Did anyone have a tear/epis they didn't heal from?

MaybeBabyTime

Thats my biggest fear. I am small framed (5'3" and 103 lbs) but I know it doesnt mean I have a small pelvis. I healed nicely from my section. I'm just afraid if I have a successful VBAC, I will have irreversible damage down there. I realize a c-section never comes without risks. 

Have all you successful vbac mommas healed okay?  

novilise

I'm sorry I'm not helpful...because I don't know. But I wanted to say that I have been feeling the exact same way. It almost becomes an obsession for me!

I am very scared of tearing and scared of shoulder dystocia for the baby. I do have a suspected small pelvis. I know it could be wrong and I know I could end up without any problems if I can VBAC. But I can't stop thinking about all the 'what ifs'! I know that c-sections have risks....that they have more risks of death for the mom and I keep trying to remind myself of that! 

But otherwise, yes, when I hear about tearing...it sounds so much worse than my recovery from the c-section. I already do tend to get terrible anal fissures and those are honestly one of the worst pains ever. The only thing worse was when my son was stuck in my pelvis.....and it was a totally different kind of pain. But every other pain has been less- some a lot less; some a little less-   abscessed tooth, c-section recovery, broken bones...anything that I can think of has been less pain than the anal fissures and it sounds like that pain is similar to the bad tears...especially, since the really bad ones include that area! 

I think we have to focus on the fact that a c-section does have more deadly risks for us, though, even if those are rare, too. I admit that I am finding it hard, too, and I am always so conflicted! Wish I could see the future! 

lorryfach

I am 5'2" but overweight. I had first degree tears and was sore for a few days but I healed just fine. It was 10000000 times easier than my c/s recovery!

I admit, I was pretty nervous about this too. I think the first thing I said after DD came out was "how does it look down there?" My first DD was 7.5 pounds and they kept saying that my second was "way bigger than her sister!" (from feeling my bump? no ultrasounds) which did NOT put my mind at ease. She ended up being ONE OUNCE bigger.  Thanks for the unnecessary stress, guys! :P

It DID help ease my mind that they measured my pelvis during my c/s and it was 11" which is totally normal. I know position and all that can change the size a lot, but it's still nice to know that it's not small to begin with. 

nosoup4u

I'm 5'10', but my VBAC baby was just over 10.5 lbs, so a huge baby. I had a second-degree tear with him, but it still took only about 3 weeks to feel better, and I felt "normal" in about 6 weeks. I did have a lot of pelvis/hip pain, but I think that was more due to the fact that he was so freaking big, bc it didn't seem like other women I know w vaginal births had the same soreness.

Upright birthing positions go a long way in helping prevent tears!

MaybeBabyTime

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories with me!

byrne15

I had an episiotomy and a c-section.

My epi adhered to itself when it was healing.  We didnt even attempt sex until 12 weeks pp and only did it a handfull of times until about 8 months after.  It was very painful.

It took almost a full year to recover.  My OB was suggesting doing surgery to remove the scar tissue and basically re-do the epi.  Instead we went for the option of using a estrogen creme and seeing how it went.