Pregnancy Forums

Posted: 23 January 2008 at 4:10pm | IP Logged

Hi

Have just found this post but I am in exactly the same position. I had a 3rd degree tear first time round and they told me if I had any more they would be happy for me to have a section if I wanted. To be honest I'd really like to have a natural birth, I'm just worried that I might tear again. On the other hand, I don't want to have a section if I might have managed fine. I asked if there was any way for them to check what weight the baby was later on in my pregnancy but they just said no and it's different every time. Has anybody else been in this situation? I just want to know if many people opted for a normal delivery and what happened?

Posted: 23 January 2008 at 4:25pm | IP Logged

hi,

On page 2 of this thread is my response, i had a bad tear too, and i went on to have a natural birth with a big baby...I did have to be cut, but the midwives all said it doesn't always happen that way, and many of my friends who tore first time, didn't second time!

If you want to try the natural birth again, go for it, you can help your scar by doing a perineal massage with olive oil or similar to help stretch the perineum.

I agree that all pregnancies are different, it is much better for the baby and you to try and do things naturally, if things don't go to plan they will reassess anyway and might take you down for a c-section. Whereas if you opt for the c-section, you will never know what you could have done!

hth xxx

Posted: 24 January 2008 at 1:15pm | IP Logged

Hi

That really helped. Thanks. I'll try the massage idea. Do you have to do it at a certain point or could I start it now? I'm nearly 16 weeks. The midwife did say to me that there's no guarantee i will or won't tear and obviously I don't know what size the baby's going to be but there's no way I can sit around for 6 weeks after a c-section. I've got a 4 year old who'll be going to school a few weeks after I'm due and there's nobody else to help. My dh will have to go back to work after 2 weeks and all my family are too far away so I need to be able to get back to normal asap. Tbh that's my main reason for not wanting to have a section but if I have to then there's no choice really is there? I've asked to speak to a doctor at my 20 week scan so maybe they can shed more light on it for me. We'll see. How much did you have to be cut the 2nd time by the way. Was it bad or just a slight episiotomy?