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I had physical therapy and it just entailed a LOT of pelvic floor exercises (kegels), I did have surgery to further repair the tear (which had limited success). I am pregnant again (due in December) and I am having a c-section, there is no way I am going to risk making any existing tearing worse! The problems I experience are somewhat worse with the increased pressure of the baby but are bearable so far (fingers crossed). From what I've been reading, a straightforward c-section should be far less traumatic than faecal incontinence which is basically a life sentence.

I also had a 3rd degree episiotomy with my first who is now 17 months. I am still suffering from stress incontinence when I exercise, and I think I have a bit of a prolapse because I feel a lot of pressure on my area - esp in the evenings. I can no longer use tampons because they fall right out (devastating). I'm contemplating baby #2 but I don't know if my body can handle it - even if I have a scheduled C section. I'm scared my pelvic floor won't be able to support another baby. Anyone else have a similar experience or any advice? I am seeing Dr's and PT's and kegel about 200x a day but I would definitely like to hear other people's experiences so I know it's not only happening to me. Thanks!

Twons, I had no problem carrying my second baby with the pressure or anything. It was the exact same for me. Good luck to you :)

I also had a 3rd degree tear plus torn cervix and extensive vaginal tearing when my son was born (7lbs even).

I am surprised to find little or no mention here of the role pitocin has played in many of these tears. I have a complication-free pregnancy and smooth labor up until the pushing part. I saw my doc pump up the IV drip as she said "this baby will be out in 20 minutes". I pushed exactly 2 times, my son came flying out, and I tore all the way down and needed 2 years to feel normal again.

My docs and other midwives I have talked to are convinced that my tearing was due to the pitocin/epidural. It sped up the labor so much that my tissue had no time to stretch.

I am now thinking about another baby and after reading tons about this, I am leaning towards a vaginal birth with no meds (definitely no pitocin) next time around. I will consult an experienced midwife who can help me to labor more slowly and gently to reduce the possibility of tearing.

I have read many stories of women who have birthed naturally after extensive tearing and most have said they did not tear as badly or at all the second time around.

I know no one has posted on this thread since March, but I had an appointment with the OB yesterday (pregnant with number 2) and he noted that I had a 4th degree tear with my first. Recovery wasn't too bad with it, and I'm not incontinent, although I feel like I can never get my behind clean, if that makes sense (and sorry if tmi!) Anyway, he offered to give a c/s due to the risk of tearing again and becoming incontinent of bowel. I am having a tough time finding out what the real risk is. I guess if I had my druthers, I'd rather have another vaginal delivery with not pitocin this time around. (I agree with Ginger that the pitocin can definitely contribute to many issues!) Of course, I don't want to have some of the issues that the other ladies have gone through here either and I think that it may be better to be safe than sorry, give up the idea of an ideal vaginal delivery this time around and opt for thec/s. I'm so conflicted, but luckily, I have about 13 weeks to decide (he wants me to decide by 30 weeks.) It really seems like a crapshoot, doesn't it?

Wow - I just spent so much time reading all these posts....I found it after googling for people who were deciding whether or not to have a C-section after a 3rd degree tear, which is the same dilemma I'm in now. (currently 14 weeks pregnant) It sounds like there are many advantages/disadvantages to either side, and that you just have to make your own personal decision and know that there are risks involved either way. Right now I must say that I'm leaning toward csection....with my 3rd degree tear, i thankfully have not had any urinary or bowel problems, but i just keep thinking that if something goes wrong this time, i could have severe problems for the rest of my life!! gosh, decisions, decisions......

Joanne- I'm leaning toward the C/S as well. I'm going to talk to the doc who delivered my son about it, since she was the one who sewed me up post-delivery. I've noticed some differences in how things are functioning "down there" since I got pregnant, so I'm thinking if it's that bad now, how is it going to be if I push out another 7-9 lb kid?

