But some worries surrounding labor and delivery surface, tooand thats totally okay!
You may even wonder if its possible to prevent tearing during birth.
Some different degrees include the following, perPenn Medicine:
Sooo…can tears be prevented?
Every body is different and will react differently to birth.
This is why its important to not blame yourself if you tear (its never your fault!).
Ultimately, the choice to try perineal massage is yours!
a nurse midwife and director of professional practice and policy at theAmerican College of Nurse-Midwives
Its not a make-or-break decision, says Dr. Rankins.
The best way to determine if your doctors right for you?
Ask about their episiotomy and C-section rates at the beginning of your pregnancy.
The more gradually this area stretches, the less likely itll rip.
You may find a midwife fits all these requirements.
Communicate with your team
Keep the lines of communication open with your delivery team, Crouch says.
No matter who you chooseOB/GYN or midwifeits important you feel comfortable enough to voice your concerns.
You want a provider who listens to your fears and respects and supports your birth plan.
If youre feeling rushed or dismissed, they may not be the right one for you.
a nurse midwife and director of professional practice and policy at theAmerican College of Nurse-Midwives
Push prep, in particular, can prepare your body for labor.
This can potentially protect your perineum from severe tears.
Push prep involves training thepelvic floor musclesto relax and stretch, complementing the natural birthing process, Crouch says.
Wondering what that looks like?
as well as practicing breathing techniques.
For example, many people dont know you dont have to give birth on your back, Crouch says.
Good nutrition is important for skin integrity and healing, Jefferson says.
A June 2017Cochrane Review4supports this theory in certain cases.
That said, evidence is limited.
Thats because the tissues wont have time to stretch.
But sometimes you may not have a choice to slow things down.
Dont sweat this too much, Crouch says.
The speed of labor is something we cant really control.
Listen to your body and go with the flow.
Try certain birthing positions
Contrary to popular belief, you donthave tolabor on your back.
There are many other optimal birthing positions.
These positions give your baby more room to pass by your sacrum.
According to a March 2016 review in theBritish Journal of Midwifery5, this includes kneeling and being on all-fours.
Still, its not all cut and dry.
At the end of the day, listen to your body.
Whatever position feels good and helps you progress is the right one for you.
Can you give birth in an upright position with epidural?
This can make it a bit more challenging to birth in upright positions, says Dr. Rankins.
But its not impossible.
Contrary to popular belief, you might use different birthing positions with a low-dose epidural, Crouch says.
Like the name implies, its a lower dose of an anesthetic.
It provides pain relief but allows you to stay somewhat mobile.
You just have to stay in the bed, Crouch says.
Side-lying positions with an epidural might help protect the perineum, too.
Incorporate perineal massage
Perineal massage may help during labor, too.
But again, the data is inconsistent.
The authors also noted that perineal massage didnt appear to reducefirst- or second-degree tearsor episiotomies.
This means, they should ask whether its okay to touch your genitals.
They should also explain any risks and benefits, so you might make an informed decision.
Who is more at risk of tearing during birth?
Tearing in birth is common.
But certain people are more likely to tear than others.
In the meantime, you might feel discomfort doing ordinary things, like pooping, coughing, or sneezing.
Anything that puts pressure on your perineum can be pretty painful.
Fortunately, there are a few things it’s possible for you to do for relief.
If you feel any of these issues, let your provider know ASAP.
Treatments are available (from pelvic floor physical therapy to talk therapy) to help.
The bottom line
Vaginal tearing during birth is not completely preventable.
In fact, most people tear just a little.
But doing certain things during pregnancy and labor may help reduce the risk (and severity) of tearing.
Of course, its still important to prep.
But if you do tear, remember: its not your fault.
venture to focus on healing and recovery, and ask for help if you need it.
reviewed byAndrea Braden, MD, OB/GYN
Milka, Weronika et al.
52,8 (2023): 102627. doi:10.1016/j.jogoh.2023.102627
Faden, Yaser A et al.
Examining the Association Between Episiotomy and Severe Perineal Tears in a Tertiary Care Center Implementing a Restrictive Episiotomy Policy.Cureusvol.
17 Nov. 2022, doi:10.7759/cureus.31606
Sandall, Jane et al.
Midwife-led continuity models versus other models of care for childbearing women.The Cochrane database of systematic reviewsvol.
2016, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub5
Aasheim, V., Nilsen, A.
B., Reinar, L. M., & Lukasse, M. (2017).
Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,2018(6).
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd006672.pub3
Lodge, F., & Haith-Cooper, M. (2016).
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