Definition

An episiotomy is an incision made in the perineum. The perineum is the area between the vagina and the anus. It is made up of skin and muscle.

Reasons for Procedure

An episiotomy is done to help some births. It will make the vaginal opening larger. An episiotomy may be done if:

• The baby is:
  • Premature or otherwise fragile
  • Large and the shoulders may be hard to deliver
• Forceps or a vacuum are needed to assist in the delivery

Episiotomy is no longer routinely done.

Possible Complications

Some short-term problems may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Difficulty controlling your bowels

The risk of problems is higher with:

• Severe scar tissue in the area
• Prior problems with chronic pain in the vulva
• Short perineum

What to Expect

Description of the Procedure

The infant's head will start to stretch the vaginal opening. Special scissors will be used to make an incision in the perineum area. The incision will be closed with stitches after the baby is born.

Midline vs. Mediolateral Episiotomy Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occur:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills, swelling, redness, foul-smelling discharge
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Bleeding from the episiotomy site
• Continuing problems with loss of urinary or bowel control

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.