Lauren Scruggs suffered fourth-degree vaginal tear during vacuum birth

Jason Kennedy has paid tribute to his wife, Lauren Scruggs, three weeks after the birth of their first child, revealing she had to have a vacuum extraction during delivery and suffered a fourth-degree vaginal tear. 

The former E! News host, 40, and the model, 33, welcomed their son, Ryver Rhodes, on April 3 after years of fertility struggles and an IVF journey. Scruggs had planned on a natural birth at home, but she ended up in the hospital after 23 hours of labor.

Kennedy took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a video complication of Scruggs in labor at home and in the hospital followed by footage of them with their newborn baby. 

‘My wife is incredible. She’s been laying low the past few weeks so she can heal. Our home birth didn’t go as planned,’ he wrote in the caption. ‘After 23 hours we went to the hospital. Ryver took another 10 hours.’

Jason Kennedy paid tribute to his wife, Lauren Scruggs, three weeks after the birth of their first child, Ryver Rhodes, by posting a compilation video documenting her labor and delivery 

Kennedy, 40, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the footage of Scruggs, 33, in labor

In the caption, he revealed she was in labor for 23 hours before they went to the hospital

Kennedy, 40, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the footage of Scruggs, 33, in labor. In the caption, he revealed she was in labor for 23 hours before they went to the hospital 

The former E! News host said his wife gave birth to Ryver 10 hours, explaining she needed a vacuum extraction, a procedure in which a device is used to assist the delivery of a baby

The former E! News host said his wife gave birth to Ryver 10 hours, explaining she needed a vacuum extraction, a procedure in which a device is used to assist the delivery of a baby

‘Lo had a 4th degree tear, and we had to do a vacuum birth,’ he added. ‘Amazing doctor, midwives, and team. I’m watching her pump, hold, and comfort my son as I type this. I love these moments, I love this feeling and I love how you care for our boy. I love you.’ 

A vacuum extraction, also known as vacuum-assisted delivery, is a procedure in which a vacuum device is used to assist the delivery of a baby during vaginal childbirth. 

The health care provider applies a vacuum to the baby’s head to help guide the infant out of the birth canal, typically during a contraction while the mother pushes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The procedure may be recommended if the mother is pushing but labor isn’t progressing or the baby’s health depends on an immediate delivery. 

There are potential risks, including injury to the mother or the baby. A cesarean section may be required if a vacuum extraction doesn’t aid in delivery. 

Kennedy also shared that Scruggs suffered a fourth-degree vaginal tear, the most severe perineal laceration that occurs in vaginal childbirth

Kennedy also shared that Scruggs suffered a fourth-degree vaginal tear, the most severe perineal laceration that occurs in vaginal childbirth

Kennedy said they had planned on a home birth before they ended up in the hospital

Kennedy said they had planned on a home birth before they ended up in the hospital

Kennedy said they had planned on a home birth before they ended up in the hospital 

'My wife is incredible. She’s been laying low the past few weeks so she can heal,' he wrote

‘My wife is incredible. She’s been laying low the past few weeks so she can heal,’ he wrote 

Scruggs suffered from a perineal laceration, which is common for a vaginal birth. The degrees of severity range from first and second degree for minor cuts and abrasions to third and fourth degree for deep tears to the muscles and tissue. 

A fourth-degree tear like the one she experienced is the most severe, as it extends through the anal sphincter and into the mucous membrane that lines the rectum, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

While Kennedy didn’t detail his wife’s treatment, fourth-degree tears typically need to be repaired in an operating room with the mother under anesthesia. 

Scruggs had previously shared in a blog post that her ‘ultimate birth plan [was] a natural birth.’ She explained that she initially thought she’d give birth in a hospital with an epidural, but after she began ‘not feeling totally comfy with [her] OB,’ she turned to midwifery and met with a doula.  

‘Our doula has helped me replace fear with the beauty of birth, letting go of control, accepting support, and sinking and opening into the pain because the joy is ahead,’ she said.  

On Wednesday, Scruggs shared in her own Instagram post that their son underwent tongue-tie laser surgery this week

On Wednesday, Scruggs shared in her own Instagram post that their son underwent tongue-tie laser surgery this week

A tongue-tie is a congenital condition that restricts the tongue's range of motion

A tongue-tie is a congenital condition that restricts the tongue’s range of motion

A tongue-tied baby may have difficulty breastfeeding, but the mom noted that her son was able to nurse successfully, albeit slowly

A tongue-tied baby may have difficulty breastfeeding, but the mom noted that her son was able to nurse successfully, albeit slowly

Scruggs added that she had been preparing for a natural birth with ayurvedic treatments, prenatal lymphatic drainage treatments, prenatal chiropractic care, and pelvic floor therapy. 

