Tearing in labor is a common childbirth injury that can cause significant pain and discomfort. It occurs when the tissues of the vagina and perineum stretch and tear during the delivery of the baby’s head. While some tearing is often unavoidable, there are steps that women can take to reduce their risk of experiencing a severe tear.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to tearing in labor, including the size and position of the baby, the length of labor, and the use of forceps or vacuum extraction. However, there are also a number of things that women can do to help prevent tearing, such as: