3rd degree tear - future delivery?

[mamasteph]

Hi! I delivered my daughter in February this year by assisted (ventouse) vaginal delivery. I got a 3rd degree tear and the consultant said that For future deliveries I would be offered the option of a caesarean. my recovery from the tear was pretty slow and difficult - obviously I really want to avoid that again! But a caesarean isn't an easy ride either. I will talk this through with my consultant should I (hopefully!) get pregnant again, but was wondering whether anyone else has had the same or comparable experience? Or those who have had caesareans could share experiences of their recovery?

[Hidden]

I got a 3Rd degree tear when I have my little girl 16 weeks ago delivered via forceps, unfortunately o hemoraged and needed 4 blood transfusions and a week in intensive care but because of the hemorage I have to try and deliver naturally :/ I wanted the option of c section because I had a difficult delivery, not painful though mind you did it all on codeine no other medication

[JDaisy]

Hi lovely. I had a worrying labour with my boy as his heart beat dropped drematically and they had to intervene and perform an episiotomy. They also started to get the forceps out but thankfully they didn't need to use those. I'm also thinking a c-section this time around as they advise if you've had to have one episiotomy you will likely have to have another next time so I'd rather be cut near the pubic bone instead. Anyway, I've been asking all my friends who have had a cesarean for advice and all (5 in total) have 100% recommended it. Two have done natural and c-sections and said it was like cheating labour. The cut is very small (seen all) and recovery time has been about four weeks for all of them. One told me she had to inject herself everyday to prevent clotting but not sure if this is standard as no one else mentioned this. To have the cesarean everyone has an epidural/spinal tap which I didn't know before. The area is numbed before hand so you can't feel it so much and it seems like it depends on who administers it to if your partner can be there. So far this is all I've got but the consultant will be able to go through things thoroughly. Good luck. X

[roxannacar]

I actually just the doctor last week for this. I had a 3a degree tear in dec 2015. Now 22 weeks pregnant. She quoted 5-7% of getting a tear again. I must say my tear healed fine though although sex was painful for a while after. I was offered a c section but declined.

I think you need to weigh pros & cons for you. Personally 5-7% chance for me it's not worth having a c section which can have several other complications. Also I don't know if I want to stop at 2 children or have more and after a previous section you have more chance of a uterine rupture... So really not keen on it.

As much I don't like the idea of a tear, a cut in my tummy (which isn't tiny as baby needs to come out of there!) you have a longer recovery time in hospital and can't drive for few weeks etc like any major surgery. So something to consider. Of course if I needed a section as baby was in distress that's another matter altogether

[Monkeyss]

A C sections is major abdominal surgery. I would avoid this if I were you. Hemorrhage is still possible and afterwards you can get dangerous blood clots. my recovery was slow and painful. You are sore for atleast 6 weeks if not longer (I was still sore at 12 weeks) and you can get an infection.

you can't even do simple things like open a window and you forget how many things involve your stomach muscles which are now mangled. Also you could have a uterine rupture in any subsequent pregnancy.