How do I know if I have a tear?

Let's begin by reminding you the importance of prevention when it comes to a tear. Don't rush the birth and don't push beyond your urges. Choose good positions that leave stretch in the perineal skin. Relax the perineum while you push, don't tighten the muscle. Read the section on preventing an episiotomy for more information.

That being said, my midwife told me a tear that needed repair would be noticeable unless it was inside. Basically she said I should know what my vagina looks like and know if something wasn't right. My son was born on a Friday, and she saw me on Monday at her office. There was no tear, which was good since it would have been too late to repair it by then. I have seen two tears in labor which the midwives were kind enough to show me. Indeed my midwife was right, in both instances it was obvious the skin wasn't intact.

If you hired a midwife to attend you at home, she will do any repairs necessary before she leaves. This is part of homebirth midwifery services. Most issues that arise during labor are easily handled with the equipment a midwife brings to your home.

You May Also Be Interested In: The Coach's Notebook of positions, techniques and tools for labor Homebirth Books for more information. Midwife Directory to find homebirth midwives and midwife organizations. Virtual Labor to practice your laboring skills. Labor Progress Guide to help you understand the process of labor. Birth Challenges to help you learn to navigate through a challenging labor. This is the story of how I ended up at home for Jaron's Birth.

© Copyright 2000-2008 Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally

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