Mothers with 4th Degree Tears

In today’s episode we hear from Alyssa in Kansas who had a 4th degree tear during a vacuum delivery about 9 months ago. Not only did she have to deal with the recovery of a 4th degree tear, but also a severe postpartum hemorrhage and a NICU stay for her baby boy. 

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 Emma in the UK, who experienced a 4th degree tear in 2017. Unfortunately she has had multiple complications since then and has undergone 10 surgeries. Emma wants to help women who have gone through the same and to help prevent it from happening to others. She has started an Instagram account @recover_together_88 to document her recovery and has even had her story featured in the Daily Mail. I’m so thankful for women like her who put a face and name to injuries like ours! 

Daily Mail article - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7608723/Mother-31-unable-sex-excruciating-daily-pain-traumatic-birth.html 

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 Jama in Arkansas. Jama experienced a 4th degree tear during her first birth 4 years ago, which was misdiagnosed as a 2nd degree tear and left completely unrepaired. She shares with us the physical and emotional impact it has had on her, but also that through this journey she has found her voice to speak up for herself and to trust her instincts. 

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 will hear from Kristin in Washington state. I met Kristin at the Trauma and Birth Conference in Seattle this past March. She is a mental health professional who also suffered a fistula after her first birth. I am really excited to talk with her about her own experience with the fistula and subsequent postpartum PTSD, and as a mental health professional who has specialized training in birth trauma. 

For those in the Seattle area https://www.kristinhilltherapy.com/ 

Find an EMDR trained therapist near you here https://www.emdria.org 

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 will hear from Maranda in Maine. She will tell us the story of her 4th degree tear 2 years ago, as well as the emotional journey since then. Her story highlights the importance of having a good repair immediately after delivery, and the need to address trauma after a traumatic birth experience. 

Find an EMDR trained therapist near you here https://www.emdria.org 

Find someone trained in Traumatic Incident Reduction here https://www.tira.org 

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 Jo in the UK who suffered a 4th degree tear during a forceps delivery almost 25 years ago. Jo suffered in silence for over 20 years and had to quit her job due to the complications of her delivery. After joining Instagram (@the_babys_ok_am_i) three years ago, she came across the account of Dr. Emma Svanberg of Mumologist and Make Birth Better. Jo realized that she was finally ready to share her story and receive the help she had so desperately needed, both physically and emotionally. Her story was featured in the Daily Mail in July 2019 (link below). She hopes that by sharing her story, other women will reach out for help sooner or will realize that it is never too late. 

The Daily Mail article - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7257843/The-traumatic-births-haunt-women-DECADES.html 

Dr. Emma Svanberg’s Make Birth Better - https://www.makebirthbetter.org 

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

Welcome back to the podcast! After a summer break we are excited to be sharing new stories on the podcast again! In this week’s episode you will get a brief update about my own journey and the WOW2019 Awareness Week. We will also hear from Jessica in New Jersey who tells us the story of her 4th degree tear due to a forceps delivery. Her story is a refreshingly positive story of a good repair, good recovery and a subsequent vaginal birth. 

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 will have a special update from Lianne of Episode 5. In Episode 5 she told us about the birth of her son in January when she suffered a 4th degree tear. She was repaired by an inexperienced doctor, so her repair broke down and turned into a fistula. When we spoke to her she was almost five months postpartum and was finally going to have her repair surgery later that week. She wanted to update us on how her surgery and recovery went, and on how she has began doing advocacy work at the hospital where her tear occurred. 

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 episode you will hear from Laura in Maryland who shares the story of her son’s birth almost 7 years ago that resulted in a 4th degree tear. I’m so thankful that Laura was willing to share the difficulties that she experienced in her marriage. If anyone has struggled to communicate with their partner about how they are feeling after their 4th degree tear, then I highly recommend sharing this podcast episode with your partner to help them understand how we feel physically and emotionally following our tears. 

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

We are having our first World OASI Week! In September 2019 we will have an Awareness Week for 3rd and 4th degree tears. In this episode you will hear exactly when it will be and why we chose that week. 

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