Yes, it’s possible to tear straight through to your anal sphincter during childbirth. It’s not pretty, but here's how to deal.

What it’s like to have a fourth-degree tear—yup, right to your butt

a:1:{i:0;s:660:"<style>
.related-article-block{display:inline-block;width:300px;padding:0.5rem;margin-left:0.5rem;float:right;border:1px solid #ccc}@media (max-width: 525px){.related-article-block{float:none;display:block;width:280px;margin:0 auto 2rem}}
</style>
<a class="related-article-block" href="https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/postpartum-care/we-shouldnt-have-to-live-with-broken-vaginas/" target="_blank">
<img src="https://platform-production-assets-us-west-2.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/tp/2018/05/we-shouldnt-have-to-live-with-broken-vaginas-1280x960.jpg" alt="Photo of a person tossing a salad using a wooden spoons">
<span>We shouldn’t have to live with 'broken vaginas'</span></a>";}

a:2:{s:4:"time";d:1557162077;s:6:"author";i:238917;}

Giving birth

What are the signs of labour? What’s a c-section like? And what if your home birth doesn’t go to plan? Learn what you need to know about giving birth

Pregnancy

Everything you need to know about your pregnancy: what to expect week by week, tips for baby names and baby shower planning, pregnancy health, and more.

A large study finds forceps and vacuum deliveries can lead to more physical trauma for a mother and baby than a C-section would.

a:2:{s:4:"time";d:1496750141;s:6:"author";i:232599;}

New guidelines encourage fewer medical interventions in low-risk pregnancies

C-section procedure: What to expect with a Cesarean delivery

Vacuum Delivery

What it’s like to have a fourth-degree tear—yup, right to your butt

A vacuum or forceps delivery could be riskier than a C-section for mom and baby