Is It True That when You Give Birth if your vagina is too small, do the doctors cut it to make it wider?

Question

me and my friend are debating, please answer.

Answer 1

During childbirth, your perineal tissues may tear - or your midwife may have to cut them deliberately. Such a cut is called an episiotomy. Tears are categorised as first, second, or third degree according to the extent of the damage; an episiotomy is generally considered to be equivalent to a second degree tear. In the 1970s and early 1980s the episiotomy rate rose to approximately 50 per cent of all births and as high as 90 per cent in some maternity units. The rationale behind this was that a clean cut would heal better than an uncontrolled tear. Many thought women having their first baby needed to have episiotomies, which led to a Catch 22 situation, as having had a previous episiotomy was then believed to be a reason to perform one in subsequent labours.

During the mid to late 1980s, many studies were carried out to examine the 'routine' use of episiotomy. Researchers determined that an episiotomy does not result in less childbirth trauma, improved healing or fewer maternal problems than a tear. As a result of these studies, maternity units have moved away from the routine use of episiotomy and only perform them for specific reasons.

Despite the change in thinking over the last several years, there are still occasions when an episiotomy is the best course of action. Most are related to the baby. The most common reasons for having an episiotomy are:

• When the baby's head is almost born but there is evidence of fetal distress, suggesting that waiting for the perineum to stretch in its own time could be dangerous to the baby

• When the baby is premature and his head could be damaged by the perineal tissue

• When the baby is breech and the head - which is the largest part of the baby to be born - has not been moulded and therefore could be damaged by delivery through a tight perineum

• When the baby is going to be delivered by forceps or ventouse (suction) - an episiotomy makes more room to apply the instrument

Less common reasons include:

• To speed up the birth if the mother is exhausted

• To reduce the maternal effort required to deliver the baby if the mother has a history of heart disease or high blood pressure

• To assist the birth if the perineum is particularly rigid and shows very little sign of stretching

• To control the trauma to the perineum if there has been previous extensive damage to the pelvic floor, possibly resulting in surgery

Every labour is different, and unless there is a known reason for an episiotomy - such as a breech baby - the decision to perform one is often not made until the baby is almost born.

I hope this settles your debate!! :-)

Answer 2

First of all, the doctors dont cut the vagina but they do make an incision on the area between the vagina and anus. This is usually a standard procedure called EPISIOTOMY doctors do when giving birth in a hospital. The rationale for this is that it is easier for a cut/incision to heal than a tear when the baby's head is about to emerge. However, one may also opt not to have an incision - just go and tell the doctor about it.

Answer 3

First off they do NOT cut up towards your pubic hair. That's an idiotic answer.

Your urethra(opening to your bladder) is above your vagina. They wouldn't cut there.

The incision you are talking about is called an episiotomy. They cut the area of skin between the anus and the vagina that is called the perineum. They do not cut all the way through.

Unless you have someone to massage the pereneum to help it relax and open then its possible that it can tear. It's much better to have the tear go to your back than upwards where they would have to repair the urethra. OUCH!!

With my first delivery the doc cut the incision too long and she tore all the way through to my butt. He spent about an hour sewing me shut. He did a pretty good job and I have no problems there. But it sure did hurt during the recovery. But I am thankful it was that direction and not upwards. ouch again.

Answer 4

No its not true. The Vagina is all muscle and stretches really easily. The problem is when the skin around the opening doesn't stretch enough and so sometimes they cut the opening to make it easier for the baby to get out without the skin tearing. This is called an episiotomy.

Answer 5

They can either cut it which is called episiotomy or it can tear. It's really the woman's option. The area can also be made "strechier" by applying warm compresses. This doesn't work for everyone though and every situation and birth if different.

The reason some women choose to have the cut made is beecause it is easier for the doctor to sew up and it is a straight cut instead of a tear.

Answer 6

Yes it does get cut, there's three kinds but only one used the majority of the time (midline) . It gets cut to make room for the baby and to avoid tearing. They never cut up towards the pubic hair like another answerer said. The cut down in the perineum and cut straight or towards sides.

Episiotomies are said to provide the following benefits:


Speed up the birth
Prevent Tearing
Protects against incontinence
Protects against pelvic floor relaxation
Heals easier than tears

These all appear to be valid reasons. The fact is, that medical research has not proven any of these benefits. In fact, in many of the cases, the opposite is actually true. Episiotomies can actually cause harm.
The following have been reported as side effects of the episiotomy:


Infection
Increased Pain
Increase in 3rd and 4th degree vaginal lacerations (euphemistically called extensions)
Longer healing times
Increased discomfort when intercourse is resumed

Answer 7

Yes, if the baby is having difficulty in coming out then the doctors will make a Small cut called an episotomy. In some cases the baby will tear the vagina (which happened in my case).

Answer 8

This can happen but remember the vagina will enlarge as you go through your pregnancy, if it is needed a doctor will perform an epitome which a small cut to stop you tearing you will be stitched under local anaesthetic

Answer 9

Episiotomies used to be a common practice however study, after study, after study has shown they do not reduce tearing -in fact they make it worse. They also don't make delivery any faster, easier, safer or better for the mom or baby. Skin and muscles stretch end of story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episiotomy
Many physicians use episiotomies because they believe that it will lessen perineal trauma, minimize postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction by reducing anal sphincter muscle damage, reduce the loss of blood at delivery, and protect against neonatal trauma. In many cases though, episiotomies cause all of these problems. Research has shown that natural tears typically are less severe.

Is routine use of episiotomy justified?
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/episstdy.html

Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities
http://www.efn.org/~djz/birth/obmyth/epis.html

Answer 10

I think you're referring to an episiotomy, which is a procedure in which doctors cut a slit in the skin below the vagina (the perineum) in order to make childbirth proceed faster if the woman is having trouble delivering.
While this practice used to be common, many women have come out against it (claiming it's unnecessary, unnatural), and now doctors perform episiotomies very infrequently in normal childbirthing situations.