Anybody expecting their 2nd (or 3rd or more) and...

[tigress]

previously had a 4th degree tear? 

I am expecting my 3rd. 

With my first I had a 2nd degree anterior tear. Not a great birth even though I got an epidural and had lots of urinary incontinence issues after but after about 18 months it was for the most part resolved. 

With my 2nd I went without any pain meds, labor and deliver went as well as I could have hoped except I had a 4th degree tear. Recover wasn't too horrible, took pain meds for a while (maybe 2-3 weeks after I was still on percocet) but didn't have much trouble moving around, etc. I have some small anal incontinence issues (every once in a while I can't hold it but not usually enough to get on my underwear or anything, just minor).

I'm concerned about delivering this 3rd baby. I don't want to do major serious damage to cause things to be worse. I'm fine with where they are. I'll be really bummed if things get worse. I haven't even seen the doc so I don't know if they would allow an elective c-section. But I'm definitely going to discuss it. 

Anybody been through anything similar?