Some probably stupid questions!

[willthiswork]

Hi!

I'm not even pregnant but I was just reading the thread on how painful people find childbirth and I have a few questions.

If you tear naturally do they have to stitch it up? What do people who do it unassisted deal with this?

If there is meconium when your waters break does that mean you have to have a c-section?

Thanks!

Maeve

[MommytoTwo]

I cant answer the tear question but as far as meconium goes - it depends. If its light then you are probably fine. If its very dark and chunky then there is a serious problem and you may well need a c/s depending on how close to delivery you are.

hth

[erika978]

Hiya, I can answer it somewhat

If you tear, most likely you will be stitched. But sometimes the tear is like a small cut and some midwives may leave it alone. I didn't have a tear as such but a graze. My midwife was going to leave it be but it wouldn't stop bleeding (only a little) so she thought it may just be easier to get a stitch in. I was stitched up (after having the area numbed) and didn't have to worry about it again

As for meconium, from what I know, at least over here, you don't necessarily need a c-section. A friend of mine gave birth the day after me. Meconium was present when her waters broke but the doctors let her labour for a long time. However, after 10 hours with only a little progress, the decision was made to do a c/s. The baby was fine as was my friend.

[mwherbs]

tearing can be stitched- but some women do not want every tear sewn-- if you have an unattended birth it would be your decision if you wanted to go get stitched or find someone to come and stitch you up.

as for meconium it does not automatially equal a c-section-- except if it is heavy because a bottom is presenting--- breech presentation is probably the most common reason a baby with with heavy mec would be sectioned- and that is not because it is necessary but because it is the choice/preference and custom of the attendant and the hospital.
and meconium does not even mean that a baby is stressed or has been stressed it could mean that the baby is due or a bit past due and is full of poop- gets squeezed a bit it stimulates a movement--

[willthiswork]

Thanks for your answers! Like I said, I'm not even pregnant but I'm a twin and twins are on both sides of the family so I'm at a high risk of them anyway but throw a medicated IUI into the mix it seems to be a definite! I really really really hate the idea of a c section but it seems to be fairly common over here for multiple births, especially if one is a breech to be sectioned, even though my twin was breech and they just turned her inside my mum, but that was 24 years ago when natural birth was the norm! I'm really interested in the idea of a home/water birth so I'd hate to have to have a section.

Sorry for all my rambling!

Maeve

[2mama]

As for the mech, no you don't have to have a c/s but it can indicate fetal distress. One would want suctioning material avaible just in case the babe inhaled upon birth and asparates.

As for tearing it all depends on the degree. I have never needec a sinlge stitch but I have seen a woman who needed greater than 50 as her vagina tore as well.