She also began drinking raspberry leaf tea ‘to tone and strengthen the uterus,’ eating up to six dates a day ‘to soften the cervix,’ and sitting on a bosu ball to ‘open [her] hips and strengthen [her] back.’

Scruggs announced their son’s birth on Instagram on April 4, revealing they named him Ryver Rhodes. She posted a series of photos taken inside the hospital, including an intimate snapshot of her husband cradling their baby boy. 

Kennedy opened up about what it was like to meet Ryver for the first time while speaking to Access Hollywood about his son’s birth. 

‘Trying to come up with words to fully process the last 48 hours aren’t possible,’ he said. ‘Seeing my son for the first time felt like a movie, I kept closing my eyes and finally realized it was true. 

Justin Bieber shared heartwarming photos of himself meeting the newborn on Instagram earlier this week

Justin Bieber shared heartwarming photos of himself meeting the newborn on Instagram earlier this week 

Scruggs had a smile on her face as the singer gave her baby boy a baby bottle

Scruggs had a smile on her face as the singer gave her baby boy a baby bottle 

'LOVE YOU RYVER 4 LIFE I WILL PROTECT YOU!' the singer captioned the first set of pictures

‘LOVE YOU RYVER 4 LIFE I WILL PROTECT YOU!’ the singer captioned the first set of pictures

‘We love this boy so much and are so thankful for this time together. Lo and Ryver are doing great,’ he added. 

The dad posted several images of his bouncing baby boy, as well as a video of the newborn swaddled in a hospital blanket, which he set to the Leon Bridges son ‘River’ — a nod to his child’s name. 

Kennedy and Scruggs have shared candid updates with their fans throughout their road to parenthood, and on Wednesday, the new mom opened up about breastfeeding and their son’s recent tongue-tie laser surgery.   

‘In all honesty, I didn’t prepare or think much of breastfeeding before having Ryver because I know each journey is so different so I wouldn’t know much until it was happening,’ she captioned a photo of herself holding her son.  

‘Ryv has latched so well from the beginning and my milk supply has been great — I am feeling so incredibly grateful and kind of surprised. it has been such an honor to give nutrients to my little man.’

Scruggs and Kennedy welcomed their baby boy on Sunday, April 3, and announced is birth the next day

Scruggs and Kennedy welcomed their baby boy on Sunday, April 3, and announced is birth the next day 

The model shared several sweet images of her newborn son on Instagram while revealing the newborn's precious name

The model shared several sweet images of her newborn son on Instagram while revealing the newborn’s precious name  

Kennedy, who also posted photos of the newborn, told Access Hollywood that his son's arrival 'felt like a movie'

Kennedy, who also posted photos of the newborn, told Access Hollywood that his son’s arrival ‘felt like a movie’

She added that her son had surgery this week to correct his tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) — a congenital condition that restricts the tongue’s range of motion — ‘to help with the gas he was having from inhaling too much air.’ 

During the procedure, a pediatric dentist uses a laser to cut through the connective tissue between the child’s tongue and the bottom of the mouth to free it, according to Mitten Kids Dentistry. 

‘Handling it now helps with so many things in the future: eating solid foods, the health of his microbiome, the development of the roof of his mouth and width of his jaw, and allergies/sinuses. Who knew!’ Scruggs wrote. 

A tongue-tied baby may have difficulty breastfeeding, but the mom noted that her son was able to nurse successfully, albeit slowly. 

‘Luckily his tongue tie didn’t affect the amount he was able to get, but it did slow down the feeding process a bit because he would oftentimes fall asleep while feeding since he was working so hard to eat. Sweet little guy!’

The couple took their newborn son home from the hospital three days after she gave birth

The couple took their newborn son home from the hospital three days after she gave birth 

Kennedy brought their Labradoodle with him and posted a snapshot of himself holding the dog in his arms, writing: 'Benny came for a visit... He loves being a big brother'

Kennedy brought their Labradoodle with him and posted a snapshot of himself holding the dog in his arms, writing: ‘Benny came for a visit… He loves being a big brother’

The couple brought home their son from the hospital three days after he was born and proudly documented the milestone on social media. 

Kennedy posted a photo of himself standing behind Scruggs, who was cradling their son in a hospital wheelchair, on Instagram with the caption: ‘Here we go….’

On his Instagram Stories, he shared a video of his wife and son being wheeled out of the hospital that was fittingly set to John Denver’s song ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads.’ 

He brought their Labradoodle with him and posted a snapshot of himself holding the dog in his arms, writing: ‘Benny came for a visit… He loves being a big brother.’

