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When we women discover that we are pregnant, inevitably one of the first thoughts is about the day of delivery . How will it be? Will I feel a lot of pain ? Will everything go well? And unfortunately it is a step that cannot be planned, as everything can change depending on the situation, even during an elective cesarean section. In the case of normal delivery, one of the major concerns is with regard to episiotomy.
What is Episiotomy
Episiotomy is a surgical procedure well feared by women and not informed in their prenatal consultations , where they end up being aware of it only after going through it. It is a cut of about five to six centimeters made in the region of the perineum, between the vagina and the anus where it is completely formed by muscles. The procedure is used to facilitate the baby’s passage during normal delivery, but is it always done with need?
When to do the episiotomy
In the past, the procedure was performed in practically all normal births, aiming to help the woman during the expulsion and to reduce the risks to the baby. really needed.
However, many doctors still use the procedure, generating a tireless discussion about the need X disrespect the woman . Facts have already been proven, that even if the woman undergoes a laceration of the perineum during delivery, healing is faster than an episiotomy and the chances of having stitches on the spot are minimal.
What time is the Episiotomy performed?
The episiotomy is performed during expulsion, where it is already possible to view the baby’s head and after delivery, the suture is closed. The healing may take up to six weeks and women should avoid physical and especially sexual relations efforts. If not healed properly, fibrosis, prolonged pain may occur, and in more severe cases, loss of sensitivity of the site and looseness of the perineum, even causing intestinal problems.
Indications for Episiotomy
Of course, every rule has its exception and it is no different for episiotomy. There are situations that require medical intervention and help so that the baby is born faster focusing on the health of mother and child. The most common indications are for women who have high stiffness in the perineum that make it difficult for the baby to pass, for pelvic births where the baby is not upside down but sitting and in case of very large and overweight babies.
During very difficult deliveries where forceps or vacuum extraction is necessary , episiotomy is also indicated to prevent a more severe laceration in women. That is why each case must be evaluated in its circumstances and real needs to avoid even greater inconvenience.
How to Avoid the Procedure
Some studies on the subject have pointed out a way to prevent episiotomy and normal childbirth to occur as expected, without lacerations and points that is the massage in the perineum. The perineum massage aims to relax the muscles of the region, improving the elasticity of the area and avoiding local disruption.
The procedure must be started from the 34th week of pregnancy and must be done once or twice during the week. The massage aims to strengthen the muscles of the perineum, to reduce the intense pain of normal birth.
The massage should be done on the inside of the vagina and with properly washed, clean hands and cut nails. With the help of liquid or pasty petroleum jelly or even pure vegetable oil with your fingers you should lubricate the region of the vagina. The two thumbs should be introduced around 3 cm face down and should be pressed downwards and sideways towards the anus until you feel the region tingling, when you reach to keep pressed for 2 minutes.
Talking to your obstetrician during prenatal consultations to answer all your questions is also a way to understand all the procedures performed during childbirth. If you do not wish to have an episiotomy, you can ask your doctor or even inform on your pregnant card that the maternity will be delivered at the time of hospital admission.
See also: Natural Childbirth – Being born without interventions
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
