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Hi
Paivi,
Not as
many births as some of my colleagues. However, I have been to a Dennis Walsh
workshop called something like Evidence Based Care in Normal Labour. He stated
that the ONLY evidence based reason for episiotomy is in severe fetal distress.
They are sometimes required for manoevres to get a baby out with severe shoulder
dystocia, but in most cases not.
Certainly, I have had a couple of tears personally, and I didn't find
them a problem. However, the thought of someone taking scissors to my perineum
fills me with terror!
Kind
regards,
Nicole.
Hi Nicole,
That is so awasome, how many births have you done
in your career? I read about a midwife, who had performed 6 episiotomies
in 650 births. Two of these were when she was taught how to make them as a
student.
Paivi
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 12:55
PM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] when to cut
an episiotomy
I
will only do an episiotomy if I am really concerned about getting the baby
out quickly. I have done one on a peri that was really tight, and didn't
stretch up. I think I have done three in my
career,
Nicole C.
I'm not one of the
professionals in here, Paivi but hi anyway. : ) I've read in a few
places about how episiotomy rates suddenly drop when studies into them
begin. A hb MW I know does less than one a year so I figure that's a good
guide. Mostly in hospitals they're performed for no reason at
all but the damage they do to women's bodies and psyches horrifies me.
It's sanctioned genital mutilation. In birth planning meetings I run I
suggest to women that they never put their bodies in a position that can
be easily reached by someone with scissors. Our rates are very high in
Australia. Well IMO, any rate of episiotomy is too high unless it's
negligible.
Just my 2c ;
)
Janet
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 6:31
PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] when to cut
an episiotomy
A mom asked me when is episiotomy really
needed. She had asked from many professionals, and all just gave her the
answer, that "They will try to avoid episiotomy, but will cut just in
case, if not sure". In Finland the episiotomy rates are from
4% to 50%, and for firsttime moms from 9% to 88%!. It is usually
beleived, that the midwife will know best. (That is a medicalaized
hospital midwife in most cases). I already know, that you have a
different opinion on when it is needed, but it would be
interesting to know from you, who work as midwifes, how often have
you performed episiotomies? Does anyone know, what is the national
average in the Australian hospitals?
Paivi
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