an episiotomy (a big one) with her first and then a tiny graze second time.

 

[Shanivy]

Every birth is different so I don’t think your chances are necessarily increased because of your first experience. Sounds like you maybe tore if she eventually came out really quick?

I had a tear and episiotomy with my lb so have been wondering the same though and am hopeful to have a better time! Have you tried perineal massage? This is supposed to help in the last tri with preventing tearing x

Yes thats exactly what happened, I told the midwives "I've torn" because I knew away, that one second was worse than the whole labour.

No I did hear about it last time but didn't feel like doing it. I will be trying it this time though! Oh I hope we both have a better time of it! x

 

[Shanivy]

I had an episiotomy with my daughter and 2 years later I can tell the skin is tighter so I will definitely be doing massage as I'm terrified it'll rip. however, my friend had an episiotomy (a big one) with her first and then a tiny graze second time.

I'm actually really worried too. I can sort of still feel where I was stitched, almost 4 years later. And although it wasn't as bad as some women, I'm afraid it'll be worse this time. Agreed about the massage, I'm definitely trying it! x

 

[GingerKitty]

I had a 3rd degree tear with my son last year. I was given a checkup as an outpatient to check I had healed properly.

At that point, they told me that in any vaginal delivery, there was a 2% chance of my kind of tear happening and for me if I was to have another child, it would be a 7% chance. Because of this, I can elect to have a section next time if I want to. So there is an increased risk, but not very much increased.

 

[Shanivy]

Oh goodness how terrible for you. As if we don't go through enough giving birth! Good for you electing for a section, I would have to. Makes me feel like Im moaning about nothing when someone says they had a 3rd.

Thanks for the statistics, I think Im gonna do massage and hopefully I'll not do what I did last time with babys head coming out too quickly. x

 

[Elspeth]

I had an episiotomy which extended in to a tear with my first baby.
Didn't feel it at the time (thanks to epidural) but it was bloody agony for 2 weeks afterwards. I was taking pain killers for a good few weeks while it healed.

Second time around I had a natural delivery. Unfortunately my son was a big baby and to make things worse he had his hand up by his head. I took ages to push him out and I did tear a little bit in to the old episiotomy scar. I was given a choice of having stitches or not but opted to be stitched up. Healing was sooo much better. I didn't really take pain killers and within a few days I felt OK.

So basically second time around it was much better.

I have a friend who had a big first baby and had a 3rd degree tear. Her second flew out with not so much as a scratch.

Xx

 

[megsmeadow]

I had an episiotomy with my first due to forceps because his heart rate was dropping, and tore with my second because he came quite quickly. So i have scars each side, can't say it's bothered me too much.

 

[KHTW]

Even reading this now, 2 years after having dd sends chills down my spine! I had DD delivered with forceps after her shoulder got stuck (she turned out to be a big baby) and I tore quite badly. Recovery time was 3 months!! Ouch ouch ouch

I wonder whether they would consider my request for an elective C-Section this time? If not then I am NOT DELIVERING WITHOUT AN EPIDURAL

 

[Shanivy]

KHTW Ouch that makes ME shiver! I would certainly request it if you feel you don't want to risk another vaginal tear. Id like to think to midwives/doctors would take that into consideration for you!

C section recovery can be quite bad too though, I don't think Id fancy once of those. Even with stitches and my complications I remember being in nowhere near the pain as the crying (screaming) mums who'd had a section. I take my hat off to them xx

 

[Shanivy]

I had an episiotomy which extended in to a tear with my first baby.
Didn't feel it at the time (thanks to epidural) but it was bloody agony for 2 weeks afterwards. I was taking pain killers for a good few weeks while it healed.

Second time around I had a natural delivery. Unfortunately my son was a big baby and to make things worse he had his hand up by his head. I took ages to push him out and I did tear a little bit in to the old episiotomy scar. I was given a choice of having stitches or not but opted to be stitched up. Healing was sooo much better. I didn't really take pain killers and within a few days I felt OK.

So basically second time around it was much better.

I have a friend who had a big first baby and had a 3rd degree tear. Her second flew out with not so much as a scratch.

Xx

Ooh I didnt know you could opt to not be stitched? I was just shuffled to *that* room tbh. I was on gas and air being stitched . Yes its absolutely the tearing of the old scar I think that has me worried. Or that it will end up being worse because of the old scar.

 

[KHTW]

KHTW Ouch that makes ME shiver! I would certainly request it if you feel you don't want to risk another vaginal tear. Id like to think to midwives/doctors would take that into consideration for you!

C section recovery can be quite bad too though, I don't think Id fancy once of those. Even with stitches and my complications I remember being in nowhere near the pain as the crying (screaming) mums who'd had a section. I take my hat off to them xx

Yes... and there is that. Tbh I am not that serious about requesting a c-section but I must be re-assured that I can get epidural in time. I am seriously not giving birth without it! Nothing else worked on me last time x

 

[Shanivy]

KHTW Ouch that makes ME shiver! I would certainly request it if you feel you don't want to risk another vaginal tear. Id like to think to midwives/doctors would take that into consideration for you!

C section recovery can be quite bad too though, I don't think Id fancy once of those. Even with stitches and my complications I remember being in nowhere near the pain as the crying (screaming) mums who'd had a section. I take my hat off to them xx

Yes... and there is that. Tbh I am not that serious about requesting a c-section but I must be re-assured that I can get epidural in time. I am seriously not giving birth without it! Nothing else worked on me last time x

Oh really I thought you were. that's a shame What did you try? I love when they tell you take 2 paracetamol. It's like are you for real right now? Fking paracetamol?

