Vaginal tear during childbirth: this is everything you need to know 2026

A vaginal birth requires that the vagina stretch enough to allow the baby to come out at the time of delivery. All women who give birth vaginally, and also - sometimes - those who have a prolonged labor before a cesarean section, may suffer some perineal pain after the birth of the child.

And as a result of the pressure exerted by the baby's head when pushing at the time of birth, it is normal to experience tears and lacerations in the perineum, which is the area located between the vagina and the anus. It is even possible that these tears also occur in the cervix.

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Not surprisingly, it is so common that it is estimated that more than half of pregnant women will suffer at least a small tear after giving birth.

As far as vaginal tears are concerned, it is true that they tend to be more common in first vaginal births. And as many experts believe, it is essential to normalize the notion of vaginal tearing and not go to childbirth fearing it, because in reality it tends to occur quite frequently (more than you might think at first). Therefore, knowing why it happens is essential, especially when it comes to knowing what to expect both at the time it may occur and after the baby is born.

What is a vaginal tear and what does it consist of?

A vaginal tear is a laceration that occurs in the perineum when the baby pushes to be born. Theperineum is the area located between the vagina and the rectum, and when it occurs, it occurs spontaneously, which means that the doctor did not make any type of cut in order to help the child get outside.

We must keep in mind that, during childbirth, the vagina stretches enough to allow the baby, whose head is approximately the size of a melon, to pass through it. Hopefully, the vagina will manage to stretch enough to not tear or tear, but often the inevitable happens, and a tear forms.

What are the chances of at least one vaginal tear?

Contrary to what one might think at first, the reality is that the chances of a tear occurring at the time of vaginal delivery are quite high, especially among first-time pregnant women. Not in vain, it is estimated that around 95 percent of mothers pregnant for the first time tend to experience some type of tear during childbirth, mainly because the tissue is characterized by less flexibility.

However, there are also other factors that can contribute to increasing the chances of a tear occurring. For example, a rapid birth or being overweight are usually two other directly related factors, since the tissue is not as able to stretch when the baby descends, and has less time to adapt.

It is also known that babies placed on their back tend to put additional pressure on the lower part of the vagina, while having a birth assisted by a forceps or a vacuum cleaner, or even a particularly long labor can also end up having an influence, since they cause severe vaginal swelling that increases the chances.

Luckily, there is good news. And after a first vaginal birth, the tissue becomes much more flexible, so in a next pregnancy the chances of it breaking again are much lower. In other words: vaginal tears are extremely common in the first birth, but not in subsequent births.

How to treat vaginal tear?

Although all vaginal tears are painful, some require several stitches after the baby is born. However, more severe tears can end up affecting the anal sphincter, so it is essential to follow the advice given by the doctor to ensure that the healing and healing process is as appropriate as possible.

If a first or second degree tear is experienced, it is normal to feel some discomfort, especially when the mother remains sitting upright. These discomforts usually last about a week or so. And you may also feel pain when doing anything that causes increased pressure in that area, such as sneezing, coughing, or having a bowel movement. However, after the second week, the most common thing is that the tear has almost completely healed, and the stitches have dissolved.

However, nerves and full muscle strength may take several weeks to fully recover.

The same is not true for third and fourth degree tears, as the healing process usually takes longer. In these cases, it is common to feel pain and discomfort for two or three weeks, while the discomfort from having a bowel movement, or even having sexual relations, can last several months.

A useful option when it comes to relieving discomfort is to prepare and apply cold compresses, herbal soothing baths, as well as cold pads with witch hazel. Warm sitz baths for 20 minutes, three times a day, can also help soothe discomfort.

Although it is necessary to know how to care for the wound to ensure that the stitches can be absorbed over time, preventing infections and promoting healing.

It is essential to clean the area with a little warm water during and after going to the bathroom, as well as dry the area with gauze or paper towels, but always by gently patting, without rubbing.