water births and tears

[spicyorange]

So I thought I fancied a water birth but then I read that you are more likely to have a serious tear because the mw can't see to tell you when to pant and stop the tear, a friend of mine just had a home birth in the pool and had really bad tear so now I'm put off, infact a bit scared by it.I'm thinking I could get in for pain relief but get out the pool to actually deliver? Anyone done this? Did you have a water birth? Did you tear and how bad?

 

[MindUtopia]

Actually, it's usually the opposite. No one needs to tell you when to push and when to not push (actually, directed pushing is associated with a greater likelihood of tearing). Your body will know what to do and you're less likely to tear if you just listen to your body. You're probably also less likely to tear if you're upright as it's much harder to push a baby out when lying on your back. Not that you have to have a water birth to be upright (I didn't birth in the pool, but did birth upright on all fours), but certainly it makes it harder for you to get in a position that's likely to lead to a baby that's hard to birth. Midwives can see baby just fine in a normal birth pool. They sometimes don't like you to use a bathtub because then it's hard to see. But they should be able to see just fine. They'll often have a torch and a mirror, or if you have a home birth, you provide them with them, as it means they can see what's going on without making you change positions. Anyone can tear though, and a lot of times, it just has to do with the speed and intensity of pushing right at the end. Just because a midwife can see baby coming and tells you to not push, doesn't mean you'll be able to. Your body just pushes. You can't not push. So if there's a reason baby needs to be born quickly, your body will do it, regardless of what anyone else tells you.

My daughter came out all in one push pretty much. I'd had a really long 2nd stage, with 4 hours of on and off pushing, in part because she was back to back and turning to come out in the right position. When it came down to it, my body just pushed. No one could have told me to stop. I did have a 2nd degree tear. But it was no big deal. I did have a birth pool and I got in it for about 20 minutes, but preferred to be moving around. So I had her on all fours in my bedroom. The tear wasn't an issue at all. I didn't feel it when it happened and it didn't cause any complications. The midwives did the stitches with me lying on my bed with my husband and daughter. Had I been in the pool anyway, I would have probably been in the exact same position, so they would have been able to see just as well.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Ohh no no. Water helps you out, alot! You do not need anyone to tell you when to push pant or anything. Your in control, you do what your body askes you to do. If that means move into another position, do it. Your body is helping you birth that baby out as smoothly as possible.

Ive had 2 dry land births and 1 water birth. Giving birth in water wins it! I didnt tear, she was out in 3 pushes.

 

[Feronia]

Agreed with the above. Nobody should be telling you when to push, let your body do that for you. I've had two home water births and didn't tear either time! The warm water really helps your perineum stretch out to accommodate the head.

Your midwives can see just fine with a flashlight, too. I even had one midwife taking pictures of my entire birth and I can see very clearly the head coming out in detail when I look at them.

 

[NDH]

The pressure of the water actually helps support the perineum and reduces the risk of tearing. I doesn't mean tears don't happen, of course, but they are less likely to happen.
And as the others have said listen to your own body when it comes time to push and you're less likely to tear as well. Hearing encouraging words that you're doing well is fine but you don't need anyone to tell you when to push and when to stop. In fact you don't even need to push at all https://www.spiritualbirth.net/what-is-the-fetus-ejection-reflex

 

[Mrs HM]

I had a water birth and tore. I didn't feel it happen and it was stitched up afterwards while I sucked on the gas and air. It was fine, although supposedly it was two bad tears. I had to push baby out in between contractions too so that didn't help the situation. They healed just fine and I didn't think it was sore afterwards etc...tender, but not sore.

 

[PaganBride]

I've had two home water births (after a section) and never tore. I feel water played a part in this. Having another waterbirth in a few weeks, looking forward to it

 

[prgirl_11]

I had water birth and tore but didn't feel when it happened. Too much going on down there LOL I would DEFINITELY do another water birth!

 

[HoneyBee144]

If its your first baby I'd definitely recommend trying a water birth. You can always try the water and if you don't like it get out, I think you'll know when you're in the whether its going to work for you or not. The hospital I gave birth at didn't have a birth pool when I had my first then since I had a 3rd degree tear with him they recommended I didn't give birth in it with my second. The reason was that I needed a controlled delivery of the head, with my first i was only pushing for 20 minutes and he literally shot out and tore me badly, usually they let the baby "do its thing" and come out naturally but because of the speed he came out at the idea was that with my next one they would apply slight pressure to his head and try to control the delivery more to avoid him shooting out. Unfortunately my second still shot out, I went from 5cm to 10cm in under 45 minutes and only pushed for 6 minutes, his heart rate dropped suddenly when I was pushing so I just had to push regardless to get him out and ended up with a third degree tear again. I honestly am not telling you this to scare you, just to prove that sometimes these things are going to happen regardless so make sure you do what you're comfortable with as that's the most important thing.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I had a bad tear with my 1st and a water birth was recommended by my consultant for my 2nd to help reduce the risk/severity of tearing. I delivered her in the water and had very small 1st and 2nd degree tears and was able to choose not to even get stitched, very different to my 1st!

 

[babytots]

With my eldest 2 I had water births and didn't tear. My eldest son was delivered whilst I was stood up but due to him being back to back I suffered a 2nd degree tear and my youngest I was strapped to a bed and suffered a 4th degree tear as he just shot out. Wether of not I would have got those tears if they were water births I will never know but I certainly think the water helps soften the perinium and can help prevent a tear from happening x