I had gas and air when I got to hospital in the pool. It was okay. I did ask for an epidural but by the time I got the hospital I was 10 and pushing so that was that! X

 

[Hoping for no2]

KHTW Ouch that makes ME shiver! I would certainly request it if you feel you don't want to risk another vaginal tear. Id like to think to midwives/doctors would take that into consideration for you!

C section recovery can be quite bad too though, I don't think Id fancy once of those. Even with stitches and my complications I remember being in nowhere near the pain as the crying (screaming) mums who'd had a section. I take my hat off to them xx

I was on labour 24 hours and had forceps and an episiotomy 1st time and was in a lot of pain afterwards, it took me ages to recover. I had a section 2nd time and the whole experience was so much better. If it's elective it's a very calm experience and you are not completely knackered as you haven't gone through labour. I really didn't suffer that much with pain afterwards, I was up and about within a few days and we were on holiday after 2 weeks. My recovery from the episiotomy/forceps delivery was far, far worse.

I'm opting for another section this time, no contest for me.

 

[Shepherdess]

KHTW Ouch that makes ME shiver! I would certainly request it if you feel you don't want to risk another vaginal tear. Id like to think to midwives/doctors would take that into consideration for you!

C section recovery can be quite bad too though, I don't think Id fancy once of those. Even with stitches and my complications I remember being in nowhere near the pain as the crying (screaming) mums who'd had a section. I take my hat off to them xx

I was on labour 24 hours and had forceps and an episiotomy 1st time and was in a lot of pain afterwards, it took me ages to recover. I had a section 2nd time and the whole experience was so much better. If it's elective it's a very calm experience and you are not completely knackered as you haven't gone through labour. I really didn't suffer that much with pain afterwards, I was up and about within a few days and we were on holiday after 2 weeks. My recovery from the episiotomy/forceps delivery was far, far worse.

I'm opting for another section this time, no contest for me.

wow I've never heard anyone with that way of thinking. I've only known 3 people who have had both and all say the c-sec was way worse. just for to show we are all different. elective sounds way better mind than Labour then an emergency c-sec

 

[Shanivy]

KHTW Ouch that makes ME shiver! I would certainly request it if you feel you don't want to risk another vaginal tear. Id like to think to midwives/doctors would take that into consideration for you!

C section recovery can be quite bad too though, I don't think Id fancy once of those. Even with stitches and my complications I remember being in nowhere near the pain as the crying (screaming) mums who'd had a section. I take my hat off to them xx

I was on labour 24 hours and had forceps and an episiotomy 1st time and was in a lot of pain afterwards, it took me ages to recover. I had a section 2nd time and the whole experience was so much better. If it's elective it's a very calm experience and you are not completely knackered as you haven't gone through labour. I really didn't suffer that much with pain afterwards, I was up and about within a few days and we were on holiday after 2 weeks. My recovery from the episiotomy/forceps delivery was far, far worse.

I'm opting for another section this time, no contest for me.

Wow that's really interesting. I was completely put off from the women In the ward with me. They were literally sobbing because they couldn't get up to their babies or anything. It scared me big time for a section. More than tearing. But obviously you're experience was very different hun. I can kind of understand though, as your first labour sounds very traumatic x

 

[sexyamy2005]

I tore with my little girl and now at 28wks with my second, it’s something im genuinely concerned about, all my friends however having more than one have said your less likely as its more stretchy down there, lol

Im defo going to do the massage just to see if it makes a difference as i can still feel the unevenness of my scar, (mine was from when her heart rate tracker thingy was on top of her head and she turned before she came out, alltho I completely agree the stitches after are worse than giving birth (i only had gas and air throughout with a 8lb 4 girl)

Not got to th discussion stage with my midwife yet but im almost sure sections are not something i could elect for

 

[Shanivy]

I tore with my little girl and now at 28wks with my second, it’s something im genuinely concerned about, all my friends however having more than one have said your less likely as its more stretchy down there, lol

Im defo going to do the massage just to see if it makes a difference as i can still feel the unevenness of my scar, (mine was from when her heart rate tracker thingy was on top of her head and she turned before she came out, alltho I completely agree the stitches after are worse than giving birth (i only had gas and air throughout with a 8lb 4 girl)

Not got to th discussion stage with my midwife yet but im almost sure sections are not something i could elect for

Agreed its totally something bothering me, much more than labour. I didnt get to the hospital until I was pretty much pushing. But it was honestly better than the having stitches part. Lol "stretchy" is a word I thought Id want my vagina described as until now haha.

So tempted to get an epidural in the hope that it might help me go slower with the head and decrease the chance of tearing? I've heard that but I'm not sure if it actually helps. But I tore from pushing too quickly when baby was in distress.

Plus now Im not so sure I like the idea of epidural. My mums didnt kick in with me until I was born (we both have had quick labours) and she said she hated not feeling her legs and couldnt get up for a shower or anything for hours after I was born.

 

[GingerKitty]

Oh goodness how terrible for you. As if we don't go through enough giving birth! Good for you electing for a section, I would have to. Makes me feel like Im moaning about nothing when someone says they had a 3rd.

Thanks for the statistics, I think Im gonna do massage and hopefully I'll not do what I did last time with babys head coming out too quickly. x

Ha! I'm not even pregnant again yet! What I meant was I could choose to have a section if I wanted to. We are hoping to have another and if I do get pregnant again I think I will try to have a vaginal delivery - I figure that way I only have a chance of stitches, rather than definitely having them. But I do hope it doesn't happen again - I'll definitely be massaging!!!

I didn't have an epidural but I had to have a spinal for my repair. It was rubbish being numb, and weird not feeling like your legs belong to you. But I bet it would have been nice to lose the pain of the contractions!