The episiotomy is a small surgical cut made in the region between the vagina and the anus during delivery, which allows widening the vaginal opening when the baby's head is about to descend.
Although this technique was used in almost all normal deliveries to prevent disruption of the skin that can arise naturally with the labor of childbirth, it is currently used only when necessary, because in addition to being very painful, it can also bring various risks such as urinary incontinence or infections, for example.
When it is necessary
Episiotomy is used only in cases where:
- There is a very high risk of severe skin tears;
- The baby is in an abnormal position and has difficulty getting out;
- The baby has a large size, making it difficult to pass through the birth canal;
- There is a need to make a faster delivery so as not to harm the baby.
The episiotomy is usually decided by the medical staff during the delivery, but the pregnant woman can make it clear that she does not approve this type of procedure and in this case the doctor should not perform the episiotomy only in case of need not to harm the baby. An episiotomy is considered illegal when it is done in an abusive or unnecessary way, such as in the beginning of labor to speed birth, for example.
How to take care of episiotomy
The best way to take care of the episiotomy and ensure a good healing is to keep the intimate region always clean and dry. In this way, it is important to change the absorbent whenever it is dirty, to maintain a good hygiene of the intimate region and, whenever possible, to avoid using pants or panties to avoid the accumulation of moisture.
In addition, to facilitate healing and reduce the pain caused by the episiotomy, you can still apply ice in the region and take anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by the doctor, such as Ibuprofen or Acetominofeno, for example.
Learn more about the most important care with episiotomy.
How long does it take to heal
The healing time of the episiotomy varies from woman to woman, the greater the size and depth of the wound. However, the average time is 6 weeks after giving birth.
During this time, the woman can gradually start her daily activities, without exaggerated efforts and according to the doctor's indication. Sexual activity should only be started after healing is complete.
Since the region may still be sore for longer, a good tip before retrying the intimate contact is to take a warm bath to help the muscles relax.
Find out what are the foods that accelerate the recovery of episiotomy in this video from nutritionist Tatiana Zanin:
Possible risks of episiotomy
Although the episiotomy may bring several benefits, especially when facilitating delivery, it should only be used in the indicated cases as it can cause problems such as:
- Lesions in the muscles of the intima;
- Urinary incontinence;
- Infection at the site of the cut;
- Increased postpartum recovery time.
To prevent the development of some of these problems, the woman can perform Kegel exercises during recovery. Here's how to do these kinds of exercises properly.
