I had a 3rd degree tear (to the rectum) with my first child. It caused chronic constipation, fecal incontinence and I still cannot sit comfortably after 4 months. Has anyone had a c-section after that kind of tear? Which recovery was worse? I want to pick the lesser of two evils, since if I do tear again, my chances of incontinence worsening increases significantly, and I have a real fear of another labor like that one. Thanks for the advice! ↓
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Name: jenn | Date: Apr 6th, 2005 2:05 PM
Please let me know if you find an answer, because I am about to deliver my 2nd child after having a 3rd degree tear and can find blessed little info about this! ↑
Name: Saird | Date: Apr 7th, 2005 4:19 PM
Just from my experience, with a scheduled c-section, it went amazingly well. No labour, no pain- you get drugs in the hospital- it wasn't bad and because I read up on everything and knew what to expect and what to do- it went very well. I found there was minimal pain afterward. Sounds like you had a nasty experience first time and so did I with my first c-section after labour and trying to deliver. But with a scheduled one I found life was good. ↑
Name: Cat | Date: Apr 12th, 2005 11:38 AM
I would go with the c- section I have had two my second one was scheduled and will soon be having a third in July. ↑
Name: Michele | Date: Apr 17th, 2005 4:09 PM
I had a 4th degree tear with my first child and couldn't sit down for 4 months. I didn't want to go thru that again so I had a c-section with my 2nd child (born on April 1). The c-section recover is 100 times better for me!!!! I can sit, move around, not sit on those sitz baths, etc. It has been a great experience for me. I won't lie, there is pain involved in the recovery but nothing compared to what we went thru before. ↑
Name: michelle | Date: Apr 17th, 2005 7:06 PM
I had a fourth degree tear with my first baby. It started with the midline episiotomy the dr used on me and continued into my rectum. I then learned that most major tearing starts with an episiotomy. I chose not to have episiotomies with my subsequent children and haven't had any tearing or injury requiring stiches. There are other ways of avoiding tearing - including perineal massage - than major abdominal surgery. I strongly suggest you look into them. Most women do not tear as much or at all with second and greater deliveries. IMO scheduling a c-section to avoid perineal tearing is foolish. There are other options. ↑
Name: J.CLARK | Date: Apr 18th, 2005 8:44 PM
Hi Jessica! I had a 4th degree tear with my daughter and I am due to deliver number 2 in about 4 weeks.. I am at the same stage as far as deciding a c section over another vag delivery. Both my doctors have stated that back to back level 3 or 4 tears are extremely uncommon...but I have had the same incontinence issues..and it has been 2 years.. so I may opt for the c section..what you and i had is something (at least my medical group) referred to as a "bottom c section".. so I am thinking i rather be cut across the lower abdomen vs. mybottom... ↑
Name: Karen | Date: Apr 21st, 2005 7:34 PM
I have an article that should help. It says that even if you try to have a vaginal birth and end up having a c section, just having the baby low in the birth canal can put pressure on a nerve and make you more incontinent. There were other points that made me decide to have a c section and believe me, I'm a natural girl and opted for a water birth for my first (which didn't work out but I really tried). If you're interested, I can give you the name of the article (I have to look for it) or maybe I could even send a copy to you. If you're interested, my e mail is karlynn17@hotmail.com and my name is Karen :) ↑
Name: Karen | Date: Apr 21st, 2005 7:37 PM
I had a partial 4th tear. It's now 2.5 years later and I'm still getting pain almost every day. It feels like a stinging burning pain for a couple hours after I have a BM. I'm seeing a specialist next month, but why am I still having pain??? ↑
Name: melodie | Date: Apr 25th, 2005 11:01 PM
with my first child, i had a 4th degree tear. i don't know if it was just the doctor who delivered or what, but i too had a horrible recovery!! my stitches kept coming out or ripping and the doctor kept putting them back(which my currunt ob says he shouldn't have) anyway it took over a year for me to "recover." i had another baby in january thru a very unwanted cesarean. my incision got infected, but overall it is healing alot better than the 4th degree tear. i would definately go for the cesarean if i have another baby. i'd be happy to try and answer any questions carstin@peoplepc.com ↑
Name: SHERRY | Date: Apr 27th, 2005 11:14 AM
I had a 3rd degree tear with my first child and a 2nd degree tear with my second child and I don't have any problems. ↑
Name: Lori | Date: May 2nd, 2005 8:39 PM
I had a 4th deg. lac. through the rectum with some of your same symtoms. Please, go with the C-section! Several friends have said that the recovery is rough for a few days like with vaginal delivery, but at least you won't have bad problems for months afterward. ↑
Name: Cindy | Date: May 4th, 2005 6:02 PM
