Mothers with 4th Degree Tears

In this week’s episode we will hear from Shelley in the UK, who experienced a buttonhole tear during the birth of her first child. Buttonhole tears are a less common type of tear in which the tearing is mostly internal. Fortunately for Shelley her buttonhole tear was immediately diagnosed and repaired, but even so she continues to have problems 18 months later. 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

In this week’s episode I will tell my own story of my 4th degree tear and the two births I have had since then, and how those experiences impacted the creation of the Facebook support group and eventually this podcast.

Article mentioned about pushing (or not pushing) your baby OR YOUR POOP out - https://youtu.be/fVl6L88HmDI 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

In today’s episode we hear from Katie in the Chicago area. Katie tells us about her two birth stories: her 4th degree tear during her first birth and a healing c-section of her second. After hearing from Katie, I will share some of the research regarding c-section vs vaginal birth following a 4th degree tear and what ACOG recommendations are. 

Article mentioned around 27’ about the emotional impact of birth trauma on postpartum sex - http://jenhannahspeaks.com/birth-trauma-sex-why-we-just-cant-go-there-right-now/ 

ACOG recommendations - https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/119f/065ce9cd664afc241bcb1546781ce4fd8a47.pdf 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

Today’s guest is *Maria from Chicago. She tells us the story of her first childbirth that resulted in a 3c tear during a forceps delivery. Maria was pressured into having a forceps delivery by her OB even though her baby was not in distress. After she consents a resident doctor enters to perform the forceps delivery and repair. Maria believes she was used as a guinea pig for the resident doctor to practice on, and has since heard stories from other women who had the same experience at the same hospital. 

*Name changed for privacy

If you had a similar experience or know someone who has, please email [email protected]. 

Also consider filing a complaint to the hospital using the information at the following site. https://improvingbirth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IB-Accountability-Toolkit.pdf 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

On today’s episode we hear from Madeline in Indiana. She tells us the story of her 4th degree tear during the birth of her first child, and how that experience affected the choices she made for her 2nd pregnancy and childbirth, and influenced her to change career paths. 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

In this week’s episode we have Lianne from Washington State, who tells us about the birth of her first child in which she suffered a 4th degree tear. Unfortunately she did not receive a good repair and was left with a rectovaginal fistula which she has had to deal with for the last four months. She will finally have her repair surgery later this week! Lianne’s story highlights the importance of a good repair by an experienced doctor immediately after delivery. 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

‼️TRIGGER WARNING‼️ I do compare the birth of a child to a bomb going off! 😬 Do you have a hard time visualizing perineal tearing? Not exactly sure what a fistula or buttonhole tear is or how to know the difference? Find out a simple way to help visualize that part of your body better. 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

On today’s episode we will have our first guest, Rachel Kercher from Los Angeles California, who sustained a 4th degree tear during the birth of her 2nd child last year. Rachel’s story is unique in that her 4th degree tear happened during her 2nd vaginal birth and during a natural water birth at a birth center. I love that Rachel is our first guest because her story shows us that all births are complex and unique and we shouldn’t make assumptions about someone’s birth experience. 

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com

Our very first podcast episode! Join us to learn what exactly is a 4th degree tear and what should you expect from our podcast.

If you have any comments, questions, or interest in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected]

Facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1538075199800995

Instagram - @4thdegreetears

Twitter - @4thdegreetears

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/4thdegreetears

Blog - https://4thdegreetears.wordpress.com