birthing after a previous induction+lacerations

[hey_baby]

I am pregnant with #2 after the birth of my son 5 years ago.
With his birth I was induced (pitocin) at 42 wks due to his large head circumference. I had 3rd degree tears and 4th degree lacerations.

Does anyone have experience birthing naturally after severe lacerations?
Are there any precautions or extra things to consider this time?

I am not at all concerned with my personal ability to birth naturally and medication free, I'm worried that my lacerations might split again or some other complication might arise that I was not prepared for.

Any words of wisdom?

Thank you.

[alegna]

What position did you birth in?

-Angela

[hey_baby]

Originally Posted by alegna

What position did you birth in?

-Angela

Upright in a hospital bed. The delivery was really fast and hard!

[alegna]

So, sitting?

I would guess that the tearing had a lot more to do with being induced, probably forced pushing, and position, than anything else.

-Angela

[hey_baby]

Yes, I agree.
My question is more if I should worry about these tears reopening in any way with my next birth.

[stacey2061]

i was worried about this too ~ my m/w just asked me a few questions about how quickly i healed and if there were any complications with healing ~ i didn't have any healing issues and she seemed satisfied. i'd suggest talking with your hcp about this or posting in the birth professionals forum

[ctdoula]

Hugs mama! I know exactly your worry! I had a 4th degree extension during the birth of my first daughter. It was a horrible recovery & I was terrified the scar tissue would tear during my 2nd birth. (scar tissue is not as flexible/stretchy). It was discussed many times with my midwife, and we both knew that was top priority... avoiding a repeat. My son was 1.5lbs bigger than my daughter (9lbs 7oz), and I only had a skid mark (one tiny tear, with no stitches). The recovery was 100% better.

For me, it wasn't about the position I pushed in for the second baby, but rather having my midwife really support my perineum and the fact that my tissues had already stretched once, and knew what to do.

HUGS and good luck!! It CAN be done.

[coobabysmom]

Originally Posted by hey_baby

I am not at all concerned with my personal ability to birth naturally and medication free, I'm worried that my lacerations might split again or some other complication might arise that I was not prepared for.

Thanks for this thread. :

I feel the same way... I had 3rd tears & 3rd lacerations w/ ds that took 9 months to heal and would love to hear more from btdt mamas too.

Nuchal hand presentation, unexpected directed pushing requested by mw, 2 hrs+ on birth stool, PUPPS the last month of pg was the possible combo that lead to my tears/lacerations.

[hey_baby]

Originally Posted by ctdoula

Hugs mama! I know exactly your worry! I had a 4th degree extension during the birth of my first daughter. It was a horrible recovery & I was terrified the scar tissue would tear during my 2nd birth. (scar tissue is not as flexible/stretchy). It was discussed many times with my midwife, and we both knew that was top priority... avoiding a repeat. My son was 1.5lbs bigger than my daughter (9lbs 7oz), and I only had a skid mark (one tiny tear, with no stitches). The recovery was 100% better.

For me, it wasn't about the position I pushed in for the second baby, but rather having my midwife really support my perineum and the fact that my tissues had already stretched once, and knew what to do.

HUGS and good luck!! It CAN be done.

Wonderful, thank you!
I had a terrible time recovering and I would do anything to avoid a repeat.

[hey_baby]

Originally Posted by coobabysmom

Thanks for this thread. :

I feel the same way... I had 3rd tears & 3rd lacerations w/ ds that took 9 months to heal and would love to hear more from btdt mamas too.

Nuchal hand presentation, unexpected directed pushing requested by mw, 2 hrs+ on birth stool, PUPPS the last month of pg was the possible combo that lead to my tears/lacerations.

I wish I knew what went "wrong" with my sons birth that lead to the tears. I've been told it could be because of the pitocin causing me to stretch too rapidly. I can't wait to get my hands on my full birth records!

[SABE]

I had a deep 3rd degree tear, lots of pain, and a long recovery with my first child. It was weeks or maybe even months before I felt normal again--my memory is kind of fuzzy. I have torn again along my original scarline with my other two children, but the tears haven't been nearly as long or deep or painful as the first one was. I felt fairly normal again within just a few hours of ds2's birth and within a few days of ds3's birth.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

The best way to prevent tearing is to listen to yourself and not those around you when you're pushing. If you'd been, say, at home, my guess is you'd have ended up on all 4s, or side-lying, naturally going horizontal to slow down a fast birth. I'm a big believer in doing your own perineal support, and waterbirth also reduces tearing. You've had a long time to heal, and if you ease the baby's head out and push only has hard as your body demands, while choosing the position your body tells you to take, odds are good that you won't tear.