"[ the act of EPISIOTOMY] has become poltical." Comment.?

Question

This is a statement made by the Midwife Ina May Gaskin, in my view, the most revolutionary of all Revolutionaries, in her latest book Ina May Guide to Childbirth. Please do not attempt to answer unless you have something to contribute, albeit your own founded thoughts. Thank you.

Answer 1

It's sad that it has had to come to that. It has become political because it is performed unnecessarily very frequently.
MIdwives are probably fed up with the ignorance of doctors. And mothers are willingly following the doctors like blind sheep!
It all boils down to mothers not educating themselves on the subject of childbirth.
If they were educated then we would have mothers standing up for themselves( literally) and learning proper ways to avoid epi's.

Answer 2

As with many things involving children, this has become political, yes. Other big issues are breast-feeding, natural birth, stay-home moms, home-schooling, scheduling, etc. The proponents of these things liken not adhering to their beliefs as something akin to child abuse or cruelty and treat the mothers who dare to go against the grain as if they were pariah. The proponents of no episiotomy think it is mutilation of the woman driven by "the man" just so they can get a baby that doesn't have a cone head. And the stitch-up afterward is nothing short of chauvinism. (See comment above).

Answer 3

You won't find very many docs that will try a simple massage before pulling out the knife. It's just not "politically correct" to rub a woman there but it's fine to cut her from one hole to the other. It doesn't make any sense to me at all. It in fact encourages tearing rather than prevents it... and just looks extremely painful.

Answer 4

tighter is better....