C-section after a 3rd degree tear?

[Loubylou]

Hi ladies, just found out I am pregnant with #3. Still getting over the shock as #2 is only 9 1/2 months old!

Due to a huge baby getting stuck twice following a super fast labour, I suffered a 3rd degree tear during my last labour and neede to go to theatre to be stitched under a spinal. I recovered pretty quickly with no apparent lasting effects.

I am now worrying about this labour, as it will be less than 18months between delivery should I be considering asking for an elective c-section?

Has anyone any advice/experience of this?

Thanks!

X

 

[XXLINZIXX]

I had a 4th degree tear 6 years ago and was advised at the time to have a section if I was to have another child. I am now having my twins by section on Friday. I could have chosen not to have a section, but really wouldn't want to risk going through that again, and any of the other problems that could come with it. It's your choice, but I wouldn't bother to be honest. Good luck.

 

[Arisa]

All the best, i think it depends how your tear heals, my friend had both an EMCs and a Third degree tear and she would take the tear over a section any day and she had no labour with her emcs but i would take the emcs as i had to, but was going for elective but my health had other plans and i needed one at 37 weeks but yeah it depends on your body, does sex and peeing etc still hurt? if it does then yeah I suggest a section but if everything feels pretty much back to normal down there for you and you want a vaginal birth go for that option
I am certainly not anti-section BUT tearing first time does not mean you will again.
My mother had a double episiotomy with me and it burst but her two subsequent births (as sections were not even considered back in the 80's for bad first births)she slipped the babies out with no tears, not even a graze and this was after the equivalent of a bad tear i mean double cutting of the perineum ouch!! yet her next two births were tear free

In my experience the section itself is fine and the first two days do hurt and you feel very saggy as your body is in shock from having a massive baby removed so suddenly from it but hey peeing and going number two was fine and these days the scars are so minimal you do not notice them, well over here they use dissolvable stitches and no staples or drains or anything horrible, All I hated was the spinal and the IV which I would have got with a vaginal birth i was needed to be induced so yeah either way it may hurt but you wont have labour and tons of lochia either, mine was very minimal after the first week

All the best

 

[Olivermsmummy]

I had a 3rd degree tear with ds1 which physically healed well although it was a v traumatic experience and resulted in PND for me. I opted for a planned section with ds2 although I went into labour the day before so it was classed as an emcs! That said I would choose the section over a natural birth anytime! I felt fine by day 3 and I found it a much better experience altogether.

Not to mention that any midwife I spoke to before making my decision told me to go for a section!

In the end it is up to you but there were 2 others on the ward after I had LO that had 3rd degree tears so I really believe I made the right choice!

Good luck no matter what you decide to do

 

[Loubylou]

Thanks everyone! I will think long and hard on it. Ultimately, I want to be safe, and baby of course! I think I have healed pretty well, but sex is still pretty I comfortable, which suggests there is still some healing to do.

Thanks for all your thoughts, it's a big help!

X

 

[Nellie83]

Hey Loubylou, i posted a similar thread just a few days ago and so far had a mixed answer as what other ladies have done or would do. My first was born by emergancy c-section and my second i went for a VBAC which resulted in my 3rd degree tear and my baby girl was only 6lb. I see my obstetrician tomorrow and look forward to what he suggests. Goodluck making your decision x

 

[Loubylou]

Hey Loubylou, i posted a similar thread just a few days ago and so far had a mixed answer as what other ladies have done or would do. My first was born by emergancy c-section and my second i went for a VBAC which resulted in my 3rd degree tear and my baby girl was only 6lb. I see my obstetrician tomorrow and look forward to what he suggests. Goodluck making your decision x

Thank you Nellie, I would be interested to hear how you get on, good luck!

X

 

[Claire300]

I had a 3rd degree tear with my 1st and although medically it healed fine, I was in a hell of a lot of pain for a very long time afterwards. I agonised over the decision of whether to have a c-section (recommended by all my midwives I saw) or to have a natural birth, right up until the day of my section. Literally, I was sitting in theatre getting my spinal for the section in tears cos I really wanted another natural birth! Anyway, I went ahead with it and can honestly say am so glad I did. Last time my son was only an hour old and I had to go to theatre to get stitched up, and was away for almost 2 hours. I felt like I missed out on vital bonding time and blame some of my PND on this. This time although I didn't get the first cuddle (hubby did though, which meant a lot to him!) he never left my sight and I got to spend the first few hours alone with my baby and husband and it was lovely.
It was only 4 days ago, and I still have staples in, but feel a lot better already. The pain is definitely worse than the tear at this stage, but my midwife assured me that the recovery is sooooooo much faster than with a tear (especially as mine took over 9 months to get to the point where I felt 'comfortable'). Hopefully I'll be back to normal in a month or two, and it is such a nice feeling knowing that everything 'down there' is intact and the same as when I went in!!!!

 

[Loubylou]

Just as an update, I had my booking in appointment and 12 week scan yesterday. I was surprised to be seen by a doctor at that stage a d they basically booked me in for a section then and there. Apparently it is less about the tearing and more due to the risk of shoulder dystocia and the fact that it will be impossible to predict the true risk of it happening again. Apparently my daughter's birth was more dangerous than I had realised! So I am heeding the strong medical advice and going ahead with an elective section !

Thanks for all your help and advice

X

 

[Olivermsmummy]

Just as an update, I had my booking in appointment and 12 week scan yesterday. I was surprised to be seen by a doctor at that stage a d they basically booked me in for a section then and there. Apparently it is less about the tearing and more due to the risk of shoulder dystocia and the fact that it will be impossible to predict the true risk of it happening again. Apparently my daughter's birth was more dangerous than I had realised! So I am heeding the strong medical advice and going ahead with an elective section !

Thanks for all your help and advice

X

I'm glad the decision was made for you as I spent up to week 34 making my decision which I believe was the right decision for me in the end.
Good luck and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well