{"id":6276,"date":"2021-05-26T23:03:44","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T21:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/singularmom.com\/the-episiotomy\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T21:37:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:37:20","slug":"the-episiotomy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/singularmom.com\/en\/blog\/labor\/the-episiotomy\/","title":{"rendered":"The episiotomy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The episiotomy.<\/strong> Unknown word that will become part of your vocabulary once the most important date of your life approaches. This is undoubtedly one of the great fears that you are going to face when you think about the moment of childbirth.<\/p>\n

What is episiotomy? When is it done? How to prevent it? Is it the same as a tear? In this article we try to resolve all your doubts. Keep reading!<\/p>\n

\"The
The episiotomy<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is episiotomy?<\/h2>\n

Episiotomy is neither more nor less than a 1-3cm incision made with a scalpel or scissors in the perineum area<\/strong> and that directly affects the pelvic floor<\/a>. But… let’s go in parts so you can understand everything perfectly.<\/p>\n

On the one hand the pelvic floor<\/strong> It comprises a series of muscles and ligaments attached to the base of the pelvis that close the lower part of the abdominal cavity. On the other hand, when we talk about perineum<\/strong> We refer to the tissue between the anus and the opening of the vagina.The goal of this minor surgery is to widen the opening.<\/strong> to facilitate the work of delivery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the past, episiotomy was a practice that was done with great regularity since it was believed that thanks to it, possible natural vaginal tears were prevented. After much research it has been suggested that this practice does not make much sense since… why make a cut in order to prevent a tear if episiotomies do not really heal better than tears? Efforts are being made to reduce this practice more and more carrying it out only in those cases strictly necessary<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When is episiotomy performed?<\/h3>\n

And now you may be wondering:\u201cWill I need an episiotomy when it is time to deliver my baby?\u201d<\/em> Although the practice of episiotomy<\/a>It has been significantly reduced and it is no longer a routine procedure. There are still cases in which its application is useful.<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We talk about episiotomy with useful application in the case of those jobs of<\/strong> stressful birth in which delivery must occur as quickly as possible because the baby is suffering some type of damage<\/strong>(for example, an abnormal heart rate is observed). When an instrumented vaginal delivery is needed<\/strong>(with forceps) to help remove the baby or because it is a premature child<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Episiotomy can also be performed when the baby is too big<\/strong> enough to come out through the vaginal opening (hence the importance of taking care nutrition in pregnancy<\/a>\u00a0and pay attention to the gestational diabetes<\/a>) either when the baby is in a breech position<\/strong> which makes it difficult to get outside. The lack of dilation<\/strong> It may also be one of the reasons for performing an episiotomy. Here you can read more about the contractions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The
The time of delivery arrives<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Types of episiotomies<\/h2>\n

Before knowing the risks derived from episiotomies, we must know that will depend on the type of incision<\/strong> that has been practiced, finding in each one advantages and disadvantages over the opposite:<\/p>\n