I also had a 3rd degree tear with my first child. She is now 9 weeks old and I still have constant pain in my rectum. I went back to my Ob/Gyn and he acted like it wasn't a big deal. He did finally refer me to a colorectal specialist. I have an appointment on Jan. 12 and we will see what he says. I am very angry about this because I begged for a c-section because I knew she was going to be large. I am a small person and I was afraid that she was going to get stuck or that I was going to tear badly which I did. The doctors did finally agree to my c-section but when they were going over all the things that can go wrong they scared my husband half to death. (which I think that they were trying to do) So then he didn't want me to do it. So I didn't which now I regret!!! But I felt like it was his baby too, so I did what he wanted me to do. But noone knows my body better than me and I knew she was too big for me. I also am very angry at him, I know that he didn't want me to get hurt, but I still blame him for what happened. It's not just the pain as it is the mental and emotional damage it has caused. I feel deformed, mangled and ruined. All of this could have been avoided if everyone had just listened to me. I feel like I was just an incubator and no one cared about how I felt or what I wanted. I knew all the risks with a c-section I did my homework. Women actually have more problems with vaginal deliveries than they do with c-sections. If you want info on c-sections, you should readThe Essential C-Section Guide: Pain Control, Healing at Home, Getting Your Body Back, and Everything Else You Need to Know About a Cesarean Birth by Maureen Connolly , Dana Sullivan. I told my husband we will not have anymore children unless I have a c-section, which my doctors have now said that I should have. I know it sounds like I am just a whiner but I'm really not. I had morning sickness thru my whole pregnancy I threw up everyday, all day for 33 weeks. I was throwing up while I was pushing. I had back labor so bad that I was hitting my knees as we were getting ready to go to the hospital. But I would do all that again, but I will not have a vaginal birth again and risk tearing as bad or worse. I feel like my birth experience was ruined because I instantly was depressed when they told me I had a third degree tear. I think that I would have rather had a c-section with no anesthesia than to go through all of this. At this that would have been over with quickly and I would be healed by now. Now I have to go see a specialist and there is no end in sight. Some of you guys are still having pain after years since your deliveries!!! Hopefully I hear good news when I see the specialist. If and when I have another baby I am definately having a c-section!!!

am sorry if i have posted this on the wrong forum i was wondering i have had my first child and i had a third degree tear to my vigina and rectal muscle and have not bin right down there since but my patner and i want another and was wondering on if i would be granted a c setion as i am still finding things hard with bowl movements

he was 9.14lbs

ES- What became of your appointment with the specialist on the 12th?

cazntarby- It depends on your doctor. My practice said they would support whatever decision I make about this issue- c/s, induction, natural, whatever. I think that because you are experiencing issues with your bowels, you might be a good candidate for a c/s. I would discuss it with your doctor in any case. Good luck!

So I had my appointment with the specialist on Jan. 12. He said that I was not stitched up properly and that is why I have had so many complications. Things are just taking a really long time to heal. He felt that at this time no surgical intervention is needed, because I have had improvements. He also thinks that my tailbone was either fractured or badly bruised and that is contributing to my pain. He did recommend that I consider a c-section with my next child. I had already decided that I would have a c-section next time, but it made me feel better having a doctor suggest it. He said because I am so young and healthy already that is why I have been able to regain my muscle control. I am glad that he doesn't think that I need surgery. It is just going to be a long process before everything finishes healing. I guess I am one of the lucky ones that I have been able to regain my control down there.

ES- I'm happy to hear you don't need surgery. It sounds like you're a more clear-cut c/s candidate than me. I'm kind of borderline. My Ob did an awesome job sewing me up, but there is still that risk of the scar tissue rupturing with a second delivery. I'm going to wait ans see how the big the baby looks on the 34 week US and discuss it with the doc then. I have read stories that are good and bad for both vaginal and c/s deliveries after tearing, so I'm definitely not 100% decided right now.

Hi
I first posted here nearly 3 years ago. I had to have a Permanent colostomy after having my son in 2003 due to having 4th degree tears and i am now 31 weeks pregnant with our 2nd son. I had been told since having my first son that i would need a c-secton but when i saw the doc who will be doing the c-section (my normal doc is on holiday when i'm due to have the c-section so have this doc) last week he turned round and said that because i still have the colostomy i could give birth naturally so basically what he's saying is that because i don't pass stools from my bum it doesn't matter if i do tear because i don't use my bum anyway. I was fuming because that is not how i see it. Yes ok i don't use my bum no more but if i did give birth naturally and did tear again it would take longer to heal because of the scar tissue down below. The first 2 years after having my first son was a living nighmare and from when i gave birth to my first son it was 20 months later that my husband and i could make love again so there is no way i'm going through that again. I just can not believe that he could say that it would be ok to give birth naturally when it clearly states in my notes everything i went through. I have decided that i do not what him doing the c-section now and i am still going to go ahead with the planned c-section.

Twons, I also had problems with tampons sliding out after my 3rd degree tear with my daughter. I tried to use Playtex, the brand that I had used for years, they didn't work. So I tried Kotex and they stayed in place. I hope this helps. I know I was upset when I thought I wouldn't be able to use tampons again.

Nicky79, I totally agree with you!!! I have already decided and told my husband that if we have another baby I will only do so if I have a c-section. I am looking for a new dr. now so that when/if I get pregnant I will have a dr. who knows my situation and what I want and who is completely supportive. Good Luck! Don't back down like I did. It's your body and your baby it's your decision.