You do NOT want a c-section. It is horrible. The recovery is much longer. I could not get out of bed by myself, go to the bathroom without help, and was depressed! Plus if you want another baby you have to worry about uteran rupture. It takes much longer to heal, and you can have complications up to a year afterwards. I wish I had a vaginal delivery. ↑
Name: Angie | Date: May 7th, 2005 1:03 PM
I had a fourth degree tear with my 2nd child (VBAC) and it was miserable. With my 3rd I opted for c-section and recovery was alot easier. The hardest part for me is standing up the first time after surgery. After that I was walking around as much as my body would allow. The only drawbacks from my c-sections have been numbness in the area of the surgery and a hernia. You might want to talk to your dr about the chances of hernias after c-section. ↑
Name: Claire | Date: May 9th, 2005 12:57 PM
While pregnant again following a 4th degree tear with my first child, I did ALL the research I could. My doctor even printed every study he could find in the hospital and online libraries. Unfortunately, there aren't enough conclusive studies done regarding 4th degree tears. Most studies only focus on 1-3rd degree tears. There is conflicting evidence as to where a repeat delivery will increase your chance of fecal incontinence. Many studies say that incontinence following a c/s is the same as following a 4th degree--it is the act of carrying a fetus that weakens the pelvic floor. Some studies say that a C/S should be done following a 4th degree. My own OB advocated vaginal, saying the 2nd baby could slide out like a bar of soap, but my colo-rectal surgeon said that even if the delivery went smoothly, I would suffer incontinence later in life, b/c the muscles will have lost much of their elasticity after the initial 4th degree repair. The colo-rectal surgeon specializes in fissures/fistulas and he says that his patients in their '50s who suffer incontinence (urinary and fecal) all delivered children. You rarly encounter an older woman who has incontinence and never delivered children. Following the colo-rectal surgeons advice, I had a C-Section, and it was a piece of cake! Yes, I needed help getting out of bed, but I also needed that after the 4th degree! I weighed the percentage chances: if you have a repeat tear, then you're in just as much pain (I think more) as a C-Section. You can do perineal massage etc. and may not have another episiotomy, but you may suffer other consequences later in life (incontinence.) I'm especially glad that I chose the C-Section! The surgery risk to me and the baby was worth not having the high risk of being in diapers for the rest of my life. Sewing anal tissue is like sewing jello. My surgeon said that anal repairs have a low success rate, while all C/S types of repair (even if there are complications) have a high success rate. Good Luck! ↑
Name: Hi Jessica | Date: May 12th, 2005 4:33 PM
I too had a 3rd degree tear to the rectum and am now pregnant again and am told I should expect a c section, what response did you have
thanks
karen ↑
Name: Chrissy | Date: Jun 24th, 2005 4:51 PM
My first delivery was an emergency-section, then the second was a VBAC with a 4th degree tear and the last delivery a scheduled section. The emergency section was a nightmare and I was depressed for over a year and in pain for about 6 months. The VBAC was also very difficult and then to tear and have everything sewn back together and numerous trips back to the OB/GYN to have some stitches fixed, and the pain and now 5 years later bowel problems that I am trying to figure out, well the scheduled section for my 3rd baby was great. Yes scary laying on the operating table but I read what I could on what to expect, how to prepare for and how to recovery quickly and it worked. After how my friends saw me with my first two deliveries they couldn't believe how quickly I recovered with this 3rd one! So I would go for the section, and I have always been the "natural way" is the best way mentality, but it honestly didn't work for me. ↑
Name: Jessica | Date: Jun 26th, 2005 11:27 AM
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR POSTS. THEY HAVE HELPED EASE MY MIND. MY SURGEON AND NEW OB SUGGEST A C-SECTION AND BOTH AGREE THAT IT WILL BE A MUCH EASIER RECOVERY THAN THE TEAR TO THE BACK, FISSURES AND INCONTINENCE THAT I'M STILL DEALING WITH 9 MONTHS LATER.
I WISH I COULD E-MAIL EVERYONE WHO RESONDED TO THANK YOU!
JESSICA
jessicaroethel2003@yahoo.com ↑
Name: Karen | Date: Jun 26th, 2005 3:50 PM
My labour was a fantastic experience on my 1st baby, but final stage happened too quickly and Jamie came out on first push, resulting in 3rd degree tear, through rectum and all muscle and tissue, 11 weeks pregnant with my 2nd (Jamie is 20 months) and have consultation this Wednesday about delivery so will let u know the outcome ↑
Name: saima malik | Date: Aug 19th, 2005 6:23 PM
Hi,I had a traumatic delivery resulting a 3rd degree tear in my 1st pregnancy whic i still havent got over in 3 years,but i did have another baby 7 months ago but had to go for a c-section as things were very complicated the 1st time round.The caesarean wasn't a doddle but it was alot better then the vaginal delivery and of-course with a caesarean the healing process is alot longer.
