Tearing/being cut when giving birth!?

[sammiwry]

I was cut, nothing beforehand and didn't feel it, but I felt every stitch despite 2 lots of local! Had I not of needed a hand getting Madden out I would of torn, I'm normally a size 8 5'2 with a 9lb 6 first baby.

 

[xxEMZxx]

I didn't have a cut, but I had a 1st degree tear, Liam was 9lb7 so I dunno what to expect with this baby lol but I think second time round you are less likely to tear?

 

[Gemmylou86]

Not had my baby yet but am v worried about this so i've done a lot of reading. From what I can tell being cut isn't the answer. They often cut deeper/through more layers of tissue than you would neef. There also seens to be research to support the theory that cuts take longer to heal than tears.

Tbh from what people say you probs wouldn't feel either at the time, so my advice is to just go with it and if you tear you tear. Personally i'd much rather tear than be cut and I will be speaking to the obs, docs and m/ws on my labour ward tour about it. I'd like to see what their epi rates are and if theyre likely to do it at the drop of a hat lol

 

[Weeplin]

I tore with both my last 2. 2nd Degree with Aimee but not so bad with Jason. I would prefer to tear again than get cut. I never felt the tearing nor did I feel the stitching up really, maybe a teeny bit but I was given gas and air to suck on.

 

[teal]

I had both - I had an episiotomy and I had a seperate third degree tear (so two separate scars). The tear took longer to heal but possibly because I tore into my bowel. The doctor who delivered LO (it was an emergency forceps delivery) even commented it was unusual to tear separately from the episiotomy - normally they expect the episiotomy just to extend. Just shows an episiotomy doesn't always prevent a tear xx

 

[Tulip]

I had a 3a tear BUT it was because DS presented with hand over face, so his elbow caused a fair bit of damage (the 'advantage' of a third degree tear means I didn't feel the repair - because I had to go to theatre and have a spinal for it ). I do remember the midwife having to explain to the doc why she hadn't performed an episiotomy, but it was a rather speedy delivery - he was crowning in the sac, she broke my waters and there he was. She did her best by applying perineal pressure but sadly it wasn't enough. Not quite sure what it means for my next delivery :-/

 

[sugarcube84]

i tore which i didnt feel at the time, it happened when the student midwife delivered him she pulled him up instead of down (or the other way round) when his shoulders were delivered. The other midwife said i probably wouldnt have torn if it wasnt for this.

The stitches, the injection was stingy and when they prodded me to test that the injection had worked i couldnt feel the bit they prodded but it made everything stretch and that was stingy as well, i think i lasted 2 stiches and then said i felt such a wuss but it was hurting, the midwife turned to me and said ' dear you have just given birth using just gas and air all your natural pain relief has gone your are certainly not a wuss, use the gas and air!! ' so i did and after that it was great!!

Healing was fine just dont drink too much fruit juice as it makes your wee stronger and sting more and about a week after my stitched went really itchy so i had a look as you do and pulled and some came out (it was healed!!) and i ended up pullin out a couple plus a really long one that went from the top to the bottom of the tear, it was much better after that. Keep them clean and a shower head sprayed at them is lovely!!

 

[Cazza89]

I wanted to tear naturally 1st time round but had to be cut coz Ryley was stuck and I had ventouse delivery, he was a big baby! My cut didn't take that long to heal, I bathed in salt water and lavender everyday. Sometimes twice a day! Worked for me. I had an epi but I only had the one dose before giving birth and I felt him come out. She numbed me and dosed me up on the epi again as I was about to be stitched up. Think I felt it a bit but not too sure as I was exhausted and a bit out of it from gas and air!

I don't know why I'm so worried about tearing naturally as it seems to be best anyway!?

Thanks for all your replies though ladies. X

 

[moomin_troll]

i think its just the unknown thats so scary and no one likes the thought of themselves tearing lol i no i dont want to....im terryfied of it, even tho i got thru a epis and stitches once so i no i can do it again.

but im having a home water birth this time so ive been told theres less chance of me tearing which is good

 

[ljo1984]

i was cut for forceps last time and had had an epidural so didnt feel it. im dreading the thought of tearing so much more this time around, ive put in my birth plan that i onle want to be cut if absoloutly necessary, and would like local anasthetic before doing so (if ive not had epi). urhg it all makes me cringe (cuts and tears) i just try to block it out lol. i did massage for a good few weeks before with special gel from mothercare, but obviously i dont know if it works cause i never got to push my baby out grrrrr.

 

[jackiea85]

My first son was born by ventouse so I had an episiotomy. It was very sore for weeks, I got an infection, I could barely sit down, and I had the odd pain from it for a long time.

With my second son I had a second degree tear. In comparison, I barely felt it, it healed fine and so far I haven't had any soreness from it x

 

[ljo1984]

yeh they say tears heal so much better, and that why they only cut as a last resort!!

 

[Natsku]

I was offered an epistomy (probably cos the midwife realised Maria was going to be big - nearly 9lbs with a big head) but I thought I was having a small baby so couldn't decide whether it was better to risk the tear or not. I took so long to decide that I tore anyway, 2nd degree, but I barely felt it happen. Felt every stitch though.

 

[LouLou78]

I would rather a 2nd degree than an episiotomy in my opinion. Having sutured many 2nd degree tears myself which are quite common. Who knows, that episiotomy could have extended to a 3rd.

 

[Natsku]

Thats true. I would imagine it would make it easier to tear if its already been cut like a piece of paper tears easily if you cut into it first.