Tearing during labor

knotty-girl · March 2014

Mamaengen said:

I'm curious about the circumstances surrounding the tears. How fast was the labor? Natural of with drugs? How big was baby? How many pushes, how long did you push for? Did you push with urge even if you were told not to? etc.
For me, I was in labor almost 12 hrs. They don't want you pushing for more than two, but I pushed for four. The baby would crown and go back up. She had a cord wrapped. In retrospect, I'm glad the dr did the epi, even at 3rd degree, as opposed to the section. She spent hours trying to stretch to avoid tearing, but in the end it had to happen. As soon as she cut, my daughter came out (literally, I don't even think I pushed). She just couldn't fit otherwise. And she was only 5 lb 8.5 oz. That's why I'm so scared about this birth. This baby is much bigger.

My sister had a similar experience, except her cord wasn't wrapped, just unusually short, so the baby kept crowning and then going back up. She also had an episiotomy eventually.

patunia7321 · March 2014

Nope, not looking! My baby is sliding out painlessly on glittery rainbows [-O<

thomas930 · March 2014

DD labor was 12 hours. 7lbs 3oz
Pushed for 4 hours because she was Sunny side up and her head was tilted. I only pushed when I felt the need. Ended in forceps assistance. No drugs.

DS labor was 8 hours. 7lbs 2oz
Pushed 4 times when I needed to. No drugs.

LittleLady77 · March 2014

Well... I wish I wouldn't have opened this thread.

flyingmommy · March 2014

I chose an episiotomy

ricekez · March 2014

I had a 2nd degree tear, drug free, and didn't feel it at all. The stitches were a little itchy, but no big deal.

I had an 8 hr labor, 1/2 hr pushing, maybe 6 pushes? I think I pushed too hard. DS weighed 7 lbs, 4 oz. But still, I didn't feel the tear and knew nothing about it until my midwife said "I'll need you to lay down here so that I can repair a small tear."

Do your Kegels and don't worry about tears.

JoelleOK · March 2014

After looking at those delightful pictures, I feel like the pictures make it seem worse than the typical situation. Another possibility is to have a couple of 1 degree areas.

My midwife said I had a "second degree" but based on the picture I don't think so. I had stitches that dissolved, but I don't think any muscle was torn. I'm pretty sure I didn't even use the peri bottle after a couple of weeks.

And my midwife stitches any little skid mark. So I still have a "cute vag". Lol.

MrsL13 · March 2014

I'm guess I mine was second degree. I had stitches but don't know how many. I was all healed at my 6 week appointment.

I could feel when they stitched me up even tho I had an epidural. I also had stitches that dissolved.

I was careful and walked funny for atleast a week after but they didn't really hurt, I was just freaked out. I didn't sit on a pillow or anything.

zoopsiedaisy · March 2014

Erikahenderson1 said:
This is the link I was referring to if it helps.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/labor-and-delivery/multimedia/vaginal-tears/sls-20077129

My curiosity got the best of me and now I want to cry. I knew better than to look. I knew the differences but seeing a picture...even just an illustration...was more than I needed to know. Boooo!!!!

nikki912 · March 2014

Second degree tear I believe was mostly caused by pushing semi-prone for two hours. Going to try different positions this time.

haziedaze · March 2014

I had a second degree with a 3.5lbs baby, so yeah scared for near term or term #2. DS was OP though, I think that makes it worse. I pushed for like 50 mins. The recovery wasn't bad though, ibuprofen and the peri bottle were my best friends. My stiches dissolved.

Sisimama10 · March 2014

Like PP said I never actually felt the tearing. I couldn't differentiate between the pain.

BeckyF82 · March 2014

I've spent two weeks trying to "turn" my baby round so I can have a natural birth.. Now having looked at the link I'm like, "ah well, a c-section sounds ok" and I'm stepping away from the birth ball..

Erikahenderson1 · March 2014

Haha well, after officially striking fear into all of your hearts, thank you for your responses! But with this poll it looks like 2nd degree is the most likely tear I'd experience and most of you said it's not that bad so I am definitely comforted. Also to the PP with the "cute vag" comment, I hope it works out for me like that! [-O<

J&NL · March 2014

I pushed for two hours and ended up with a few tears on the inside.

LyndseyLC · March 2014

I voted let me see cuz I don't know or remember what degree or how many stitches I got. I know it wasn't super bad. And dd was smaller side too 6lbs 5 oz and I still tore but I asked dr if it's likely I will this time and she said not as likely

strawberrytree · March 2014

I had a first degree tear with one stitch. Dr wanted to do an episiotomy because I'd been pushing for 2 hours, and his head was visible for 30 minutes of that time so he wanted to do a cut and pull him out, but I declined. I was drug free and had a very easy recovery. Stitches dissolved.

