WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for July, 2008: Re: LABOURDELIVERY: Third degree tearing

Re: LABOURDELIVERY: Third degree tearing

From: bea (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:00:58 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: Senzafine: "LABOURDELIVERY: Third degree tearing"

Hi - Not a medical professional...just another mom. In my opinion, it is possible that the induction could reduce the time of your labor, thus reducing the amount of time your perineum has to stretch and accommodate the baby. Were you pushing on your back? Did you experience directed pushing? (You know, people counting at you, telling you when to push and when to stop) If yes to either of these, these practices increase your risk of experiencing a tear. Did your doctor apply warm compresses to your perineum or massage it? This and encouraging mothers to push on their hands and knees, or laying on the side can decrease the risk of tearing.

Unfortunately, from the research I've seen, once you have torn, there is a slightly higher risk of tearing again since that scar tissue does not stretch the way unscarred tissue does. However, you can probably reduce your risk of tearing by finding a care provider (often a midwife) who is well-trained in supporting the perineum through the pushing phase.

Having had one cesarean and two vaginal births, a cesarean section seems to me a very high price to pay to avoid tearing the perineum. There are significantly greater risks to your health and your baby's health in having a cesarean versus a vaginal birth. If it were my choice to make, I would choose a bad tear over major surgery any day of the week. Even more so if I felt like I could manage my labor differently the next time to reduce my chances of tearing at all!

Good luck to you!

At Tue, 22 Jul 2008, Senzafine wrote: >
>I gave birth to my first child one week ago vaginally (I was induced
>with oxytocin at 12 days post-due date). The entire delivery was
>drug-free except for the oxytocin. I experienced third degree tearing.
>I have a couple of questions about third degree tearing that I would
>love some info on.
>
>If I hadn't been induced, would my labour likely have been slower than
>the 9 hours it was and allowed the baby's head to change shape more
>appropriately? She came out with a perfectly round, 37 cm. head. I
>only pushed for about 1 hour.
>
>What is the likelihood that the tearing would occur again if I wanted to
>deliver vaginally for future children? My doctor recommends future
>c-sections, but I would really rather avoid that if it's likely I can
>vaginally deliver without this kind of tearing occurring again.
>
>Thanks for any help.

Next message: Jazzylady: "GENERAL: REPOST: Water retention, ovulation, breast pain.. PMS, ovarian cyst, perimeno?"
Previous message: T. Lyons MD: "Re: GYNECOLOGIC: Bicornuate Uterus and metroplasty surgery will it correct the pain?"
In reply to: Senzafine: "LABOURDELIVERY: Third degree tearing"

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