Want to understand the potential risks of giving birth? These five common birth injuries will show you what may occur.
The tangible excitement that comes hand in hand with having a baby is second to none. But, as any mother will tell you, that excitement doesn’t come without a certain level of apprehension.
Everybody’s birthing experience is completely different. For some, the birth will go incredibly smoothly, while, for others, there may be a number of complications which combine to make the situation much more difficult.
The ever-present risk of injuries during child birth isn’t something that’s always made immediately obvious to prospective mothers. This is why it’s vital to absorb as much information as possible. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at five of the most notable maternal birth injuries that you should know.
5 Maternal Birth Injuries to be Aware of
Vaginal and Perineal Tears
According to the NHS, up to nine in ten first time mothers who give birth naturally will experience some form of tear.
A first degree vaginal tear is typically skin deep, affecting the outer layer of the skin around the vagina and perineum. These injuries don’t tend to be long term and they will usually heal quicky by themselves, possibly with the aid of stitches.
Second degree vaginal tears are deeper and will almost always require stiches to help the teared muscles around the vagina and the skin around the anus to heal.
Third and fourth degree vaginal tears are the most serious and deepest tears to be aware of. Third degree tears which cause damage to the anal sphincter, whereas fourth degree tears damage the lining and muscles of the anus.
The severity of a vaginal tear will depend on a number of factors, including:
- The size of the baby
- If labour is induced
- If forceps or ventouse are needed to assist the birth
- If the baby becomes stuck for any reason
- If it is the mother’s first natural birth
It is also possible to experience a perineal tear, which is the skin and soft tissue structure which separates the vagina from the anus.
Episiotomy
There may be certain situations where a doctor or midwife is required to make a cut in the perineum during childbirth. This is called an episiotomy.
Episiotomies make the opening of the vagina wider, which will allow the baby to pass through easier. This may reduce the potential for a more serious injury, such as a vaginal tear, or preventing a minor tear from becoming more serious.
There are a number of reasons why an episiotomy may be recommended by a doctor or widwife, including where:
- The baby is developing ‘foetal distress’
- The mother is having breech birth (the baby is being born feet first)
- The mother has unsuccessfully tried to give birth for a number of hours
- The mother has a serious health condition, such as heart disease
Episiotomy cuts are usually repaired within an hour of the baby’s birth, using pressure and stiches. Stiches will usually heal within one month of the birth, if the doctor’s advice is adhered to.
Post-Partum Haemorrhage (PPH)
Women naturally experience bleeding after birth, which tends to last between two and six weeks, becoming lighter over time. However, a small percentage of women may suffer significantly heavy bleeding, known as post-partum haemorrhage (PPH).
PPH, if not properly treated, can be life-threatening. It is usually categorised in one of two ways: primary PPH or secondary PPH.
Primary PPH involves heavy bleeding within 24 hours of the birth, whereas secondary PPH is heavy bleeding that starts after that 24-hour period.
Uterine Damage
There is a risk that the uterus can be damaged during childbirth, which can take the form of a uterine rupture, or a uterine collapse.
A uterine rupture is where the wall of the uterus tears during pregnancy, due to a build-up of pressure as the baby moves through the birth canal. Uterine ruptures can be very serious, causing the mother’s heart rate to increase and blood pressure to drop. A haemorrhage or pain not caused by contractions may also occur.
A uterine prolapse happens when a woman’s pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken to such an extent that they are no longer able to keep the uterus in place. The uterus then slips down into the vaginal canal.
Women who suffer a severe serious uterine prolapse may have to have surgery to repair the pelvic floor muscles.
Post-Natal Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Not all maternal birth injuries are physical. Many people who have a baby are likely to experience post-natal depression and, if the birth was especially upsetting, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It’s completely natural to feel a little down, or anxious in the couple of weeks after giving birth. This is commonly referred to as having the ‘baby blues’. It’s so common, that it’s pretty much considered to be the norm.
However, if these feelings last more than two weeks after giving birth, it could be a sign that the mother is experiencing post-natal depression. Symptoms of post-natal depression often include, among others:
- A persistent feeling of sadness
- Lack of enjoyment in the wider world
- Constant tiredness
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Withdrawn from social contact
PTSD is an anxiety disorder which is caused by serious, distressing events, such as a complicated birth. Someone with PTSD tends to repeatedly relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks and may begin to experience feelings of isolation and guilt.
PTSD is estimated to affect one in three people who have suffered a traumatic experience, but it is not clear as to why some people experience it and others do not.
Do You Feel Fully Clued Up on Birth Injuries?
In this post, we’ve taken a detailed look at five birth injuries you need to be aware of. While the threat of a birth injury is something you will need to consider, thankfully the advancements we’ve made in maternal healthcare mean that recovering from these types of injuries is much easier, and quicker, than you might think.
Please note that the information in this article is purely informational, and is not intended to mimic the advice or opinion of a medical professional. Please seek the advice of your doctor for their professional take on the potential risks of birth injuries.
Have you got any more questions about any of the birth injuries on this list? Feel free to leave a comment below so we can keep the discussion going.
