Vagina tears during labor is a condition that is experienced by many mothers who have just given birth. Usually, the tear occurs in the vagina to the perineum, which is the area between the vagina and anus.
Every woman who will give birth has a risk of experiencing a tear in the vagina. This happens because at the time of giving birth to the baby, the mother's birth canal will stretch and experience a very strong pressure when trying to push the baby out.
When this pressure is very strong or the mother has to exert extra energy to give birth to the baby, the vagina can be torn during labor.
Types of tears in the vagina during labor
Based on the severity, tears in the vagina during childbirth are divided into 4 types, namely:
- Tear vagina level one. This tearing only occurs in the area of the skin between the lips of the vagina and the rectum (the last part of the large intestine closest to the anus), as well as a small amount of fatty tissue just below the perineal skin.
- Tear level two vagina. This tearing occurs in the skin and muscle area of the perineum, even extending to the inside of the vagina.
- Tear level three vagina. Tearing is quite severe because it does not only occur in the area of the perineum, but up to the muscles surrounding the anus.
- Tear a level four vagina. This tear is the worst because it does not only occur in the vaginal and anal muscles, but has gone deeper, the rectal wall.
Some Risk Factors for Vagina Tearing During Childbirth
There are several things that can increase the risk of a woman experiencing vaginal tears during labor, namely:
- The delivery is first.
- Underwent labor with assistive devices.
- Carrying babies with large size or baby weight above 3.5 kilograms.
- Have experienced severe vaginal tears in labor before.
- Babies are born in a posterior position, or head down but facing the mother's abdomen.
- Underwent episiotomy (incision in perenium) during labor or had an episiotomy in previous labor.
- Has a shorter perineum.
- Prolonged labor, or having to push for a long time during labor.
- Age of older mothers (over 35 years) at delivery.
How do doctors handle a torn vagina during childbirth?
Handling of vaginal tears during labor will be adjusted to the severity of the tear and the patient's condition. For minor tears, the wound can usually heal by itself.
If it is severe enough (a second or more degree tear), a tear in the vagina needs to be treated with suturing. Before the wound is stitched, the doctor will give a local anesthetic to reduce pain.
After the stitches are stitched, the doctor usually recommends the patient to compress the stitches with ice wrapped in cloth. If the stitches cause pain or are uncomfortable, the doctor will prescribe painkillers.
Caring for Scars
After giving birth and experiencing a tear in the vagina, Mother may feel some complaints, such as pain, bleeding and swelling in the vagina.
However, these side effects can be reduced by doing a few simple treatments below:
1. Rest
It's not easy to get enough rest when you just have a baby, even though resting is a moment where the body naturally recovers. However, rest does not always mean sleep. Avoiding strenuous activity for at least 2 weeks after giving birth is enough to help the recovery process.
2. Keep the wound wound clean
Maintain cleanliness of stitches of course need to be prioritized. If cleanliness is not maintained, the wound may heal longer or actually worsen and cause new problems, such as infection.
To keep the stitches clean, the doctor will usually advise you to clean the stitches with warm water every few hours, especially after urinating (defecating) and defecating.
3. Take laxatives
Constipation after giving birth can make you have to push during bowel movements. This can cause pain at the suture location. To prevent this, try to drink plenty of water and foods that contain fiber to facilitate digestion and bowel movements.
If necessary, the doctor can prescribe laxatives so that you don't have to push hard during bowel movements.
4. Give an ice pack
To reduce swelling and pain, try to compress the problem area with ice cubes wrapped in cloth. Compress for at least 10-20 minutes.
As much as possible avoid compressing the problem area for more than 20 minutes, because it can damage the nerves that are around the area.
In the recovery phase, there are certainly some things that need to be avoided because it can inhibit the recovery of suture wounds in the torn vagina. Some things to avoid are:
- Use tampons.
- Clean the scars with hot water.
- Having sex. This activity can only be done again when the wound has fully healed.
- Using vaginal cleaning products.
- Applying powder or lotion containing fragrance to the wound.
Discuss the treatment of suture wounds with the doctor. The doctor will determine the treatment according to the condition and severity of the wound.
If the above efforts do not relieve pain due to vaginal tearing or instead cause new symptoms, such as an unpleasant odor, fever, severe swelling, pus in the vaginal tear, and more severe pain than before, you should immediately meet with Mother the doctor returned.
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