Post Birthing Tear

[Celiac Ninja]

Slightly out of category topic but....

For you woman who have torn giving birth, what was your tear stage and what did you do?

I've heard all kinds of stories and am deciding what I should do with my situation. Obviously I know of a coupld OB/GYN s I can contact and ask questions but I'd rather hear from people's personal experiences that a doc with a bill to give me.

[megsybeth]

I honestly don't know the degree but it was a lot. I know a lot of doctors tell the degree. I had stitches and used a peri bottle. There's not really much to decide other than whether you want an episiotomy, which old school doctors still recommend.

[megsybeth]

But, meant to say, most doctors now don't recommend episiotomies because you can tear more.

I honestly don't know the degree but it was a lot. I know a lot of doctors tell the degree. I had stitches and used a peri bottle. There's not really much to decide other than whether you want an episiotomy, which old school doctors still recommend.

[tarnalberry]

I too am wondering what you're trying to decide. Is this repair many months later? There isn't a lot to decide before hand except for educating yourself on things that will reduce the likelihood of tearing (no purple pushing, avoiding the lithotomy position, supported perineum, slow pushing phase, possibly perineal massage, avoiding episiotomy, etc.). (If you're really interested, check out Henci Goer's book "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth".

My experience, first birth, 8lb 5oz baby, unmedicated, on a birththing stool, with about a half hour pushing phase (I think). I had second degree tears. They stitched me up there at the birth center (freestanding, out-of-hospital), no problem. I had a little bit of scar tissue afterwards that I worked on reducing (normal for tear along any skin) and it was sore for a bit, tender for a while, and, by a year, was a thing of the past.

[mommida]

First birth, 8lb 5 oz. sunny side up kid (who changed his mind halfway out. Seriously he decided he would grab hold and refuse to budge after head and shoulders were out. All his fingernails were broken backwards from trying to hold on. Mind you from the sunny side up STUCK position he had a big blister on his head when he was born. No pain medication, because of a lousy nurse.

Tear had to be at least a 4. I couldn't sit right until I gave birth again and all the scar tissue was cut out and restitched. (3 1/2 years apart.) It was really odd to feel soo much better right after a delivery after discomfort for so long.

[Celiac Ninja]

First birth, 8lb 5 oz. sunny side up kid (who changed his mind halfway out. Seriously he decided he would grab hold and refuse to budge after head and shoulders were out. All his fingernails were broken backwards from trying to hold on. Mind you from the sunny side up STUCK position he had a big blister on his head when he was born. No pain medication, because of a lousy nurse.

Tear had to be at least a 4. I couldn't sit right until I gave birth again and all the scar tissue was cut out and restitched. (3 1/2 years apart.) It was really odd to feel soo much better right after a delivery after discomfort for so long.

That had to be tough! Sunny side up? I had to crawl out of the pool because my hips were tilted and get on the birthing stool before he shot out. Came out very quickly after that, tore quit a bit. So you had to sit differently for 3 1/2 years? yikes

So far I can sit, just can't have sex with my husband, still hurts quit a bit and I get very nausiated. Doesn't feel good for either. I'm curious as to see if anyone who has had tears and felt/delt with a similar situation and the tear felt or healed up better and normal life could continue? or...if I have to get this thing fixed :S

[kareng]

I had several. Went back and the doctor "burned" the scar tissue. Hurt like Hell while he was doing it and was sore for a few days, but it destroyed the extra scar tissue. Used super slippery condoms and lube for the first few times with hub.

Glad my boys don't read this forum!

[mommida]

sunny side up is when the baby comes out with the face toward you, they should come out with the face pointing toward your bum. it is easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal with the natural movement of arching the neck back.

Looking back I would have had surgery to remove scar tissue as soon a possible.

[tarnalberry]

So far I can sit, just can't have sex with my husband, still hurts quit a bit and I get very nausiated. Doesn't feel good for either. I'm curious as to see if anyone who has had tears and felt/delt with a similar situation and the tear felt or healed up better and normal life could continue? or...if I have to get this thing fixed :S

How long has it been? This is the sort of thing that takes a while to heal for some women. If it's only been a month, I wouldn't come close to worrying yet. You can also, once it's tolerable (though I didn't say comfortable) do a little bit of massage on the area to help prevent scar tissue from building so deeply and breaking it up a bit as it forms. This isn't pleasant, but it can help. A midwife or OB ought to be able to show/tell you how to do it.