If I had very bad vaginal tear during birth, should I deliver by C-section the next time around?
This really depends on the circumstances of your delivery and the kind of laceration you had. Sometimes women do choose to avoid vaginal deliveries in future pregnancies because of this.
Many women have some kind of tearing during childbirth, and various types exist. Some women who’ve had the most extensive type, known as a fourth-degree laceration (where the tear extends into the rectum) will opt to deliver any future babies via C-section. The reason they do this is to avoid any further damage to their vagina and rectum or to avoid causing or worsening any issues with urine or stool incontinence. While not all women opt for this, it can certainly be appropriate to do so. If you are worried about this, talk with your doctor or midwife, and together you can come up with a plan that feels right for you.
Reviewed by Jennifer Lincoln, January 2019
Comments