Episiotomy during childbirth

Your vagina is elastic and naturally designed to stretch to accommodate a baby, but sometimes you need to give mother nature a hand.

• As the baby's head pushes from inside the vagina, the tissue begins to stretch, and this is when the midwife or obstetrician may suggest an episiotomy, especially if the birth is taking a long time.
• The procedure is done under local anesthesia, if you have not had an epidural.
• Stitches will be placed to repair the perineum and painkillers will be prescribed.