Any positive birth stories after a third degree tear?

[Georgina128]

Hi everyone

I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy a couple of weeks back and am delighted to have done it as my first was a c/s due to DD being breech. However I did unfortunately sustain a third degree tear.

Three weeks on I'm feeling absolutely fine and am experiencing no symptoms and so was gobsmacked when my OB said to me that it was unlikely that I'd be able to have any more vaginal births in the future. I've since spoken to some midwives who say that this isn't necessarily the case and so I'd love to hear some positive stories of people that have gone on to have vaginal births after a third degree tear - surely there must be some out there!

Thanks
x

[~*Niadla*~]

Ok I know this isn't the same thing... but I had a 2nd AND a 1st degreee tear ( 2 different places) with DS, and went on to have no tearing at all with DD.

I'm sure there are plenty of people around who have successfully VB'd after 3rd degree tearing.
Congrats on your VB and the birth of your little boy.

[Tanya]

DD #2, 3 & 4 All were birthed vaginally after a 4th degree tear with DD #1

[Georgina128]

thanks for the replies - did you have to do anything special or fight to have vaginal births, or was it quite straight forward?

[misty]

I had a 3rd degree tear with my first. The second and third I went on to have normal vaginal births with NO tears - just a little minor grazing.

No one even suggesed to me that my third degree tearing could be contraindicative to a vaginal birth. When I askedthe midwives about my past tearing, I was told that I was unlikely to tear to the same extent in subsequent births.

[MamaPan]

I had a 2nd deg tear with DS1 and no tear with DS2. no one ever said it would be an issue.

[julie_ann_jules]

I had a 3rd degree tear was DS3 (1st two were c/s) but my ob told me that next time I wouldn't have any isses. The MIPP that was assisting me was talking homebirth for the next one. It confuses me that u were told there would be a problem.

[brookemorrison]

i had my first baby just over a week ago, and sustained a lovely 3rd degree tear.
nothing was said to me about not being able to have a vaginal birth in the future

and by the looks of the previous replies i think it will be fine.
good luck

[Georgina128]

Thanks all for sharing - I feel fine down there so will definitely be going for a VB next time (although not for a couple of years - managing two is bonkers at the minute - think I need a break!)

What made it worse for me was the the OB said it to me straight after I'd given birth and was euphoric at actually having a VB and having my new born having his first feed - you'd think that in the "caring" profession they'd have a little more empathy wouldn't you!

[Mayaness]

What a rude OB! He probably gets repeat clients who tear purely because of his manner with them Way to empower your clients to have wonderful experiences
There is no clinical reason, as the PP's have illustrated, that you can't have another VB!
But yeah, one thing at a time, chicky...enjoy your new one now and don't stress about 'care'givers who are too arrogant to realise THEY might be the reason for complications... !

[Anila]

Im not sure to what degree my tear was, but with my first baby i tore from front to back and had to be stitched back together and was sore after, i have since birthed vaginally another 4 since my first, only tearing slightly with number 2, but not enough for a stitch, and i believe its because i birthed standing up and he got stuck, i never tore with the other 3.

Good luck

[Hayden_Sam_Adam]

Hi i had a 3rd degree almost 4th degree tearing needing surgery to stitch me up. and i was told the exact same thing, that with my 2nd i will more than likely not be able to have a VB which is very upsetting considering for my DS i birthed him perfectly my labour was great apart fomr him being SOOO big (10 pounds) everything went perfectly so i was really looking forward to having another naturally so we are looking at TTC next year may and plan on going back dispite my ob telling me other wise. so i think if your comfortable doing it again why not??

[Georgina128]

I was exactly the same - no trauma or problems other than the fact that he was a biggish boy too (9lb 2) which in some ways makes its a bit harder to accept. (I'm still not convinced that the OB didn't actually cause the extensive damage when she was trying to pull the placenta out, but there's no point in examining as what's done is done and we can't change the outcome!)

From all the research I've done and everyone I've spoken to it seems as long as you have healed well and have no problems there is absolutely no reason why you can't have another VB - everyone says that when you get pregnant again you'll know whether or not you trust your perinium. Its still got to be preferable to have serious abdominal surgery though hasn't it!

[Trillian]

Georgina, your OB has given you a bum steer!!!! No way known should he be advising women to have a SURGICAL birth because of a previous 3rd degree tear!!! I had an episiotomy with my first baby (9lb 3.5) and with my next two I only had a 2nd degree tear (8lb 8 and 9lb 8.5) and with #4 I only had a tiny graze that required no stitches even though he had a head circ of 37, his shoulders were stuck and had to be manouvered out by my Dr, so his hand was in there too and he was 10lb 1. I really still can't get past the fact that your OB told you to have a c/s to prevent something as minor as a tear (minor compared to having a great incision for a c/s!), which is something that may or may not even happen! If you have good perennium management during the birth you shouldn't tear at all. I never even had an issue with old scar tissue when I had my subsequent births either - the epi and both tears were all in different places and the old scars helf really well and I have never had problems with sex afterwards either.

[JellyBean]

Georgina - I'm shocked to read that your OB is female - that is such an unempowering (and sadly uneducated) thing to say after your body has just acheived such a wonderful outcome. The body is perfectly designed to heal itself.
I would recommend going with a doula or midwife if you anticipate a 'next time' - they tend to have a far more 'woman-centered' approach to their care and methods, and are not so heavy handed with the desire to intervene unessessarily (ie- pulling out your placenta - whats the hurry anyways..??? Lol ).
With plenty of perenium massage with essential oils, and gravity assisted positioning, there is every chance you will have a wonderful tear-free VB in future.

XX