On all fours and tore anyway - how do I avoid it this time? - Page 2

[erin_brycesmom]

Originally Posted by dianna11

...right, so that pretty much explains how what I did should prevent tearing - yet I tore. Hence my question

Great article though

No, the article doesn't say that at all. It says that sometimes women tear and that is ok. It doesn't say that birthing on all fours will prevent tearing. The mention of all fours says that women who aren't interfered with will usually rise up if they are on all fours. It actually says that upright birth is the body led stance for birth. Regardless, some women tear and I love that the article acknowledges that. Sounds like you are looking for something you can do to prevent tearing but it isn't about that so I thought you'd get a lot out of the article.

[jennica]

Originally Posted by dianna11

...right, so that pretty much explains how what I did should prevent tearing - yet I tore. Hence my question

Great article though

What you did probably did prevent a much more severe tear. Your baby was born in 10 minutes, right? That is incredibly fast, and you only had a second degree tear. Not to minimize the pain that you did go through, but doing everything you can to prevent a tear doesn't mean that you absolutely wont tear, it just means that you aren't doing anything that would cause a tear or make an inevitable tear worse. I do think the omega 3's are a great thing to try next time, and perhaps if you can stand being in water for the final hour or so, those things may help. There is also a chance that you wont tear next time, or tear as badly, because you've already been stretched out by the first baby. And have those herbal bath recipes ready just incase

[3cuties]

I have had both long pushing and short pushing phases (4 hours, 4 hours, 1 minute) and with all I was on in a semi sitting up postion -- although with the 2nd I did push for several hours on my hands and knees. Anyway, I have never torn. It could just be me, but all three of my careproviders and the nurses assisting me supported my perineum. If you have a fast pushing phase, from what I have read, the support could be essential -- have you talked to your HCP about this?

[dianna11]

Originally Posted by erin_brycesmom

No, the article doesn't say that at all. It says that sometimes women tear and that is ok. It doesn't say that birthing on all fours will prevent tearing. The mention of all fours says that women who aren't interfered with will usually rise up if they are on all fours. It actually says that upright birth is the body led stance for birth. Regardless, some women tear and I love that the article acknowledges that. Sounds like you are looking for something you can do to prevent tearing but it isn't about that so I thought you'd get a lot out of the article.

AH, okay, gotcha. I guess I missed that. I wasn't interfered with at all (my midwife was really big on letting the mom choose her own birthing positions), and I had NO desire to stand, but I realize that women will birth in all kinds of positions when they are allowed to choose their own position - I even read about a mom who surprised the heck out of herself and chose to birth on her back of all things!

I must have read it wrong, but what I got from the article was that if the woman is left to do her own thing, she won't tear perhaps I should go read it again

[dianna11]

Originally Posted by 3cuties

I have had both long pushing and short pushing phases (4 hours, 4 hours, 1 minute) and with all I was on in a semi sitting up postion -- although with the 2nd I did push for several hours on my hands and knees. Anyway, I have never torn. It could just be me, but all three of my careproviders and the nurses assisting me supported my perineum. If you have a fast pushing phase, from what I have read, the support could be essential -- have you talked to your HCP about this?

Perenium support does sound like it would help a great deal, and I did talk to my midwife about that, and she couldn't remember anything but DD being born with the bag of water intact - it was over 3 years ago and it was all SO fast. She said that she would be surprised if she didn't support the perenium - although I don't remember it. All I remember is thinking "what the heck, my water finally broke...why is it crying?!?!"

[3cuties]

I wonder if that had anything to do with it -- being born with the bag intact?

[Greenmama2AJ]

I gave birth on all 4's too. I pushed for 2 hours, DS's shoulder was stuck. I received a 3rd degree tear, but it was painless.

I felt a little cheated too - I know what you are searching for. The books make it sound like good births dont have complications that lead to tearing. I too wonder what I can change for my next birth. I took Omega 3's and have great skin, not a single stretch mark. I squatted for months beforehand. I was intervention free, my bags of water broke at 8cm.
And yet I still tore.

I think it is impossible to predict what position our next babies will be in during labour and on all 4's is still probably the most effective. Here's some****stretchy**** vibes coming your way

[dianna11]

Originally Posted by Greenmama2AJ

I gave birth on all 4's too. I pushed for 2 hours, DS's shoulder was stuck. I received a 3rd degree tear, but it was painless.

I felt a little cheated too - I know what you are searching for. The books make it sound like good births dont have complications that lead to tearing. I too wonder what I can change for my next birth. I took Omega 3's and have great skin, not a single stretch mark. I squatted for months beforehand. I was intervention free, my bags of water broke at 8cm.
And yet I still tore.

I think it is impossible to predict what position our next babies will be in during labour and on all 4's is still probably the most effective. Here's some****stretchy**** vibes coming your way

Same here!!! Well, except for the EFA's, which I am downing like it's going out of style - but no stretch marks, and *blammo* tear.

I was reading the Unhindered Living website which is fantastic, but goes on about how amazingly rare it is for a woman to tear if she choses her own birth position and isn't interfered with. This thread is certainly making me feel better knowing that it's quite common - it just doesn't hurt That was certainly the case here, I didn't feel a thing besides my daughter flying out of me at lightning speed