Third degree tear first time round- anyone else?

Question

Hi everyone,
So I had my first child back in 2015 and I had a third degree tear (natural birth, no epidural).
Now that we are coming towards the final stretch of my second pregnancy, I’m getting nervous about tearing again. 
Has anyone has any experience of it? Did you tear with your first too and are you worried? Or did you tear with your first & have a similar/different experience with your second? 
Would appreciate any feedback 💜

Answer

I had a second degree tear with both my twins (epidural, vaginal) and my son (natural). The twins were nearly 7lbs each and my son was 10.1 lbs! I feel like this baby won’t be as big as my son (maybe wishful thinking), and hoping I won’t tear as bad...can you do perineal massage or something similar to help prepare your body for the stretching? Best wishes!

Answer

Hi
I had third degree tear, natural no epidural. Lo was back to back and had to have forceps delivery which resulted in 3rd degree tear. I was in so much pain and took a while to get back to normal. Sex was so painful.
Second pregancy i had gastational diabetes and lo was measuring big. I decided to have c section. The recovery was harder and more painful. She weighed 8.6 pounds. Had 3 year gap between 2 girls.
This time round i want to go natural but my doctor is recommending c section again. For me recovery was harder with c section. I have gastational diabetes again. Doctor fears i can tear again as i had lost sensation of going toilet for about 6 months. I have 3 and half year gap with this baby and my last. 
Do whats best for you and baby. Ask the doctor. As its been over 6 years i cant remember the recovery from 3rd degree properly and have the memory from pervious c section which in my head im saying was harder. But looking back both were hard. Im doing another c section as thats what doctor thinks is best for me.

Answer

I had only a second degree tear with my first in 2016 (also natural no epidural birth), although I had 2 separate tears, one on the outside toward my butt and another inside high up in my vagina. It was an awful recovery because of how much my body likes to swell with any injury plus I take forever to dissolve stitches. It was 8 weeks before I was pain-free just living my life and 4 months before we could have sex. I’m anxious about another tear, especially as baby gets bigger and I feel more pressure where I had those tears.

Answer

I also tore with my first and can’t recall the degree they classified it because it is all a blur (2016 is when it happened but I had a failed epidural and the pain blocked all memory). I’m also nervous and my midwife feels confident she can avoid it from happening again somehow. Otherwise, I stated I wanted a c section to avoid it entirely because it took close to two years to not bleed from sex. Not to mention it was super painful and we even waited 4 months after birth to even try because it was such a painful healing process. Have you discussed your concerns with your doctor? If so, what have they recommended?

Answer

I had a fourth degree tear with my first son in 2016. Now I’m 30 weeks pregnant and doctor has scheduled me a c section this time so we can avoid tearing like that again. 
I’m happy with that decision.. I do not want to possibly have 2 major tears down there😥

Third degree tear first time round- anyone else?

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