2nd time moms...? about tearing

baby_mama88 · October 2010

I had a second degree tear requiring 7 stiches with the delivery of DD... worried about tearing again. I had a difficult recovery.

Anyone care to share their vag woes the second time around?

westcoaststyle · October 2010

To be honest, I don't know what degree tears I had the first time or this time, but i definitely got stitches both times. Second time, I'm recovering SO much faster. I could barely walk for a week after DC#1 was born. This time, I was up and walking around by day 2. The difference is night and day. Good luck!

Fraux · October 2010

Usually after your first baby, you tear along the same scar. Each recovery got easier and easier for me. Hopefully you'll have a better recovery this time around.

treala05 · October 2010

I had a second degree tear both times, but recovery was easier the second time around. Hope that helps!

*jenchad* · October 2010

Exactly like PPs said....first time (15 yrs ago), I was miserable for a week. This time, it was absolutely nothing. I didn't tear this time, but Dr. did cut to avoid a tear. Which, while screaming, GET HIM OUT, GET HIM OUT!!, I'm thinking he did the right thing!!

GL and HTH

raealbright · October 2010

3rd degree tear first time, second degree tear this time. Like PP, recovery (and delivery) were so much easier this time around. Labor went very quickly for me and when they told me to push I had a mental break down and started crying because I was so afraid of the damage that DS did during delivery. I guess it didn't really hit me until that moment. She was out in 2 pushes like her brother, but because my body had done this already, the damage was not nearly as bad.

You know what to expect with a tear so have your supplies on hand at home, but don't expect it to be bad as the first time!!!

ScottiesLilHottie · October 2010

I had an episiotomy with my first delivery. Which needed a LOT of stitches and was a total pain in the you-know-what to recover from. This time I had a first degree tear and it was much easier, recovery-wise.

mel72 · October 2010

6 stitches for DS2 but he was also 8.8 lbs vs DS 1 who was a 5.1 lb preemie!

Stacyc625 · October 2010

I had a 2nd degree tear as well the first time. recovery was harder but not unbearable. took about 3 months to really feel better.

this time- i had a SLIGHT tear- required 1 stitch- and I didn't feel any pain at all recovering.

GL- i think the second time around it is just easier as your vagina has already 'been there, done that'

Hope it works out for you.

Fordlor · October 2010

Holy crap, mine was much worse the second time. With DD1, third degree tear, typical healing. With DD2, I had to have an episiotomy because the scar tissue from DD1 was preventing DD2 from coming out. Once my OB snipped twice, DD2 came flying out and her shoulder or hand or something totally wrecked me. I tore down and diagonal into the blood vessels. It took my OB two hours and a second OB to stop the bleeding and get everything back to where it was supposed to be. Healing time was terrible. I had to get more stitches at my six week pp appt because not everything healed correctly.

It was horrible. Truly. I bled so much I had to have a transfusion. (To be fair, I had to have a transfusion with DD1 too for loss of blood- but that time it was because my uterus wouldn't stop bleeding).

Needless to say, DH got the old snip snip a week ago. I will not be going through that ever again.

GL to you.

eris1995 · October 2010

I had a severe 4th degree tear all the way to my rectum including muscle with my first. It was so bad that one OB offered me an elective c/s because of complications I could have if I had another severe tear. I didn't take the c/s offer and only had a 2nd degree tear this time. Recovery has been a breeze.

Artemis0685 · October 2010

I had a huge episiotoy the first time and this time around I had a very small internal tear that only needed 1 stitch. Theres a good chance you'll be fine.