Understanding Episiotomies: Myths, Risks, and Evidence-Based Insights
This session explores the complexities surrounding episiotomies during childbirth, addressing common misconceptions and the evidence from systematic reviews. While often routine, episiotomies can lead to significant physical and emotional trauma for women. Participants will critically analyze arguments for and against the procedure, focusing on its potential benefits—like reducing severe tears—and the associated risks, including infections and prolonged pain. Engage in group discussions to defend various perspectives using evidence from the systematic review provided.
Understanding Episiotomies: Myths, Risks, and Evidence-Based Insights
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Presentation Transcript
DAY (3) Session 3 Myths and episiotomies: The unkindest cut of all?
Learning objective: • To find and interpret the appropriate evidence in a relevant systematic review Day 3 -Session 3
Misconceptions Truth, lies and the unexpected in the journey to motherhood Naomi Wolf (Chatto and Windus, London)
Excerpts: pages 145, 146. • …a “routine” cut in the perineum that widens the birth outlet • …many women remember it as the most painful and traumatic part of a medicated hospital birth
And yet more….. • The arguments for episiotomy are: • to prevent severe tears in the perineum that extend to the anus and/or rectum. • to prevent long-term damage to the pelvic floor. • to protect the baby from adverse consequences of an extended second stage of labour.
And more... • But the risks are: • blood loss • infection • pain • painful sexual intercourse • emotional trauma
Eva’s defence: • Break into groups and appoint a chairperson and a writer/reporter before you begin • Take 10 minutes to consult the systematic review entitled: “Episiotomy for vaginal birth” which is included in this manual in the appendices • Take 10 minutes to write a paragraph in defence of Eva
