I say find a midwife who can help you not tear and plan your VBAC. I had 2 moms this year deliver 2nd babies after a first with a 4th degree tear. One had a first degree tear that needed 2 stitches (and she pushed her baby out awfully fast) and the other birthed a baby 1 pound bigger than her first over an intact perineum! The first mom actually was planning a c-section with another provider, than that OB quit her practice and she was stuck with me. We discussed every possible option and she decided she'd prefer to deliver vaginally instead, and she did just fine.