Natural Birth and tearing

himymlover

So I've really wanted to have a natural birth, but I'm getting nervous. I think that I will be able to handle the contraction pains fine, but I'm worried about if I tear. I am planning on doing a water birth. What if they realize that I need to get out of the tub and have an episiotomy. I won't have any pain meds, so won't that be extremely painful? Also, even if I do stay in the water, won't tearing be horrible without pain meds? My SO's mother had a 4th degree tear when she had him, because he was so large and had a really big head.

Basically I am just wondering if any of you have experience with this. Did you either have an episiotomy or tear during natural birth? Did you even notice the extra pain at that point?  

tokenhoser

I had a third degree tear and didn't feel it. They gave me a local aesthetic to stitch it up. Episiotomies are extremely rare and generally only used if you need an assisted birth (forceps or vacuum).

I had to ask if I tore after DS was born. I seriously didn't know. 

You'll also be much less likely to tear or tear as severely in the water, or labouring and pushing in the position of your choice, than lying flat on your back "purple pushing" the way a nurse tells you to. 

Arielle27

I had an episiotomy and didn't even know until after. They said they would have to do one as the baby was 9 pounds, OP and with a nuchal hand, and just not coming out! But I didn't feel it and so thought that they hadn't done it.

meep13

I had to have an episiotomy with my first because his heart rate kept dropping and they needed to use forceps to get him out quickly...I had only been pushing for about 6 minutes..they gave me a local anesthetic before they did it and honestly I didn't even realize they gave me an episiotomy until after the fact....

barista411

I had an episiotomy and 4th degree tearing. My MW said it was one of the freakiest deliveries she has seen. I had a labial hematoma that basically ruptured extremely fast and they just wanted to get DD out so they could find out what was going on and get the surgeon in to look at it. With all that being said, I didn't even realize what was going on and as a FTM thought it was all part of it. They did give me local anesthetic for the episiotomy and then nubain to see me back up. I have been doing some research and discussing different option with my MW on how to avoid that this time. We have come up with the plan of starting perineal massage at 34 weeks, cold compresses during labor, possibly warm compresses and oil during crowning, as well as focusing on allowing my body to push baby out during crowning.

Even as crazy and extreme as my case was recovery wasn't the end of the world. I moved pretty slow for a couple weeks but had a beautiful healthy baby I cuddle with while I recovered.

erb82

From my experience: I had second degree tears with all three natural births and it was nowhere near as bad as it sounds. It sounds like torture before it happens, but in the middle if delivery I didn't even feel the tears happening with the first two. After the babies were born I got a local anesthetic and stitched up that was actually worse than the tearing itself. My recoveries were very quick in spite of the tears/stitches. At least the first two were I'm only 2 days postpartum with number 3 and I'm already feeling really good.

abell77

I have had two second degree tears and was not aware of it as it was happening, I had to ask the midwife after delivery if I tore.  Getting stitched up was not so fun, but they can give you local anasthetic for that and plus you have your baby at that point so it's a good distraction.  And they can give you meds after to help with any discomfort that are safe for breastfeeding.  In the rare case that you would "need" and episiotomy, I would think that they could at least give you a local anasthetic beforehand.  This is a very common and normal fear, but I would not let it deter you from your goal of a med free birth.  Good Luck.

himymlover

Thanks everyone, it does make me feel better and more sure of my decision to do a water birth. I am still nervous about getting sewn up, but hopefully the water birth will help to avoid tearing. If I do tear then hopefully I won't notice the stitches because of having him in my arms. Thanks again!

rooftop

I've talked with my midwife about tearing and she's not too worried about it happening since I'm having a waterbirth.  She said I might tear a little but not anywhere near whats expected if I was doing the typical hospital birth.

Pink724

I had a second degree tear and several lacerations. Not going to lie, the stitching up part sucked, but I didn't really feel the actual tears while pushing.

KateLouise

DD1 9lbs Needed 2 stitches. I didn't feel the actual tear, but while crowning did feel like I was going to tear badly (I went into it with a fear of tearing badly). I was given a shot of something while the MW stitched me. She held up the biggest needle in the world, but I didn't feel it go in or the stitches, and even though she held up the biggest needle in the world that she was about to jab into my genitals, I really didn't care. I was on such a high having delivered my beautiful baby girl.

DD2 10lbs 2 oz. No stitches needed.

I think a lot of it is luck in terms of how baby is positioned. But I also think not pushing baby out quickly, supporting the perineum and labouring in water all help. 

aylafsu88

I had a second degree internal tear.  My LO had a nuchal hand and my OB was massaging me to help reduce the tear.  Honestly, I did not feel the tear happening.  At the time there was so much going on and I was focused on pushing this baby out.  There tear was bigger than my OB thought so he ran into some areas that were not numb when he was stitching me  up. Those stitches hurt worse then my whole natural birth!

MrsP7309

I had a first degree tear. I have no idea where it was specifically... I couldn't feel it. My MW gave me a local anesthetic for stitches.

