2+ moms: Tearing during delivery question

tebaa8

I am just about to have my second DC. With DD1 I had a third degree tear. I am wondering if other moms who tore the first time, tore the second time. Was it worse, the same, less severe? I ask because I am already feeling a bit of pressure on my scar tissue and it's been making me think about if my recovery will be worse this time. TIA

AgrippaRidesAgain

I had a 4th degree episiotomy the first time.  I was told that it was likely that I'd tear along the same line this time, so I was expecting the worst.  I ended up tearing just a tiny bit--I needed 3 stitches total. Recovery was a breeze compared with last time!  I needed ice ONCE.  

CherryStarburst

This was my second vaginal delivery and while i don't remember the specifics of my tear with my first I do reemember that it was bad and hurt like the dickens.  I hardly tore at all this time, and it was all pretty much just on the outside.  I only needed like 3 stiches and the recovery was a lot easier.  GL to you.

tebaa8

Thanks Ladies- This sounds promising. Hopefully the same will go for me!

TexasLadyBug

With DS (Baby one) who was 9 pounds I had a 2 degree tear on the inside and a 3 on the out.

With DD (baby two) who was 8 pounds I had no tearing. 

CEO1197

I tore with DD, but they never told me to what degree or how many stitches. I didn't have the courage to look.  I tore upwards, too, rather than down.  I had a bigger baby the second time around, less time pushing and I did not tear.  And my recovery was SOOOO MUCH EASIER.  Seriously, I could not believe the difference. 

Carilyn

I had a 2nd degree episiotomy with DS and a 2nd degree tear with DD (I'm guessing the same spot as my epi the first time).  For some reason I was a little more swollen after DD than DS, otherwise recovery of the lady bits was about the same.

cari12

I tore with my first and needed stitches, with my 2nd I tore again in the same spot but it was just a little laceration and didn't require stitches and healed within a few days.

uhlerj

I had a 3rd degree with 1st, and a long recovery period. I only had a 2nd degree tear with 2nd, and felt very little pain. In fact, walking around with no pain the very next day. MUCH better recovery the second time around. And I was VERY worried.