do you feel tearing during birth and how does it affect your recovery?

dollface85 · Feb 23rd, 2013, 15:51 PM

So with both natural and epidural birth how do you feel the sensation of tearing? In the heat of the moment can you feel it? Also how is the recovery and how painful is it? How long does it take to heal etc?

Amygdala · Feb 23rd, 2013, 17:08 PM

I had a natural birth with a second degree tear. Didn't feel it happen and wasn't sore afterwards either. I don't know how long it took to heal but I never had any pain from it during recovery. Saying that, I had a water birth which is meant to help you heal more easily. No idea if that was the reason or I was just lucky though.

Mum2princessA · Feb 24th, 2013, 00:41 AM

I had a 2nd degree tear with an epidural. The area felt a bit numb for up to 3 days. Not agonisingly sore or anything. I just remember feeling like I couldn't go for run. Honestly it didn't hurt like I thought it would. I had my first bm the day after and everyone was telling me it would hurt but it didn't hurt at all. You're given pain relief tablets I think they help

Mum2princessA · Feb 24th, 2013, 00:42 AM

I forgot to write that I didn't feel any pain from tearing during epidural.

summer rain · Feb 24th, 2013, 04:26 AM

I've always had slight tears (had episiotomy with eldest) just slightly worse than a first degree tear so just about in the 2nd degree tear category and either just gas and air or nothing. Never felt myself tearing and it hasn't been too bad afterwards either xx

mrsparoline · Feb 24th, 2013, 07:08 AM

I tore badly with ds, didn't feel it (no epidural) but recovery hurt! Only for about a week, then it was bearable.

Eleanor ace · Feb 24th, 2013, 08:39 AM

I had a 3rd/4th degree tear, I wasn't on any pain relief and although I felt more pain I wasn't sure it was tearing. I had a quick recovery- no real pain after a week

lozza1uk · Feb 24th, 2013, 12:26 PM

I don't think you feel tearing as such. I remember a burning sensation but at the time you don't think about it! Weeing stung for a few days after, just make sure you have an empty water/sports bottle by the toilet to throw down you as you wee (ad drink loads of water as the more dilute your urine the less it stings). It hurt to sit down for a few days but my midwife actually cut one of my stitches about 5 days after labour as it had been done really tight; once she'd done that it was so much better!

Kess · Feb 24th, 2013, 13:47 PM

I had a water birth with gas and air as my only pain relief at that point, and a second degree tear. I didn't feel a thing at the time. It was sore afterwards, though the graze I had on my labia stung worse! Once the stitches were out it was more comfortable - mostly they dissolved but a couple were a bit tight so MW cut them and that felt better. The worst bit was the scar tissue feeling tight and not having as much sensation in it as the surrounding skin. But that's temporary and not that big a deal. I do have a bit of overlapping skin though which kind of bothers me a smidgen (emotionally not physically).

dan-o · Feb 24th, 2013, 17:16 PM

I didn't feel my 2nd degree (internal) tear or labial graze Didn't feel my stitches either, just a quick scratch when she put the local in, thats all.
The graze on my labia was a fair size, so that took just over 3 weeks to fill back in again completely. The graze stung when I peed or walked too far (stitches rubbed it a little I think)

By 4-5 weeks PP I was able to DTD with hubby again.

Feb 23rd, 2013, 15:51 PM	#1
dollface85 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 944	do you feel tearing during birth and how does it affect your recovery? So with both natural and epidural birth how do you feel the sensation of tearing? In the heat of the moment can you feel it? Also how is the recovery and how painful is it? How long does it take to heal etc?

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Feb 23rd, 2013, 17:08 PM	#2
Amygdala Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,371	I had a natural birth with a second degree tear. Didn't feel it happen and wasn't sore afterwards either. I don't know how long it took to heal but I never had any pain from it during recovery. Saying that, I had a water birth which is meant to help you heal more easily. No idea if that was the reason or I was just lucky though.

Status: Online

Feb 24th, 2013, 00:41 AM	#3
Mum2princessA Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 41	I had a 2nd degree tear with an epidural. The area felt a bit numb for up to 3 days. Not agonisingly sore or anything. I just remember feeling like I couldn't go for run. Honestly it didn't hurt like I thought it would. I had my first bm the day after and everyone was telling me it would hurt but it didn't hurt at all. You're given pain relief tablets I think they help

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Feb 24th, 2013, 00:42 AM	#4
Mum2princessA Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 41	I forgot to write that I didn't feel any pain from tearing during epidural.

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Feb 24th, 2013, 04:26 AM	#5
summer rain Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East England Posts: 16,317	I've always had slight tears (had episiotomy with eldest) just slightly worse than a first degree tear so just about in the 2nd degree tear category and either just gas and air or nothing. Never felt myself tearing and it hasn't been too bad afterwards either xx

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Feb 24th, 2013, 07:08 AM	#6
mrsparoline Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New England <3 Posts: 1,390	I tore badly with ds, didn't feel it (no epidural) but recovery hurt! Only for about a week, then it was bearable.

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Feb 24th, 2013, 08:39 AM	#7
Eleanor ace Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: UK Posts: 5,400	I had a 3rd/4th degree tear, I wasn't on any pain relief and although I felt more pain I wasn't sure it was tearing. I had a quick recovery- no real pain after a week

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Feb 24th, 2013, 12:26 PM	#8
lozza1uk Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cheshire Posts: 2,413	I don't think you feel tearing as such. I remember a burning sensation but at the time you don't think about it! Weeing stung for a few days after, just make sure you have an empty water/sports bottle by the toilet to throw down you as you wee (ad drink loads of water as the more dilute your urine the less it stings). It hurt to sit down for a few days but my midwife actually cut one of my stitches about 5 days after labour as it had been done really tight; once she'd done that it was so much better!

Status: Offline

Feb 24th, 2013, 13:47 PM	#9
Kess Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: England Posts: 2,103	I had a water birth with gas and air as my only pain relief at that point, and a second degree tear. I didn't feel a thing at the time. It was sore afterwards, though the graze I had on my labia stung worse! Once the stitches were out it was more comfortable - mostly they dissolved but a couple were a bit tight so MW cut them and that felt better. The worst bit was the scar tissue feeling tight and not having as much sensation in it as the surrounding skin. But that's temporary and not that big a deal. I do have a bit of overlapping skin though which kind of bothers me a smidgen (emotionally not physically).

Status: Online

Feb 24th, 2013, 17:16 PM	#10
dan-o Other BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Devon Posts: 9,334	I didn't feel my 2nd degree (internal) tear or labial graze Didn't feel my stitches either, just a quick scratch when she put the local in, thats all. The graze on my labia was a fair size, so that took just over 3 weeks to fill back in again completely. The graze stung when I peed or walked too far (stitches rubbed it a little I think) By 4-5 weeks PP I was able to DTD with hubby again.

Status: Offline

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