5th Degree Tears *yikes*

Bonnie311

Well, sometimes it happends......but our angels are worth it

I was talking to a friend of mine that was sharing their birth story. I heard about his ex wifes experience and it just makes me clinch my vaj together thinking about it. 

Anyone experience this before? How was the recovery process? Any remedies to use?  *ya know, just in case......*

laurasuzanne2006

i don't actually believe there is such a thing as a 5th degree tear

Lissa832

I don't believe it goes to fifth degree. A fourth degree is hole to hole. I had a third degree tear with DS. It took 9 weeks for my stitches to heal, six months before it didn't hurt to sit, and a year before sex became enjoyable again. There wasn't anything I could do except wait it out. Im scheduled to have a c/s in 13 days due to the issues I had after DS's delivery.

Geekchick921

What the hell is a 5th degree tear?  Vagina to anus plus some forward tearing of the vagina?

... 

I just scared the everliving piss out of myself. 

justrachet

It's hell. My primary advice is to not worry about this in advance because it's rare, and also, don't read my story if you're prone to worry. That said...

I had a 4th degree, which was a result of pulling out my baby in a hurry with forceps to save his life. Knowing that what I was going through prevented my son from dying during delivery made it bearable. I had 2 long internal tears from the forceps and tore through my rectum. I have some nerve damage that could be permanent. I think that my tearing was unusually rough, even for a 4th degree, because I've talked to some others with severe damage who had an easier recovery than me.

In the beginning, I took lots and lots of Rx pain meds, which could be the reason my milk never really came in, but I needed the meds. With a full dose of Darvocet and 800 mg of ibuprofen, my pain was about a 3 to 4 on a 1-10 scale. I used Dermaplast spray and Tuks pads. I sat on an ice pack constantly the first weeks, then just in the evenings for about 3 or 4 months, and followed that up with sitting in a very hot bathtub. 

I saw a specialist at 8 weeks pp, and had a rectal u/s, to check and see that my muscles had grown back together. They had, but were very thin. He told me that he was surprised that I was only incontinent with gas and liquid. He didn't think that my muscles were in good enough shape to control BMs. He referred me to pelvic floor physical therapy. He also told me that I should not deliver vaginally again unless I've had 4 or 5 years to get my muscle tone back. Any more damage to my pelvic floor right now, and I could be permanently incontinent. (This is why I have a scheduled c/s.)

The physical therapy was the best remedy for me. She is the only pelvic floor physical therapist in the area and is booked 6-8 weeks out, so I had to wait for my sessions. I was in pain every day for 4 months after DS1 was born. My first pain free day was the day after my second session. And after my third session, I was able to start working on building my muscles back (she didn't want me doing Kegels until we'd addressed the pain issue), and the incontinence got better, but was not quite cured when I got pregnant again (DS1 was 11 months old). I pee myself when pregnant anyway, so it's hard to judge how much I've recovered. I still have pain in my main scar occasionally - it was the first couple days of my period and any time I wore a thong. Now that I'm pregnant, the pain is almost daily, which I blame on the swelling and pressure down there.

Mereou12

Ditto PPs -- it just goes up to 4th degree. I dont' even want to think about what a 5th degree tear would entail!

I had an extensive 2nd degree tear. Certainly not as bad as they come, but I had a rough recovery. I still wasn't fully healed by my 6 week PP checkup. Our first attempt at sex was around 8 weeks PP, and it was horrible. The only reason we even tried was because DH was getting ready to leave for a deployment and we couldn't not have sex! Even when he returned 5 months later, it was still pretty painful, but eventually got better.

Remedies that I used immediately PP included sitz baths (2-3 daily), use of the peri bottle for weeks (I don't think I used TP until 6ish weeks), ice packs, and LOTS of Motrin.

 

sarahscooty

Oh Dear Lord!

babyAutumn

I had what they termed "fourth degree tearing" with my first.  I had about 12 stitches inside and 14 outside.  It was no picnic.  I took a lot of sitz baths, sat on a doughnut and basically kept ice packs made out of frozen peas in that area for a 2 week stretch.  Luckily, I didn't have the same thing with DS and hoping that it doesn't happen this time around either.

sraexx

Geekchick921:

What the hell is a 5th degree tear?  Vagina to anus plus some forward tearing of the vagina?

... 

I just scared the everliving piss out of myself. 

Was thinking the same, what IS that from Belly Button to Small of back? 

mabma80

I've never heard of a 5th degree tear.  I know there is one, two and three degrees (which is the worst).  I had a 2nd degree tear and took a good month to heal.  I had to clean it everytime I went to the bathroom with a squirt bottle and then an ice pack.  They also gave me some moist pads and some ointment of some kind.  Can't really remember cause it only happened with DS1, five years ago.

heateacher

Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. Reading this, I am saying prayers of thanks for how lucky I am. Karen (my midwife) said my tear was just barely 2nd degree, and I know there are a few stitches, but Olivia is currently 5 days old and my only pain is uterine cramping. I'm hardly bleeding, just using a panty liner. Haven't used a Tucks pad since day 2. Doing Kegels just fine, leaking less and less urine, really healing beautifully. I feel almost guilty saying that here - but know, girls, that really easy recoveries happen too. Don't be afraid! 

Jo&Matt6609

justrachet:

It's hell. My primary advice is to not worry about this in advance because it's rare, and also, don't read my story if you're prone to worry. That said...

I had a 4th degree, which was a result of pulling out my baby in a hurry with forceps to save his life. Knowing that what I was going through prevented my son from dying during delivery made it bearable. I had 2 long internal tears from the forceps and tore through my rectum. I have some nerve damage that could be permanent. I think that my tearing was unusually rough, even for a 4th degree, because I've talked to some others with severe damage who had an easier recovery than me.

In the beginning, I took lots and lots of Rx pain meds, which could be the reason my milk never really came in, but I needed the meds. With a full dose of Darvocet and 800 mg of ibuprofen, my pain was about a 3 to 4 on a 1-10 scale. I used Dermaplast spray and Tuks pads. I sat on an ice pack constantly the first weeks, then just in the evenings for about 3 or 4 months, and followed that up with sitting in a very hot bathtub. 

I saw a specialist at 8 weeks pp, and had a rectal u/s, to check and see that my muscles had grown back together. They had, but were very thin. He told me that he was surprised that I was only incontinent with gas and liquid. He didn't think that my muscles were in good enough shape to control BMs. He referred me to pelvic floor physical therapy. He also told me that I should not deliver vaginally again unless I've had 4 or 5 years to get my muscle tone back. Any more damage to my pelvic floor right now, and I could be permanently incontinent. (This is why I have a scheduled c/s.)

The physical therapy was the best remedy for me. She is the only pelvic floor physical therapist in the area and is booked 6-8 weeks out, so I had to wait for my sessions. I was in pain every day for 4 months after DS1 was born. My first pain free day was the day after my second session. And after my third session, I was able to start working on building my muscles back (she didn't want me doing Kegels until we'd addressed the pain issue), and the incontinence got better, but was not quite cured when I got pregnant again (DS1 was 11 months old). I pee myself when pregnant anyway, so it's hard to judge how much I've recovered. I still have pain in my main scar occasionally - it was the first couple days of my period and any time I wore a thong. Now that I'm pregnant, the pain is almost daily, which I blame on the swelling and pressure down there.

Oh.My.Gosh.

I am so sorry you went through that. I truly am. I'm glad they're doing a c/s for you this time around, and not risking causing you anymore damage. 

Jo&Matt6609

I found this on BabyCenter..It looks like it only goes up to 4th degree tears..

https://www.babycenter.com/0_perineal-tears_1451354.bc?page=1 

Bonnie311

I'm a rah-tard ladies. I'm sorry..... it's been a rough day But I wont bore you with that. I meant to say FOURTH degree....oops!

But man, reading your story Justrachet, REALLY puts it in perspective for how things can really turn out. I'm not squeamish or worrisome, b/c I know it can happen to anyone- I just pray it wont be me of course! A Csection for you sounds like a breeze I'm hoping. Fingers crossed!

My friends ex wife had to have plastic surgery to repair her woman parts. Apparently when they stitched her up they didnt do it tight enough and she ended up having a loose piece of skin HANGING in between stitches. It caused severe nerve damage and her being uncomfortable for a long time She tore from hole to hole as a result of a VERY RAPID delivery.... basically in the parking lot!

I needed a measly 2 stitches with my daughter from "them pulling out the catheter"... not really sure how that happened but whatever....

Thanks for sharing your stories ladies! It looks like possible meds, ice packs, tucks pads, sitz baths, donut pillow etc is the answer! Hugs to all of you who had a rough time. IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT THOUGH!

heateacher

Jo&Matt6609:

justrachet:

Oh.My.Gosh.

I am so sorry you went through that. I truly am. I'm glad they're doing a c/s for you this time around, and not risking causing you anymore damage. 

Me too. You are amazing for being so matter of fact about it. Seriously, god bless you mama. 

justrachet

heateacher:

Jo&Matt6609:

justrachet:

Oh.My.Gosh.

I am so sorry you went through that. I truly am. I'm glad they're doing a c/s for you this time around, and not risking causing you anymore damage. 

Me too. You are amazing for being so matter of fact about it. Seriously, god bless you mama. 

Thanks, ladies.