Is it really good for pregnant women to have an episiotomy during childbirth?

Episiotomy has always been a controversial topic. Experts recommend that women should do a good job of prenatal prevention. So is episiotomy really good for pregnant women? Which pregnant women need episiotomy? How to avoid episiotomy? The following editor will introduce you in detail.

Is episiotomy really good for pregnant women?

The purpose of episiotomy is to prevent damage to the soft birth canal. During childbirth, the vaginal mucosa, the muscles beneath the mucosa, and especially the anal sphincter may tear. Therefore, a preventive perineal incision is performed to expand the soft birth canal and avoid damage to the perineum during delivery of the fetal head. This operation is usually performed by a midwife or obstetrician. After the episiotomy, the birth canal is artificially expanded, the fetus is easier to deliver, and the wound is neater. This makes it easier to align and suture the wound, and it also avoids injury to the muscles, especially the anal sphincter, protecting the physical and mental health of women.

Which pregnant women need episiotomy?

The expectant mother has underdeveloped perineum, tight perineum, narrow vaginal opening, or inflammation or edema in the perineum. She has undergone vaginal injury repair surgery in the past, which has caused poor perineal elasticity. The perineum failed to expand fully during emergency delivery. It is estimated that severe perineal tearing may occur when the baby's head is delivered.

The baby is large, the fetal head is not in the right position, and the labor force is not strong, so the delivery of the baby's head may be obstructed.

Older expectant mothers or expectant mothers suffering from heart disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, liver disease or severe myopia, etc., in order to reduce physical exertion, shorten the delivery process, and ensure the safety of mother and baby.

The baby is in intrauterine distress, the fetal heart rate changes abnormally, the amniotic fluid is turbid or mixed with meconium, in order to prevent the fetus from being squeezed in the birth canal for too long, causing severe suffocation or intracranial hemorrhage in the baby.

During assisted delivery using forceps, vacuum extractor or full-term breech delivery.

How to avoid episiotomy

Maintaining a normal weight Expectant mothers should control their weight within the normal range and avoid gaining weight too quickly as the pregnancy progresses to prevent the baby from becoming too fat, which may cause difficulties in childbirth, and to prevent themselves from becoming too fat, which may induce diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, etc. Therefore, balanced nutrition and proper exercise are required.

Prepare your body and mind. Expectant mothers should do moderate aerobic exercise regularly to maintain physical strength and increase muscle strength. At the same time, pay attention to relaxing your mood, avoid the generation and accumulation of negative emotions, strengthen your determination and confidence in natural childbirth, and wait for the moment of childbirth with a relaxed and happy attitude.

Maintain good communication with the doctor. Expectant mothers should have prenatal check-ups on time and obtain scientific knowledge of pregnancy and delivery from the doctor. If they have any questions, they should ask the doctor in time and communicate with the doctor in advance about the delivery method.