Why no tears?

Question

Hi ladies, I'm 36+5 and I want to find out how some mommas who have vaginal birth don't get to tear down there? Is there a special thing you do to prevent it or it depends on other factors? Cos I know people who have had big babies yet have no tears and others who have small babies get tears or stitches. Please help me out. I'm freaking out! Thanks. And good luck.

Answer

Listen to your dr!  I was pushing so hard and my daughter was coming so fast I almost tore but my dr told me to stop and she stretched me a little more before I pushed again. No tearing!  Recovery was so easy!

Answer

I had an 8 1/2 lb baby with no tearing. I didn’t do anything special. I wonder if having the epidural helped, but I have no idea. My Dr and midwives have all said that it really depends on the elasticity if your skin.

Answer

3 babies all delivered vaginally, never a single tear. 8.9, 9.6 and 9.7lbs. Labor was never more than 7 hours, pushed for no more than 10 minutes and my last was out in 2 pushes. It really does just depend on your body and your skin’s elasticity. I have maybe 3 stretch marks from all my pregnancies as well. My midwives with my first said all my walking helped to keep things pliable but it’s just a you got it or don’t kind of thing. The massages and not forcing baby out by pushing too aggressively help too I’m sure but if it’s gonna happen, nothing will stop it🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

My doctor mentioned that having an epidural can help with this because while it slows down labor it gives the vagina more time to stretch slowly and they are able to help it gradually stretch with perineal massage, which they normally cannot do without an epidural because of the pain. 
I have no idea if any of this is “true” or if it would apply to anyone, but it is just something she has noticed over the years.

Answer

I think some of it is definitely due to skin elasticity. Some people are just more stretchy than others. Some of it is due to pushing - if you push too aggressively and don't give your body time to stretch (like I did), you might be more likely to tear. I think baby's position also can have something to do with it. Most of the time this isn't an issue, but my daughter came out with one arm up by her head so I had some extra stretching to do... no bueno. Still, she was 8.5 pounds and a second degree tear, so it definitely could have been worse.

Answer

If you do an entirely natural birth your body will contact and push on its own. Don’t over push and listen to your doctor. Find a happy place during your pushes and relax.

Answer

I have always done evening primrose capsules up there around 36ish weeks and then hubs does the occasional perinatal massage.

Answer

One: midwife has given me hops leaves to add to warm water and have sitz baths with. This is apparently good for the perineum. 
Two: perineal massage. Both before and DURING delivery. You can train you SO to massage it with baby oil as baby is coming down. Makes a difference (I’m told!). 
I haven’t had mine yet but this is what I’m doing to prepare.

Answer

My baby was 7lb no tearing, maybe because I had extra ￼ fluid and because the nurse and was delivering my baby was constantly putting gel or  lub not sure which,  I think that’s what really helped me

Answer

I had a small internal tear but that’s also in part to the fact that he came so quickly. I pushed on my side for a bit to help him turn before turning onto my back. I also had the epidural but it was spotty enough where I could feel my legs and could move myself around which was awesome.
Your body will let you know but your doctors are there as well to help you with pacing and where to direct your pushing so that they’re effective.
Oh! And I had a person pressing against my perineum to help support it which I think helped a lot!

Why no tears?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey