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

[fides]

didn't feel myself tear first time around

felt the scar tissue stretching second time around

 

[ellieb31]

I felt and remember the tears happening very clearly - I'm really surprised no one else did! It felt to me as though the midwife was trying to force her fingers between babies head and my vagina as it was crowning. I shouted at them to get their hands off me because their nails were so sharp and they said they weren't even touching me! It was painful but bearable. Worse for me was the multiple injections they gave me afterwards so they could stitch me up. I had to take painkillers for about 7-10 days pp and have no long term damage. I think I had three tears of different degrees but I don't remember the details. I think part of my problem was that everything happened very quickly so I didn't have home to stretch out. I went from 3cms to holding my baby in 2 hours!

 

[Incubus]

I felt myself tear, it didn't particularly hurt but I definitely felt it happen, its one of the most vivid parts of labour that I can remember. I told the midwife where my tear was before she could tell me. It was only a very minor labial tear that didn't require stiches, I was quite lucky really like the lady above I went from 4cm to holding in baby in less than 2 hours.

 

[Heather1]

I had a natural birth with a small tear that I couldn't care less about during delivery. No, I didn't feel myself tear but I wouldn't have cared if I did. I wasn't really mindful of it, at least. but honestly, I DID NOT CARE and neither will you (if you happen to tear a bit)! All I could think about was pushing the baby out, nothing else mattered in the moment. They gave me one stitch after DS was born and healing from it was no big deal. You will be fine, and I highly doubt you will even notice.

 

[XJessicaX]

I had a fast natural birth but I didnt feel much extra pain when it came to pushing. I had a labial tear and I felt a grating sensation when I pushed her out but compared to the truly horrific pain of the last few contractions it was nothing. My second stage was recorded as 2 minutes long so when my body involuntarily started pushing I was in shock! Took me about 4 days before I felt normal and a couple of weeks before I was completely healed. 1st baby I needed a 3rd degree cut which took about 10 weeks to stop hurting and 14 weeks until completely healed.

 

[dollface85]

Just gave birth yesterday at 32+2 and it was super fast! only had a first degree tear and you ladies are right there is so much pressure etc. going on I didn't feel it happen nor would I have cared. Just wanted that head out!

 

[Butterfly89]

The first part of this is going to sound scary, but the outcome is good lol.

For me, it was really really painful. LO was asyclintic (head tipped toward my hip) and I kept forgetting to push the epidural button at the end, so I felt quite a bit. I did feel tearing and omg... for the few seconds it lasted, it was intense. I ended up with a 2nd degree tear going downward but what I felt was a labial tear... made the mistake of looking too soon after and from the stitches, it was basically torn off and restitched (actually looks much better now thanbefore birth, need to thank my doctor bahaha). He was 22", 14.5" head, 8lb9oz... big boy. So I was convinced things would be awful.

BUT! I was at Walmart 3 days later. The first week, I was doing light house work and felt quite normal by 5 days. Now 3 weeks on, everything feels completely normal... "downstairs", lol. I started kegels 24 hours after birth and kept it up daily and I swear it works! And I never had any incontinence at all. So things can be much better than you would guess.

I would totally do labour again. Pregnancy, no thanks... hehe

 

[PaiytonsMummy]

I had third degree tears with both my DD and DS. I was told I was higher risk of tearing again by my midwife, but she said she hadn't seen that happen in all her twenty years. But I did LOL.

Although i didn't feel the tears anytime, with DD i was never given a suppository or any pain killers for 24 hours after her birth (once the spinal had worn off). I was in agony, and couldn't sit for two days.

With DS the tear was a complete breeze, was sitting on a hard wood chair day after his birth, and never really had a problem.

Now though I have so many accidents LOL, if i don't get to the toilet straight away, I WILL PEE MYSELF. I'm only 23, and the fact that i struggle to control my own bladder is horrible.

So just two weeks ago, we had a surprise. Found out i was expecting baby number 3!! The first thought to go through my head was 'I'm going to tear again' that terrifies me. Doctors says the risk of tearing again is higher, due to scar tissue (two separate scars) so when i visit midwife next week, i'm going to discuss C-Section, and weather it will be an option for me. I enjoyed both my labours (which were both quick and uncomplicated, minus the tears) and would love to have another natural labour, but i can't do it to myself, i can't tear again. Unless the midwifes could guarantee i don't tear, i think a Section is my only option.

 

[cupcaker]

I gave birth on friday (on gas and air) i didnt feel the tear happen...but was told a second degree tear which was stitched.I didnt know where i had torn exactly until midwife visit at home and she read the record and said perinium second degree but i think after delivery another tear elsewhere was mentioned by the nurse. Weeing stings, bowel movement okay. I dont know if weeing stings because of general labour trauma or because of tears or stiches. Its not completely outrageous though...im sure the level of pain is normal after pushing a baby out of a ridiculously small space! Xx

 

[smileyfaces]

I had a 2nd degree tear that was internal and external and I didnt necessarily feel the rip, I just thought I was feeling the 'ring of fire'. Recovery for me was a breeze, never ever felt a single bit of pain from it. Im 4 weeks PP now and it is fully healed and I have had pain free (more or less) sex as well.

In comparison to my episiotomy with DS1 (which was horrificly painful for weeks afterwards) I would say a tear is nothing to be worried about.

ETA: had just gas and air both times. With my second labour (4 weeks ago when I had the 2nd degree tear) I didnt use gas and air once I was pushing so went through that stage with no drugs at all.

 

[snowfia]

I think I had a labial tear, I can't remember exactly and I don't know what degree or anything.
But I didn't feel it at all. I had no idea I had torn until I was told after. The injection just before stitching stung a bit but the actual stitching etc was fine.
Weeing after however... That is horrible haha. But apart from that afterwards the stitching etc didn't hurt for me

 

[JennyNBaby]

Thanks for all the stories in here ladies! Just stalking this thread and reading all the experiences of everyone. My due date is in 5 days and been in early/prodromal labor for 4 weeks....expecting a short active labor, which might increase my chances of tearing! Not planning on epidural, so it is reassuring to hear so many smooth sailing stories. Just hope they give me a local injection vs. a spinal block. (Can't imagine being brave through a whole birth just to have to get the drugs anyway!)

Congrats to everyone on their recent bundles!

 

[lauren26]

The more superficial tears don't sound bad--what are the chances of tearing worse?? This is the most terrifying part of labor to me, too.

 

[smileyfaces]

I tore from my V to my A and it was inside and outside. Honestly, it is not so bad at all.

 

[Eleanor ace]

According to my notes 9% of tears are 3rd or 4th degree tears. The rest are just 1st and 2nd, so its not that common to tear badly .

 

[lauren26]

I tore from my V to my A and it was inside and outside. Honestly, it is not so bad at all.

Yikes!!!! Well I'm glad to hear it still wasn't that bad.

9% isn't bad....I guess that's comforting!

 

[mandaxx]

Had an episiotomy first time with epidural, didn't feel it. Tore second time and didn't feel it at the time, contraction pain is all you really feel, it's sorer than pushing baby out so that's what your body focuses on and cancels out the other. They have never bothered me much after. Little bit nippy and slightly uncomfortable but no big deal. You feel a bit bruised and sore whether you tear or not down there but it's fine. Nice warm baths every day and keeping pads changed regularly will see you right. If it stings to pee which again I've only had vey slightly, then get a squirty sports bottle and fill it with water each time you pee, and squirt it against your lady bits as you go. This stops the sting xxx

 

[pinkpolkadot]

I had a 1st or 2nd degree tear I think but I didn't feel it and it wasn't really sore afterwards. I had gas and air (pethedine had worn off by that stage).

 

[lauren26]

What is gas and air?? Sounds like a UK thing?

 

[smileyfaces]

What is gas and air?? Sounds like a UK thing?

Entonox.

It isnt great for pain relief, it is more a way of distracting you to be honest.