S/O water births

ChristyML · June 2013

If you labor in the tub, and give birth in the tub, it is incredibly highly likely that you will not tear, correct? I mean, women use warm compresses so they don't tear, so wouldn't a warm tub make it even more likely that you will not tear?

If you have had a water birth, did you tear? If you did, what degree was it?

headgear03 · June 2013

It's not a garentee that you won't tear . Though the water helps to some degree its not as important as giving your body time to stretch properly and perineal massage . I tore with my first water birth mainly because I pushed passed the contractions . I tore pretty bad 3rd degree. With my second I only tore a little bit and even though I was in the tub with my second since I was on my hands and knees and the tub wasn't filled much that part of me was not in the water at the time so the water had nothing to do with it. I highly reccomend laboring on your hands and knees , sitting on a birthing ball or squaring , making sure your up and walking around . Doing any of that will put more pressure on your cervix and can help stretch you better. However nothing is going to prevent it if its going to happen. Btw most people who do tear don't ever feel it so don't be scared .

ChristyML · June 2013

headgear03:
It's not a garentee that you won't tear . Though the water helps to some degree its not as important as giving your body time to stretch properly and perineal massage . I tore with my first water birth mainly because I pushed passed the contractions . I tore pretty bad 3rd degree. With my second I only tore a little bit and even though I was in the tub with my second since I was on my hands and knees and the tub wasn't filled much that part of me was not in the water at the time so the water had nothing to do with it. I highly reccomend laboring on your hands and knees , sitting on a birthing ball or squaring , making sure your up and walking around . Doing any of that will put more pressure on your cervix and can help stretch you better. However nothing is going to prevent it if its going to happen. Btw most people who do tear don't ever feel it so don't be scared .

Sorry, I'm not actually pregnant; I'm researching everything for next time (not pregnant yet, but ttc). I actually had an epidural last time (I was coerced into it...long story), and I tore almost 4th degree. I had a vacuum assist though, and I have heard that a vacuum assist can make you tear more (which makes sense), so I don't know if I would have if I hadn't had the vacuum.

annabelle.27 · June 2013

I don't know about "incredibly unlikely" but I have been told a waterbirth does decrease the odds. I had a waterbirth and I did not tear at all.

headgear03 · June 2013

ChristyML:
headgear03:
It's not a garentee that you won't tear . Though the water helps to some degree its not as important as giving your body time to stretch properly and perineal massage . I tore with my first water birth mainly because I pushed passed the contractions . I tore pretty bad 3rd degree. With my second I only tore a little bit and even though I was in the tub with my second since I was on my hands and knees and the tub wasn't filled much that part of me was not in the water at the time so the water had nothing to do with it. I highly reccomend laboring on your hands and knees , sitting on a birthing ball or squaring , making sure your up and walking around . Doing any of that will put more pressure on your cervix and can help stretch you better. However nothing is going to prevent it if its going to happen. Btw most people who do tear don't ever feel it so don't be scared .
Sorry, I'm not actually pregnant; I'm researching everything for next time not pregnant yet, but ttc. I actually had an epidural last time I was coerced into it...long story, and I tore almost 4th degree. I had a vacuum assist though, and I have heard that a vacuum assist can make you tear more which makes sense, so I don't know if I would have if I hadn't had the vacuum. nbsp;[/quote
So sorry that happens. Yeah more then likely it was the vacume that did the most damage. When your allowed to tear naturally most of the time not always mind you but most of the time the years are smaller and heal better .