Restitching Episiotomy wounds
An episiotomy is a cut in your perineum that widens the opening of your vagina so your baby can be born more easily. Your midwife or doctor may perform an episiotomy if they think that:
Episiotomy
Tears
Tears happen when your vagina stretches too far during your baby’s birth. You’re most likely to have a tear when your baby’s head passes through the opening of your vagina.
Most tears are in the perineum, which is the bit between your vagina and your back passage (anus). A tear can affect the skin and muscles, and sometimes the bowel.
Episiotomy
An episiotomy is a cut in your perineum that widens the opening of your vagina so your baby can be born more easily. Your midwife or doctor may perform an episiotomy if they think that:
- You need an assisted birth, where your baby is born with the help of forceps or ventouse.
- You’re likely to have more than a small tear.
- Your baby needs to be born quickly.
Many women who have a vaginal birth will have a tear of some kind or need to have an episiotomy.
How is a tear after birth diagnosed?
Tears are described in degrees, depending on how big they are, and which part of your perineum is affected:
Types of tear
First-degree tear
First-degree tears are small tears in your skin that usually heal without any treatment.
Second-degree tears
Second-degree tears are deeper tears that affect the muscle of your perineum, as well as your skin. You will probably need stitches for these to heal.
Third-degree tears
A third-degree tear goes downwards from the wall of your vagina and perineum to your anal sphincter.
Fourth-degree tears
A fourth-degree tear affects the anal sphincters, plus the lining of your back passage or the lower part of your bowel (your rectum).