Episiotomy

Breast milk is the best possible nutrition for your baby. Close contact with your baby – skin-to-skin bonding – not just in the first few hours of life, is the first step towards successful breastfeeding.

We do not perform episiotomies as a matter of routine. This procedure involves widening the vaginal opening and is carried out in two situations – when there is a need to bring the birth to a swift conclusion, usually due to foetal distress, or in an effort to prevent severe perineal tearing. It is usually performed under local anaesthetic or when the perineum has already begun to tear. The need for an episiotomy cannot be predicted with certainty. However, we have long been striving to reduce the percentage of episiotomies performed. Healing is usually uncomplicated; we use absorbable sutures under local anaesthesia.