Gourt > Health > Reproductive Health > Pregnancy and Birth > Childbirth > Episiotomy
An episiotomy is a surgical incision through the perineum made to enlarge the vagina and assist childbirth. The incision can be midline or at an angle from the posterior end of the vulva, is performed under local anaesthetic and is sutured closed after delivery. It is one of the most common medical procedures performed on women, and although its routine use in childbirth has steadily declined in recent decades it is still widely practised in Latin America.
Uses
Physicians use episiotomies to lessen perineal trauma, minimize postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction by reducing anal sphincter muscle damage, reduce the loss of blood at delivery, and protect against neonatal trauma. In many cases though, episiotomies cause all of these problems.
Episiotomies may be indicated if:
- there is any sign of fetal distress while the baby is in the birth canal
- a delivery occurs too quickly for the vagina to stretch naturally
- the baby's head is too large for the opening
- the baby's shoulders are stuck
- it is a breech birth or forceps delivery
RT @el_CheHQ: @Doc__D @kreams y do u do an episiotomy for a preterm baby if the baby alredy small?!! < To prevent trauma to infant and mom
Doc__D (Dr. Daryl A. Daley) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:16:28 -0000
RT @el_CheHQ: @Doc__D @kreams y do u do an episiotomy for a preterm baby if the baby alredy small?!! < To prevent trauma to infant and mom
@Doc__D @kreams y do u do an episiotomy for a preterm baby if the baby alredy small?!!
el_CheHQ (Che Bowen) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:01:28 -0000
@Doc__D @kreams y do u do an episiotomy for a preterm baby if the baby alredy small?!!
RT @zygoteinmycoffee ZygoteinmyCoffee #25 stings harder than a botched episiotomy! Come feel it for yourself http://www.zygoteinmycoffee...
PaintedBrideQ (PBQ: Literary Mag) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:51:30 -0000
RT @zygoteinmycoffee ZygoteinmyCoffee #25 stings harder than a botched episiotomy! Come feel it for yourself http://www.zygoteinmycoffee...
Studies Show Homebirth Is Safe, Episiotomy Is Harmful | Natural... http://tinyurl.com/yefwgv7
kristmdm (Kristen Malone) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:04:18 -0000
Studies Show Homebirth Is Safe, Episiotomy Is Harmful | Natural... http://tinyurl.com/yefwgv7
Learning about Episiotomy in OBGYN: http://twitpic.com/oggxs
lindenitzan (Nitzan Lindenberg) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:44:24 -0000
Learning about Episiotomy in OBGYN: http://twitpic.com/oggxs
favorite moment at the prenatal class - after the def of "episiotomy", a woman in back exclaimed "Wuuuuh?!"
Blackistan (Andy Black) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:42:18 -0000
favorite moment at the prenatal class - after the def of "episiotomy", a woman in back exclaimed "Wuuuuh?!"
About Episiotomy - A collection of links to articles on the subject plus information on using exercise to avoid and recover from the procedure.
Meta Description: [ Often called the unkindest cut of all, this surgical incision of the perineum is mostly unnecessary. Learn how to prevent it and what happens when it's necessary. ]
Baby Center: Episiotomy - The how and why, including commonly asked questions and their answers. Includes user submitted comments on personal experiences with the procedure.
Benefits and Risks of Episiotomy - Text of the manuscript subtitled A Review of the English-Language Literature Since 1980 by R.J. Woolley which summarize the findings of studies on the subject.
Birth Psychology: Epsiotomy - A description of the procedure, its purposes, and women's responses to it.
Episiotomy: Ritual Genital Mutilation in Western Obstetrics - An article denouncing the practice of routinely cutting the perineum during hospital deliveries in the United States with abstracts for related studies.
Meta Description: [ A page of citations from the medical literature that
generally demonstrate that the routine practice of cutting the vaginal opening of
women in labor is unnecessary, causes the tearing it is meant to prevent,
and leads to severe complications. ]
Get Through Childbirth in One Piece - An article with references about methods for avoiding the procedure, written by the author of the book by the same name.
Meta Description: [ MidwifeInfo: a comprehensive information resource for parents and midwives. ]
Much Ado About a Little Cut - Article from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggesting that routine episiotomy is no longer advisable.
NPR : Study Questions Value of Episiotomies - A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds no benefit from episiotomies. Melissa Block talks with Dr. Katherine E. Hartmann, who is lead author of the study. [3:53 streaming audio broadcast]
Meta Description: [ A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds no benefit from episiotomies, a commonplace procedure performed on women during childbirth. The procedure is intended to help prevent additional injury during birth. Melissa Block talks with Dr. Katherine E. Hartmann, w... ]
Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities: Episiotomy - Summary of significant points, references, and abstracts from related studies from this book on obstetric myths.
Parent's Place: Episiotomy - Article on the pros and cons of the procedure.
Meta Description: [ To perform an episiotomy the birth attendant snips the bottom of the vaginal opening to enlarge it for birth. ]
Perineal Massage: Your How-To Guide - Article on how performing perineal massage may allow the mother to give birth without an episiotomy or laceration.
Meta Description: [ Performing perineal massage may allow the mother to give birth without an episiotomy or laceration. ]
Perineal Protection - Avoiding Tears and Episiotomy - Suggestions for avoiding the procedure from midwives, including the use of perineal massage and birth stools.
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