Almost all first-time mothers receive vaginal tears of some sort or the other. This is because the tissues of a first-time mother are less elastic when compared to a woman who has had children before. The chances of vaginal tearing or laceration increases in the following instances:
• If the mother is overweight
• If the delivery happens faster than normal This is because, the tissues of the vagina do not have enough time to adapt to the baby’s head.
• If the baby is in a difficult position If the baby is in a breach position or is in a position that proves difficult for birth, the vagina will have to deal with the extra pressure and may sustain some tears.
• If the delivery is assisted with the use of forceps or vacuum. The application of forceps and vacuum cup in the vagina can be difficult and it may cause some damage to the vagina.
• If the labor is too long A labor that is too long will cause the vaginal tissues to swell up. The swollen tissues are more likely to tear when the baby passes through.