Definition
An episiotomy is a surgical incision made in the perineum, the tissue between the vagina and anus, during childbirth to enlarge the vaginal opening. 🤰 It was once a common procedure to prevent severe tears and speed up delivery. Think of it as making a controlled cut to avoid a more ragged one. However, current medical guidelines recommend against routine episiotomies. They are now reserved for specific situations, like when the baby is in distress and needs to be delivered quickly, or if there's significant perineal rigidity. The incision is repaired with stitches after birth. Now, doctors focus on techniques to prevent tearing naturally. 😎