Another sweet video on his page showed Benny running up to him while he carried Ryver’s car seat into their home.   

Another sweet video showed Benny meeting the couple's newest addition for the first time

Another sweet video showed Benny meeting the couple’s newest addition for the first time

The dog couldn't contain his excitement as he sniffed and licked the baby

The dog couldn't contain his excitement as he sniffed and licked the baby

The dog couldn’t contain his excitement as he sniffed and licked the baby

While Benny clearly loves Ryver, the baby slept through their entire meeting

While Benny clearly loves Ryver, the baby slept through their entire meeting

The dog couldn’t contain his excitement as he sniffed and licked the baby. He protectively followed Kennedy as he brought his son into the kitchen and stood watch when the car seat was placed on the counter. 

Baby Ryver isn’t even a month old, but he already has some famous friends. 

Justin Bieber met the infant for the first time this week and shared photos of himself cradling Ryver on Instagram on Tuesday. 

‘LOVE YOU RYVER 4 LIFE I WILL PROTECT YOU!’ the singer captioned the first set of pictures, which show him wearing gray sweats and a red LA Dodgers cap while holding the baby boy. 

A day later, he posted heartwarming snapshots of himself giving Ryver a bottle during his visit with the new family of three. 

In January 2021, Scruggs and Kennedy revealed they were starting IVF after four years of infertility. They announced they were expecting a baby in September of that year

In January 2021, Scruggs and Kennedy revealed they were starting IVF after four years of infertility. They announced they were expecting a baby in September of that year 

Scruggs (pictured during a check-up) had previously shared in a blog post that her 'ultimate birth plan [was] a natural birth' with a doula

Scruggs (pictured during a check-up) had previously shared in a blog post that her ‘ultimate birth plan [was] a natural birth’ with a doula 

Scruggs shared a final photo of her baby bump on March 31 (pictured), three days before she welcomed son Ryver

Scruggs shared a final photo of her baby bump on March 31 (pictured), three days before she welcomed son Ryver

Scruggs and Kennedy first announced that they were expecting in September, eight months after they started IVF treatments following four years of infertility. 

‘PREGNANT!’ Kennedy wrote on Instagram at the time. ‘So many of you have prayed for us and wished us well on this 4 1/2 year journey. Our hope is that this news encourages anyone going thru IVF or any fertility struggle.’ 

‘It’s always tough when a doctor tells you you can’t have kids naturally and you keep running into complications, but we didn’t sit and wallow in that. We were really blessed to meet with some amazing doctors and specialists.’

In July 2021, Scruggs told People that it was a ‘blessing’ to have IVF.

‘I’m committed to this journey, and it’s a blessing, no matter what, because this could result in something so incredible,’ she said. 

‘It’s such an amazing method of enhancing your fertility and having a sweet baby come into the world … [I’m] really just trying to make the best of it by being grateful and flipping the script and just embracing it fully.’  

The birth of their firstborn comes just over a decade after Scruggs lost an arm and an eye in a plane propeller accident in 2011. She is pictured revealing her facial scars during an appearance on NBC in 2012

The birth of their firstborn comes just over a decade after Scruggs lost an arm and an eye in a plane propeller accident in 2011. She is pictured revealing her facial scars during an appearance on NBC in 2012

The model climbed out of a two-seater plane (similar is pictured) at Aero County Airport in McKinney and walked into the propeller

The model climbed out of a two-seater plane (similar is pictured) at Aero County Airport in McKinney and walked into the propeller

After the crash, Scruggs opened up about how she was learning to use a prosthetic arm, which she continues to wear, wrote two books, and started a foundation

After the crash, Scruggs opened up about how she was learning to use a prosthetic arm, which she continues to wear, wrote two books, and started a foundation 

Scruggs’ positive attitude has helped her through trials before.

In 2011, she had climbed out of a two-seater plane at Aero County Airport in McKinney, Texas, after a flight to see Christmas lights when she walked into one of the plane’s propellers, which was still running. 

She suffered a fractured skull, broken collarbone, and brain injuries, and she lost her left hand. Two weeks after the tragic accident, doctors decided that they had to remove her eye. 

After the terrifying incident, she started blogging and she wrote her first book, ‘Still Lolo: A Spinning Propeller, A Horrific Accident, and a Family’s Journey of Hope in 2012.’

Her second book, ‘Your Beautiful Heart,’ was published in 2015.

She now heads up the Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation, which raises money for girls and women to ‘receive cosmetic silicone coverings for their prostheses, with the hope that they will experience both physical and spiritual restoration and healing.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk