Episiotomy is rarely justified, except in cases of foetal distress necessitating immediate delivery. — Elizabeth Davis, author of Heart & Hands: A Midwives Guide to Pregnancy & Birth
An episiotomy is a cut made in the perineum (the skin and muscle between the vagina and anus). Although some people believe that an episiotomy is necessary to have a baby to prevent damage to the baby’s head, prevent trauma to the mother’s perineum and the cut will heal faster and prevent 3rd and 4 degree tears, no research supports these myths.
Shiela Kitzinger writes that as many as 9 out of 10 American women will have an episiotomy with her first baby although in Holland, only 2 or 3 out of 10 will. The facts are that episiotomy is a cultural phenomena. Research shows that episiotomy is done because the doctor was trained to do it, not because it was a necessary procedure.
It can be avoided by using more physiologic positions to give birth (not lithotomy or semi-sitting), pushing only when mom feels need to, giving birth gently, slowly to the head, preparing for the birth by doing perineal massage and Kegel exercise and avoiding forceps delivery.
A slight tear is always better than a cut and will heal must quicker. Research has shown that tears heal better than cuts.
