Are episiotomies ever necessary?
• Yes, but not as often as they are performed. The myth is that a straight cut is easier to stitch and heal than a jagged tear. Unfortunately the idea that one doesn’t need to tear, and that cutting makes the tissue more tearable, seems to have been missed. An episiotomy can be helpful and necessary in cases of very premature babies (to ease pressure on the head) or in cases of fetal distress to increase speed of delivery. Sometimes when forceps or vaccuum extraction is necessary, an episiotomy is necessary.