so good luck and best wishes! ↑
Name: Jeni | Date: Aug 25th, 2005 12:05 AM
I had a 4th degree tear with my first child. No episiotomy but he was 4.5kg. We are now planning our 2nd and going thru the natural vs c-section debate. There is so much conflicting info out there over what is best for me and baby. I just wanted to say thanks to e'one that has posted replies. I still don't know what we will do but it helps hearing from real people about real experiences. Good luck with all the new bubs out there. ↑
Name: Karen | Date: Aug 25th, 2005 2:50 PM
Hi Jess
I had a 3rd degree tear on my 1st child and am now 20 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby. seeing consultant on 31/08/05 re birth options so will let your know ↑
Name: KH | Date: Aug 26th, 2005 9:20 PM
I agree that the c section recovery is much better. I was petrified of a c section, but I did so b/c I learned that even if I tried vaginal, that just having the baby in the birth canal can put pressure on the nerve and make me more incontinent forever. I'm so glad I chose to have a csection and I can't believe I'm saying that... ↑
Name: Angie | Date: Sep 7th, 2005 3:09 PM
The same thing happened to me after my first child. When I had my second I had a c-section and I"m happy I went that route. The surgery went well, and you'll expect soreness after for a couple weeks, but it's a better choice considering what could happen when you have your second child. ↑
Name: Kirsty | Date: Sep 22nd, 2005 3:23 PM
Hi there, I Had a 3rd degree tear with my first. Absolutely no problems afterwards. No incontinence and as far as I can remember I had no pain either. I was able to sit no prob. My problem is I am now 32 weeks preg, due in November and I have the decision to make whether to go for a natural burtgh again or a c-section. I have read up on c-sections and some websites I have been on have put me off. Then I come eon here and my mind is put at rest again. I know everyone is different but I am sooo scared. One website which is run my Midwives was saying that although there is a risk of another tear, the risk is low but I had my antenatal the other dayy and my MW went through what could happen and now I'm worried all over again. I go to the hospital to speak to my consultant on the 21st of October but I would rather be able to decide sooner rather than later. There is not enough information on this and what can be done to reduce the risk of it happening again. ↑
Name: Jessica R. | Date: Sep 22nd, 2005 8:57 PM
Kirsty,
I know. I have the same dilemma. I have been to two colorectal surgeons who both said that if I were their wife, they would suggest the c-section, since I have pain and incontinence problems 11 mos later. If you had no pain and no incontinence, that may be different. Let us know how it went!! I will check back. ↑
Name: KH | Date: Sep 22nd, 2005 9:08 PM
Jessica R., can you email me? karlynn17@hotmail.com ↑
Name: Fran | Date: Sep 27th, 2005 9:52 PM
I can relate! I had a 4th degree tear with my first (15 mos old) and am due to deliver no. 2, but needed my pelvic floor reconstructed after no 1. I felt like I had delivered two babies. My OB is waiting to see how big this baby is to recommend a c! I'm really scared and this has helped me alot. I will post again to let you know how it goes. ↑
Name: Jessica R. | Date: Oct 2nd, 2005 2:31 PM
Fran,
Why woudn't they do a c after you had to have reconstruction? Seems like there wouldn't be a question....that is awful. You poor thing! ↑
Name: Ally | Date: Oct 4th, 2005 10:43 AM
I had a 3rd to 4th degree tear 11 years ago with fast delivery of first posterior baby. The pain and misery afterwards was awful- the women with the ceasarians looked to be in much better shape than me. I couldnt move sit or walk without a lot of pain for weeks. It took months to get back to relative normalcy. When my second was on the way, i was keen to have a ceasarian but my Obstetrician advised me to go ahead with a vaginal delivery and a planned episiotomy( which turned out to be huge) .. I would have felt a lot less nervous during delivery if I had undergone a ceasarian and the episotomy hurt like hell afterwards with massive bruising that took weeks to resolve. I was very disappointed with the outcome. Years later I find that best practice in UK and Aust is now to recommend a ceasarian as the damage done the first time is thought to be aggravated byt the pressure of a vaginal delivery. I can certainly say that I have had ongoing problems that have started to get a lot worse in last few years. I advise a ceasarian ↑
Name: to Jessica | Date: Oct 4th, 2005 9:52 PM
See all the problems with c-sects on the other forum...open, draining horrific wounds, infections, bladder/bowel probs, sick babies, hysterectomies, sounds just like the vaginal delivery problems...doesn't sound the least bit better. When I deliver I am trying vaginal...all my friends are fine who delivered that way, the only one who isn't had a c-section last year and she still has to wear Depends. They hurt her bladder and twisted her ureters. Hers was a scheduled c-section because she asked for it...I feel very badly for her as she now suffers physical trauma and for some reason, guilt. Her baby is okay, thank goodness. ↑