DH recently revealed to me that he actually watched me tear...he said he didn't know whether to be horrified or impressed with the fact that I didn't even notice and just kept going, haha.

LyndseyLC · March 2014

LyndseyLC said:
I voted let me see cuz I don't know or remember what degree or how many stitches I got. I know it wasn't super bad. And dd was smaller side too 6lbs 5 oz and I still tore but I asked dr if it's likely I will this time and she said not as likely

To add I only pushed for like 20 min

MamaFantastic · March 2014

2nd degree, healed just fine afterward!! the pain was never that bad. in the birthing moment it certainly hurt intensely, but it was just moderately uncomfortable during the stitching up process, and not really that bad beyond the first 2-4 days postpartum. all in all, i'm not afraid of tearing if it will be like that again.

Merlyna04 · March 2014

Almost 3 degree my wound opend 2 weeks later they use a stick the burn my skin to attach it together .

Rrrrrachel · March 2014

Nobody around here does routine episiotomies because one of the big med schools in the area did a study showing they didn't prevent tears, and were likely to make them worse. They're good for getting the baby out, but not preventing damage to your perineum.

lcoddens · March 2014

I had a 2nd degree tear, I tore up and down... Which sucks. But I didn't feel it at the time and I didn't feel the stitches either. I remember two and half weeks PP I had to go to the doctor because I was still bleeding by my urethra. I was so scared they were going to have to do what Merlyna04 had done. But thank god they didn't.

Jodash24 · March 2014

1st baby 9lbs 1 not a stitch/tear in sight, I'm petrified this time around and those pics look very ouch ouch ouch !

Merlyna04 · March 2014

lcoddens said:
I had a 2nd degree tear, I tore up and down... Which sucks. But I didn't feel it at the time and I didn't feel the stitches either. I remember two and half weeks PP I had to go to the doctor because I was still bleeding by my urethra. I was so scared they were going to have to do what Merlyna04 had done. But thank god they didn't.

Omg that was painful but at least was attach back together

.

BabyBsMommy · March 2014

I had both an episiotomy and a tear, but don't know the degree. I was more terrified of tearing/recovery then I was of going through labor because of all the horror stories I heard. But recovery wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. No trouble sitting, umcomfortable but not painful for the most part. Doctor had to use a vacuum to get DS out though.

amhah09 · March 2014

I thought my midwife told me third degree tears but referencing that link I guess I had second degree tears with DS. One perianal and one near my urethra.

I had no tears with my second or third deliveries.

ksulli · March 2014

amhah09 said:
I thought my midwife told me third degree tears but referencing that link I guess I had second degree tears with DS. One perianal and one near my urethra.

I had no tears with my second or third deliveries.

This gives me hope since I'm heading into my 2nd. And being induced to avoid the nearly 10lb behemoth I birthed last time.

JWest07 · March 2014

thomas930 said:
Nope, mine were (as I'm sure most are) dissolvable.
ETA: there is so much going on down there during labor that I never even knew I tore until my midwife saidvshe need to put in some stitches.

This.

Sunshinelou · March 2014

I'm feeling a little better about my RCS...oh my goodness, even the 1st degree looks horrible! Not that being sliced almost from hip to hip is a cake walk either!

Sisimama10 · March 2014

It makes me sad how few people chose the didn't tear option. That's what I was hoping for this time around. :-/

pdilly2b · March 2014

I had a minor labial tear on each side that required 1 stitch each. No big deal at all and my perineum was fine. Recovery was a breeze.

I attribute this (and that it took 20 min) to pushing squatting and then on hands and knees. Not going to lie - contractions were a bitch - but the pushing was awesome in comparison and made not having the epidural so I could move around and push however I wanted completely worth it. I'm going to work through the pain of dilation again this time for the same reason.

I never got the natural urge to push, I just pushed when my midwife said I was at 10 because I was so done with the pain of contractions and getting him out was the only way for it to stop. I kept holding back on pushing because I was scared I was going to tear but my midwife talked me through it.

In my childbirth classes, we were taught to push by blowing up a balloon - those little ones that are hard to get started. I thought that was a really useful exercise and seemed about right to me (the starting part of blowing up the hard balloons). I know a lot of people compare pushing to pooping, but I didn't find it to be that sensation really.

Iheartkevi · March 2014

I don't know what degree mine was and I can't remember how many stitches, so it must have not been too bad. The worst was when I was still swollen. Once that went away if felt better, although I could still feel the place of ripping during sex for almost a year.

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