The risk of a 3rd degree tear during childbirth is higher in women having their first vaginal delivery.
3rd degree tear in first vaginal delivery
A 3rd degree tear is a perineal injury that happens during a vaginal birth. There are varying degrees of perineal injury, with a 3rd degree tear denoting an injury that involves the vaginal wall, perineum and anal sphincter complex.
Anyone having a vaginal delivery can suffer a 3rd degree tear. However, there are some factors that increase the risk, one of which is giving birth for the first time. A woman who is giving birth for the first time is described in medical terms as ‘primiparous’.
It is estimated that around 1% of women having a vaginal birth for the first time will sustain a 3rd degree tear. This has been corroborated in a study which calculated the number of severe perineal injuries in primiparous women in the UK between 2000 and 2012.
The study found that 3rd and 4th degree tears affected 1.8 to 5.9% of patients. Along with a first time birth, the factors that increased the risk of a severe perineal injury included:
- · Maternal age above 25 years
- · Instrumental delivery
- · Higher birth weight
- · Shoulder dystocia
Can anything prevent a 3rd degree tear?
There is little that can be done to prevent a 3rd degree tear. This is because it cannot be predicted before labour, with the exception of an abnormally large baby (called macrosomia).
If a baby is known to weigh over 10lbs, it may be prudent to proceed with an elective C-section. Otherwise, the factors that increase the risk of a 3rd degree tear cannot be foreseen. For example, medical practitioners will not know whether a woman will need an instrumental delivery until the active second stage of labour, by which point the mode of delivery will only be changed to an emergency C-section if it is absolutely necessary.
3rd degree tear claims Bristol
Nevertheless, patients who sustain a 3rd degree tear often successfully sue the NHS, obtaining compensation for the injuries incurred. The reason for these claims is not that the tear has occurred, because as mentioned above, there is little that can be done to prevent it.
The reason most 3rd degree tear claims happen is that medical practitioners do not diagnose the tear and/or do not provide a competent repair. Both situations are deemed to be negligent, and anyone who has been harmed because of this negligence will be entitled to make a claim for financial redress. Contact us to find out more.