Stitches second time round - anxious!

[KateK]

As labour draws near i'm getting increasingly anxious about what might happen to my scar tissue from baby 1 during delivery.. I had a very quick birth and she flew out in a few pushes but I was left with a 2nd degree tear, apparently mm away from being a 3rd (she even had to check my bum function to ensure it was intact!) I had stitches inside and out and was being 'worked on' for close to an hour. It was a horrendous experience, the midwife was newly qualified so it wasn't the best result and it is still painful in places now..

Any positive stories for ladies who tore first time around but not second? I'm concerned about psyching myself out and completely losing it during labour...

 

[JulyBug]

Ouch! - that sounds horrendous! And painful!!

Sorry I Can't help with your question as this will be my first but I couldn't read and run! This must have been one hell of an experience for you!

I'm trying not to psych myself out about labour - I'm kind of dreading it... !

xx

 

[Maud]

I tore both times, but it wasn't as bad second time (3rd then 2nd). Make sure it's in your notes so the MWs know to take extra special care x

 

[Rose83]

I had a forceps delivey with my first and tore internally as well as the episiotomy they gave me. First baby 8lbs 8. Second baby natural delivery 10lbs 1oz and the episiotomy scar stayed intact and I only tore a little bit inside and I have no idea if it was the same tear or not but I know it wasn't as bad x

 

[KateK]

That's so reassuring thank you ladies.. I intend on taking it really slowly at pushing stage and really listening to the midwife.. I caught her off guard first time round as she didn't even believe that I was ready to push so it was all a last minute scramble and she gave me no guidance at all.. Good idea Maud, it's in my birth plan but I know they often don't get looked at so i'll ensure it's in my notes too!!

I was in complete blissful ignorance going into labour JulyBug and I highly recommend it! Oftentimes the thinking is worse than the reality.. Should probably be taking my own advice there

 

[Rose83]

With both of mine I never even wrote a birth plan I just said to my midwife that I had no idea what I would be like with the pain so would never rule anything out and that I had no intention of coming up with some 'ideal' picture of what it would all look like. I think this was the best possible thing to have done. First baby my waters broke naturally at home at 6am with grade 3 (highest grade) meconium in them so I was told to come straight to hospital where they put me on a drip to regulate my contractions. I went til 1pm with no drugs then I finally said give me the gas and air and then when they inspected me and I was 2cm or something I was like 'Christ just give me the diamorphine' found that pretty crap. Baby was back to back too so all day they were hoping she would turn. Baby in distress all day, had to do the thing where they took blood from her head to measure her distress levels. Long story short I had an epidural which was topped up 3 times got to
11pm (17 hours of labour) and they said start pushing. Pushed for an hour, nothing happened so rushed to theatre and prepped for a c-section (given a spinal block) but they said they'd try forceps first and she came out with forceps. If I'd had a birth plan all planned I think I would have lost my shit and just panicked and probably been traumatised by the whole day. As it was I just put my trust in everyone to get things done.
So I did the same with my 2nd who was induced but also had grade 3 meconium and an epidural but it was a much more simple birth. I suppose ideally this time I would hope it would be similar to baby 2, I am a little terrified of it all happening too fast with baby 3 and not getting time for an epidural etc!

But anyway my advice is don't worry too much about it all - ultimately you just want that baby our safely and you won't care what's tearing or not when you're in the middle of it! X

 

[KateK]

Goodness Rose sounds like you did amazingly well to have avoided a c-sec..Must have been really scary for you. Hope things go smoothly for you this time around.. I do tend to agree re. birth plans, i'm very go with the flow so mine is very vague but a couple of things (like delayed cord clamping) I would prefer for them to take notice of.. They do tend to go straight out the window as soon as that first proper contraction hits - you're right, you just don't care as long as baby is safe. Eeek I just hope I don't 'feel' it tearing.. I'm sure the head coming out of my nether regions will be distraction enough x

 

[ams25]

Ventouse and a huge episiotomy with my first, dozens of stitches that took a good month to heal. I was also very nervous with my second and paranoid that the episiotomy scar would cause problems as I can still see and feel it 4 years on, but baby number 2 was born with no intervention and just a tiny first degree tear that only needed 2 stitches, I hardly noticed them they only took the MW 30 seconds to do and healed very quickly. I definitely think second time round tends to be easier on your body in slot of cases. Good luck Kate! Cx

 

[babyslog]

I had 2nd degree with my first! Was awful!

But had a very quick 7mins of pushing waterbirth with my 2nd baby. Zero tears and zero grazes!! Xxx

 

[KateK]

Fantastic - thank you so much ladies.. even if i'm not so fortunate i'm certainly in a better headspace about it!! Also hoping for a waterbirth babyslog, have heard the water in itself is soothing for the perineum.. fingers crossed! xxx

 

[babyslog]

Fantastic - thank you so much ladies.. even if i'm not so fortunate i'm certainly in a better headspace about it!! Also hoping for a waterbirth babyslog, have heard the water in itself is soothing for the perineum.. fingers crossed! xxx

Hope u get to have one hun!
I loved it! Xx

 

[Melly41]

Hi KateK I had 2nd degree tear too. It was very sore but was absolutely fine with baby number 2 and didn't tear at all. Hoping you're gonna be fine this time around. Good luck.

 

[Petit Pois]

Just wanted to say you're not alone in feeling anxious! I had an episiotomy first time round and although I don't have any issues with the scar now, I'm scared it might tear during labour
I might ask my midwife about it at next appointment.
These reassuring stories are very helpful though!