Is there any way of avoiding tearing in labour? Can babies breathe when they start crowning?

Question

WIth my previous labour i rushed to push when the baby's head was crowning, partly because i was afraid that the baby couldnt breathe during crowning (partly because I couldnt take the contractions any more!)

ANy advice at all?

Answer 1

Perineal massage and not pushing too hard and fast can prevent tears, but not always.

The baby doesn't need to breath when they are crowning, the umbilical cord is still attached and provides them with perfectly oxygenated blood. Babies who are born via water births can stay underwater after birth while they are still attached to the cord, and the cord remains uncut, as the oxygenated blood gives them everything they need. Do not worry that your baby may suffocate during delivery, because as long as the cord is attached and not compressed, they are fine.

Answer 2

Massage may help but it's really about relaxing and giving your body the chance to stretch before the major pushing begins. Birth is not a race. There should be no worries about the baby breathing unless there is an actual complication of some type. In water births the baby is born completely under water they open their eyes and look around as they finish sliding out and don't take a breath until they are brought above the surface, babies also have a natural instinct to swim and and hold their breath. Try to relax and remember that birth is one of the most natural things humans still do.

Answer 3

The baby cannot breathe during crowning - they're still inside then. Crowning is literally when your vagina makes a 'crown' around the top of the baby's head. The link below has a good descriptor for you.

A good OB will help you avoid tearing as you go, but it can just come down to whether or not that baby's going to fit without a little extra room.

My first was a forcep delivery, so I had an episiotomy for obvious reasons, and then tore anyway, as they had to work to get my son out safely. With my second, my OB did some controlled tearing to get my 9 lb 6 oz monster out without him ripping me in two on his own. :)

Answer 4

As the previous poster said - massaging the area now can apparently help avoid tearing. Also - don't push too fast during labour - you're body is naturally designed to stretch around the baby so if you try (try! its hard i know!!) to relax and not push too soon you should naturally stretch thus avoiding tearing. In terms of breathing while crowning - i honestly don't know however you will have doctors/midwives there to assist who will know if its taking too long and help baby out.

Good luck to you!

Answer 5

the massage method has been the one touted as the best but I found (the hard way) that the only way to keep from tearing is to learn total relaxation-your childbirth educator teach this but you have to really practice making yourself relax-through it all -the more relaxed you are the easier everything is including the contractions but it's hard to make yourself totally relax -and no -baby doesn't start breathing until after birth

Answer 6

They say if you massage the perineal area - wash your hands, put your thumb at the tip of the inside of your vagina and pointer finger on the opposite side on the outside- before you go into labor it can help keep you from tearing.

Answer 7

Whatever you end up doing, don't get let them cut you to avoid tearing. If you do and you have another child, you are more likely to tear in the same place. (Can't spell the word for the procedure, but it's close to episiomity.)

Answer 8

Usually you tear if you have a vaginal birth and not if you have a Cesarean. Until it is cut, the baby breaths through the umbilical cord, so yes, the baby can breathe unless the chord is wrapped around its neck.

Remember when the baby is born and the sack is removed they usually take their first breath of air at that time. Doctors use to smack them on the butt to make them gulp in that first breath.

Go to birthing class and learn to relax.