Episiotomy and perineal tears. Postnatal care up to 8 weeks after birth. Last modified Care of the perineum after the birth of your baby.
Queensland Government. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Perineal tears and episiotomies in childbirth. Effects of combined spinal epidural labor analgesia on episiotomy: a retrospective cohort study.
BMC Anesthesiology online: 28 Jun. Show references Hide references. Enter your due date or child's birthday dd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 mm Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec yyyy Trying to conceive?
We use your health information to make our site even more helpful. By clicking the button, you agree to our policies and to get emails from us. Join BabyCentre. Postpartum Bleeding Lochia.
Postpartum Perineum Pain. Having Trouble Pooping After Birth? View Sources. First Year. First Year Groups. Vaginal Birth. Go to Your Baby's Age. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. Your Baby's Vision Development.
Follow us on. In some births, an episiotomy can help to prevent a severe tear or speed up delivery if the baby needs to be born quickly. If your doctor or midwife feels you need an episiotomy when you're in labour, they will discuss this with you. In England, episiotomies are not done routinely. Up to 9 in 10 first-time mothers who have a vaginal birth will have some sort of tear, graze or episiotomy.
If you have a tear or an episiotomy, you'll probably need stitches to repair it. Dissolvable stitches are used, so you will not need to return to hospital to have them removed. An episiotomy may be recommended if your baby develops a condition known as foetal distress, where the baby's heart rate gets faster or slower before birth. This means your baby may not be getting enough oxygen and has to be delivered quickly to avoid the risk of birth injuries or stillbirth.
Another reason for an episiotomy is because it's necessary to widen your vagina so instruments, such as forceps or ventouse suction, can be used to help with the birth. Research shows that in some births, particularly with forceps deliveries, an episiotomy may prevent tears that affect the anal muscle third-degree tears. An episiotomy is usually a simple procedure.
A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area around the vagina so you do not feel any pain. If you have already had an epidural, the dose can be topped up before the cut is made. Whenever possible, the doctor or midwife will make a small diagonal cut from the back of the vagina, directed down and out to one side. The cut is stitched together using dissolvable stitches after the birth. Episiotomy cuts are usually repaired within an hour of your baby's birth.
The cut may bleed quite a lot at first, but this should stop with pressure and stitches. Stitches should heal within 1 month of the birth. Talk to your midwife or obstetrician about which activities you should avoid during the healing period. Painkillers such as paracetamol can help relieve pain and is safe to use if you're breastfeeding. Someone who is close to you may be able to check this for you. Tears vary in size and depth.
They can be inside the vagina, on the labia, or on the perineum. They are assessed by looking at your perineum, assessing how much blood loss there is and doing a gentle vaginal examination.
This will be done by your midwife or obstetrician after your baby is born and the placenta has been delivered. You will also be offered a rectal examination to check there is no damage to your bowel. These examinations are offered even if there is no obvious tear, as damage may not always be visible. Your consent will always be obtained before any procedure. You may experience one or more grazes or tears to the labia vulva.
These can often be left to heal naturally, depending on their size, position and if they are bleeding. Your midwife will advise you on this, and how to take care of the injury. Not all tears require stitches — it will depend on your personal circumstances. You will be advised to have stitches to repair an episiotomy, tears that involve the muscle layer, those that are bleeding, or if the alignment of the tear needs adjusting. Dissolvable stitches are used so that you do not need to have them removed.
These can take up to six weeks to dissolve, and you should speak to your midwife if you are having any problems or pain associated with your stitches. Read more about third and fourth degree tears.
Keep the area clean and dry. Shower daily and keep a separate towel for your perineum. Try to avoid soaps and gels with strong scents.
0コメント