I recently had baby number two which ended in an emergency vacuum delivery and forth degree tear. Most of the medical staff say I could have a natural delivery next time I have a baby but that they reeeeally don't recommend it due to the risks. My husband and I both want a handful of kids.
Has anyone had something similar happen? Did you chose to try for a natural delivery again or did you opt for a Caesarian?
Caesarian or natural delivery after 4th degree tear
Friday, 22 August 2014 - 09:00
Caesarian or natural delivery after 4th degree tear
Posted in:
Pregnancy
7 Replies
Do whatever is going to increase your chances of having a healthy baby and healthy mum at the end. I had emergency forceps delivery and it took me longer to heal than if I'd have had a C-section and the worst part, my baby almost didn't make it. At the end of the day baby being alive and well and mum being alive and well is so much more important than a 'natural childbirth' (check out the mortality rates in countries without access to C-sections). I would go C-section if that's what the drs thought was the less risky option.
It's not the end of the world if u have a csection, same as other poster as long as ur healthy and bub is healthy then that's all that matters just keep in mind most drs will only give u a max of 3 sections
I think it's important to not be too set on the number of children in any situation. Things happen and we can't always plan these things. My sister was told after 2 that it was not a good idea to have more as it would be putting her life at high risk. A friend of mine went into early menopause so no more babies for her. I think concentrating on having a healthy mum and babies should be the priority.
From a midwives perspective id recommend a c/s. 3rd degree tear is bad enough but 4th degree can have severe long term implications let alone having 2 of them... Such as fecal inconginence. If that were to happen again.. I don't think I'd be willing to risk it a second time even though I'm well aware every birth is different.
I have a friend of mine that had a natural vaginal birth after a fourth degree tear. She had an episiotomy with the 2nd to help control tearing, and she didn't end with any complications. There was a big gap between the births, and she had a very supportive obstetrician. Obviously your individual circumstances may differ, but if it's something you'd really like, it's certainly worth getting a few opinions from obstetricians and midwives so that you can make a fully informed decision. Good luck x
I've had two vaginal births (with moderate tearing) and one emergency c-section. The recovery from the c-section, though intense in the first 24 hours, was way better than the vaginal recoveries. Weeing and pooing, re initiating sex, standing for longer periods, sitting in any position - all MUCH easier after my c-section. (And being an emergency c-section, I had additional recovery needs compared to a cruisier elective section.) If I found the recovery quicker with a c/s compared to only moderate tearing than I can only imagine how much easier you would find it after having had a major tear.
Birth is hard however you do it. For me, recovery in the abdominal area, was more bearable than the eye-watering pain and indignity of pain, trauma and long term issues in the vaginal & anal region.
Most of my friends who gave delivered via c-section have had 3-4 kids with no worries, so although NO ONE should count their chickens before they hatch, it is reassuring to know that you could conceivably have 4-5 kids if you wanted, even with c-section births.
My nanna had 6 children very naturally and had all sorts of issues, LIFELONG issues, with prolapses and hysterectomies and severe tearing and the like. She often spoke of how much easier we modern young mums have it compared to her day and would have loved to have had the option to avoid further vaginal trauma.
I was told the same thing after my first baby. I found a private obstetrician who I trusted. He was happy for me to try for a second vaginal birth and suggested using an epi-no for stretching. My second baby was born intervention & tear free. A totally different experience!