um... did anyone not tear during vaginal delivery?

GretchenlovesMichael · January 2009

(or get an episiotomy?)

i am wondering if it is even remotely possible to push babies out without either having someone purposely slice you or tearing on your own... i am simultaneously hoping super hard for a vaginal delivery (as opposed to c/s) and petrified for my beautiful flower down there....

JillRock96 · January 2009

I just LOL'd at "beautiful flower."

I did have an episiotomy, but it was not a bad one at all (I had to have it because I was about to tear). While I was pg, I heard a lot about stretching the perineum to help during delivery. I wonder if doing this would have kept me from the epi? I wonder if anyone on here did that...

groovygrl · January 2009

you can try perineal massage to prevent tearing Wink

roaringrock · January 2009

I sooooo wish I could say "me!" I know there are women out there... somewhere... who got through delivery intact.

thank god for sitz baths and tucks pads and tylenol with codeine.

craziheazo · January 2009

I had a second degree tear and it wasn't too bad. I kept worrying that having DD would "ruin my vagina". Well, it didn't. If it had, she still would have been worth it!

trinny · January 2009

Of course, no experience, but I have been doing the perineal massage. It is actually helping-- it was really uncomfortable at first, but I can tell I'm getting stretchier. I started around 34w with Bert's Bees Mama Bee Massage Oil. I do it in the shower. I wish DH would do it for me because it is hard to reach, but he is repulsed by the idea-- MEN!

That said, I think I'll still probably tear. My doctor doesn't do epis unless you are going to tear the wrong way or if they need to get the baby out fast.

There is also this stuff called dermoplast which is supposed to be great for pain relief. I got some at Target recently!

craziheazo · January 2009

trinny:

That said, I think I'll still probably tear. My doctor doesn't do epis unless you are going to tear the wrong way or if they need to get the baby out fast.

There is also this stuff called dermoplast which is supposed to be great for pain relief.

My OB doesn't do epis unless necessary either. I only ended up with 4 stitches!

Dermaplast rocks! Our hospital gave me 2 extra cans to take home! I used it for 2 weeks because I was scared not to.

Carrie25 · January 2009

I wish I could say me too! But I had a 4th degree tear and it was sore for a few days but that's it. My OB doesn't do episiotomy's. I think my vagina is back to normal. It took about 1.5 hours to repair after delivery. I would rather tear naturally than be cut.

SeaSoul · January 2009

I had a 2nd degree perineal tear and a small labial tear and didn't even feel them. The relief of pushing him out trumped any pain - but also, the pain of contractions trumped the pain of any tearing. I literally did not feel it at all. I barely felt them working on me afterward either, as I was gazing at my son. I was sore for about a week, but it was my actually bum that was the most sore just from all the pressure of pushing. I was worried about tearing too, but I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to be a bad experience...I can't speak for someone who had it worse than I did, though.

roaringrock · January 2009

trinny:
There is also this stuff called dermoplast which is supposed to be great for pain relief. I got some at Target recently!

epifoam (by prescription only) is also awesome!

alchris · January 2009

I had just one small tear. The nurse and OB did a great job of massage, and I took pushing slow. Massage sounds disgusting beforehand, but it can really help! I was very much in the no episiotomy camp.

Honestly, that one tear hurt horribly for a month, so I must have aggravated it. I'm clenching just remembering that. Ow. I loaded up on Epifoam too -- good stuff.

The good news for you is that they were all suprised that I tore at all, so yes, it's very possible, especially with smaller babies.

rockvillebride · January 2009

3rd degree tear here...

GretchenlovesMichael · January 2009

thank you for sharing your experiences ladies! so it looks like a tear is pretty hard to avoid.... but that it doesn't have to be that bad....

<<deep breaths>> i can so do this, and it is SO worth it.

MayDayGirl · January 2009

sadly not me, but my sister had four babies with no tears!

Mrs.Reem · January 2009

I was a big loser in that category. I had a 5.6lb baby and tore like she was a 20lb watermelon. ugh.

Christakim · January 2009

Holy Cow Rachel, your sister is my hero.

I had a second degree tear.....and it's a long story, one that you don't want to hear.

Mr.&MrsS · January 2009

I had an episitomy, and it really wasnt that bad.

When I went into labor I had told the nurses and doctors that I didnt want one, and they said I probably wouldnt need one. After pushing for 2 hours they asked me how I was doing. I told them I didnt know how much longer I could do this. So they told me that my options were to keep pushing and eventually he would come out and I most likely wouldnt tear, but they didnt know how much longer it would take. Or I could have the vacuum or an episiotomy. I knew I didnt want the vacuum because I had heard some horror stories about it, so I chose to get cut. And he came out on that push that they cut me!! Honestly the recovery wasnt that bad, and I told DH that this time when I go into labor I am going to ask them to cut me the minute I walk through the door because pushing for 2 hours was soooo not worth it!

TheSkimmy · January 2009

I got WRECKED!!!!!!!!! It was only 2nd degree but it didnt' heal very nice and I tore front and back. The OB said she doesn't count stitches- I think it was a nice way of say- you don't even want to know.

I had trouble sitting for about 7 weeks. SORRY!!! I kept yelling that I should have been more of a slut and the kid would have just fallen out!

Katietwin · January 2009

I'm glad you asked that, MayDay - it was on my mind too. ?I'm a little petrified of the tear-thing. ?

?

M&S1007 · January 2009

No tear here DD was born 5 weeks early...not sure if that had something to do with it.

GL

dundasgirl · January 2009

I only needed one stitch and they hummed and hawed about whether to even do it. I guess it was just a tiny little one.

Recovery was sooo easy for me. It can happen. The nurses kept telling me that Dutch women are made for having babies....maybe it's true?

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