I am 32 weeks along with my second baby and starting to get really nervous about tearing again. I don't know exactly what degree it was (didn't seem important at the time and we have since moved), but it required stiches, took 4-6 weeks before I could sit comfortably and months before I could poo without serious, serious pain.
Basic birth story for background:
I began to dilate about 28 weeks and continued to dilate and have regular, increasingly intense, contractions until I had him at 37 weeks. My water broke at 1:00, I arrived at the hospital at 2:00 (dilated to a 7), was at a 10 by 3:00, started pushing and had him at 4:30. Despite repeated pleas, they would not allow me to labor in any position other than flat on my back, even though I had a cervical lip left that they wanted me to push over/through. Once I got his head out (and it was HUGE, thanks to his dad), his cord was wrapped around his neck. Everyone got this terrified look on their faces and told me that one their cue I was to push as hard as possible. I was sooo terrified at this point that I completely bore down and pushed him out from the neck down in one push.
This time I have a midwife, but I am still really, really nervous about tearing that badly again. It made everything sooo much more difficult since I couldn't sit up for weeks.
Could the way I labored and other stuff have contributed to the tearing? DS was 8 lbs, 6 ozs and three weeks early, what if this one is 10lbs??
Also, yesterday, my midwife was busy at my appointment so I had to see one of the OBs. She asked if I wanted a c section since my chance of tearing was much higher and said I had a chance of being fecally incontinent. So now I am totally freaked. I don't have any worries about being able to birth naturally, but the tearing business is completely freaking me out.
Please, any advice would be great. I don't want a c section, but I don't want to have to wear diapers at 27 either. Is it just a scare tactic or is it a real possibility???
Becca
Basic birth story for background:
I began to dilate about 28 weeks and continued to dilate and have regular, increasingly intense, contractions until I had him at 37 weeks. My water broke at 1:00, I arrived at the hospital at 2:00 (dilated to a 7), was at a 10 by 3:00, started pushing and had him at 4:30. Despite repeated pleas, they would not allow me to labor in any position other than flat on my back, even though I had a cervical lip left that they wanted me to push over/through. Once I got his head out (and it was HUGE, thanks to his dad), his cord was wrapped around his neck. Everyone got this terrified look on their faces and told me that one their cue I was to push as hard as possible. I was sooo terrified at this point that I completely bore down and pushed him out from the neck down in one push.
This time I have a midwife, but I am still really, really nervous about tearing that badly again. It made everything sooo much more difficult since I couldn't sit up for weeks.
Could the way I labored and other stuff have contributed to the tearing? DS was 8 lbs, 6 ozs and three weeks early, what if this one is 10lbs??Also, yesterday, my midwife was busy at my appointment so I had to see one of the OBs. She asked if I wanted a c section since my chance of tearing was much higher and said I had a chance of being fecally incontinent. So now I am totally freaked. I don't have any worries about being able to birth naturally, but the tearing business is completely freaking me out.
Please, any advice would be great. I don't want a c section, but I don't want to have to wear diapers at 27 either. Is it just a scare tactic or is it a real possibility???
Becca
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