*LrCg*

I would ask your doctor/midwife how often their patients tear.  That was a concern for me when I was pregnant with my first and my midwife explained that its her job to not only help me deliver a healthy baby but for me to also remain healthy and intact.  She's only had to stitch 1 patient in 15 years (and that was only a 1st degree and did it at the request of the patient- otherwise she said she would have let it heal on its own) and never did cut.  I can remember during my water birth with my first, she supported me and told me not to push at one contraction in order to allow me to stretch and prevent myself from tearing- I did not tear.  I've had 3 kids and their sizes ranged from big to small and I never tore and I had very fast births (2-4 hours) which is typically a cause of tearing.  And no I do not have a large vagina either: I just had a midwife that offered support and protected my baby and my body.

JCWhitey

You won't feel it.  Hormones and other things kick in and get you through it when you go natural.  It's great, actually.  I remember having my baby on my chest and the doctor telling me he was going to check me for tears and I really could care less.  He was poking and prodding down there and nothing registered.  I didn't tear, but it was definitely sore down there!

And speaking of tearing, you are actually LESS likely to tear if you go natural and if you are in water because you are a little more control of pushing.  Just go with the contraction, don't let people count for you, and don't push too hard.  Pushing felt like it took forever for me, but I am so happy I paced myself becuase I didn't tear at all.

sschwege

With my first I had two second degree tears to the side.  Probably the reason I felt myself tear was because it didn't happen naturally.  Basically DD's shoulder got stuck and my MW turned her to dislodge her shoulder and that's when I tore.  With DS I had a second degree tear down and a first degree tear up and I didn't feel that at all.  Being stitched up is pretty miserable, but if you ask them to use liquid lidocaine before you get the shot that helps to take the sting out of the needle.  

himymlover

Thanks everyone. I am nervous because I had to switch from a midwife to an ob because of insurance reasons. The ob has already told me that none of the dr.'s in their practice do massage, warm compresses, or stretching as the baby is crowning. I know that it can help prevent tears, so it makes me nervous to not have anyone doing that.

stever

I had a 3rd degree tear with DS1 and didn't feel it. Then with DS2 I tore, they cut me, then I tore some more and I still wasn't too aware of the whole "ring of fire" thing too much. Some, but not too much.

 They numbed me up when stitching me up and I was more aware of THAT than a tearing specific sensation.

lcriordan

I had a pretty significant episiotomy which was nothing compared to contractions in terms of pain.

Jill070707

My third-degree tear didn't hurt until a day or two later. I did get lidocaine injections as they were stitching and it took a while to wear off, plus I used the ice pack pads. (Does lidocaine mean I didn't have a "natural birth?")

KellyScott04

I am so glad this question was posted bc I too am working with my midwife to deliver our first naturally by water birth at our hospital and one of my biggest fears is the tearing/episiotomy. She constantly reassures me that due to being distracted by the labor itself and the hormones released, virtually no one feels the tearing or procedure if it occurs. Lord knows I'm going to be a deer in head lights come delivery day but I'm holding onto the advice I've been given and experiences of other mothers to pull me through!

AmyRI

Both times I tore naturally and didn't notice. The contractions were worse than the tear. Stitching up, however, seriously hurt. I swear it was the worst part of labor both times, even with lidocaine. It's amazing the difference in pain threshold between natural and unnatural pain.

Jill070707 said:

My third-degree tear didn't hurt until a day or two later. I did get lidocaine injections as they were stitching and it took a while to wear off, plus I used the ice pack pads. (Does lidocaine mean I didn't have a "natural birth?")

I would still consider that a natural birth, since the meds were after the baby was delivered. I say I had med-free births, but I had pitocin and lidocaine after both kids were delivered. (And congrats on your VBAC and DD2!)

2junebabies

I had a second degree tear and a bunch of small tears, but I didn't even realize I was tearing. The stitching up was a pain in the neck because it took about 25 minutes and I really wanted to nurse LO, but it didn't hurt. I also think part of the reason I tore was that I had a really fast labor, and I pushed on my back (didn't plan to, but I couldn't fathom changing positions at that point). I'm 5 weeks postpartum now and everything has healed up great. 

mlrafiki

Second-degree tear here, didn't notice at all at the time, and my OB used local anesthetic to stitch me up. That area was pretty painful for the next 3 weeks, though: it stung terribly if I walked for more than 20min at a time.

stahlop

I've had two home births, one being a water birth and I didn't tear either time. And I didn't have any perenial massage or anything either.

bunnie712

I had a 2nd degree tear with DD. She was 9lbs with a 14.5 in head. I did push in the "hospital position" and felt uncontrolled during pushing since I felt worn out with constant contractions, but still only had a 2nd degree tear. I labored a lot in the tub.

The stitching did hurt. I don't respond much to local anesthetics and DD was being suctioned for mechonium, so I had no distraction while my OB taught the resident how to stitch me. But even still it was only 20 minutes of pain.

This time I'm attemping a home birh with a mw and I'm hoping to try a different delivery position. I could have tried squatting in the hospital bed, but I was too tired to find it comfortable.

ellebee2

I had a small episiotomy. No meds. To be honest, I felt it but it was nothing compared to the "ring of fire". I only had 2 stitches, barely noticed them being put in since I was holding my beautiful baby girl in my arms!

ETA: I think I only "felt" it because I knew it was happening. 

musicalsilver

Pink724 said:

I had a second degree tear and several lacerations. Not going to lie, the stitching up part sucked, but I didn't really feel the actual tears while pushing.

This minus the lacerations.  Getting stitched up was really uncomfortable, but I didn't feel the tearing, and it was not as bad as the feeling of pushing the baby out!