In more than 25 years and over 1200 births, I am
ashamed to tell you I've cut 3. One for an unyielding primip perineum
which would not budge after hour of crowning. Next birth, it stretched
nicely and didn't need an epis. Two, as a last ditch effort in a fatal
shoulder dystocia--didn't help anything. Third for a distressed babe with
bad scalp colour, born with a non pulsing cord and am glad I did it because I
think there was a real problem there that MAY have compromised the
baby.
Gloria Lemay, Vancouver BC
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 3:06
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] when to cut an
episiotomy
I think many midwives can claim very good episiotomy rates.
Mine over twenty years in "0". My virginal scissors get taken to each birth
but have never been out of the packet except to be put in a new packet and re
sterilised. Who else would like to celebrate their lack of desire or interest
in cutting a woman's perineum.
Andrea Quanchi
On 21/08/2005, at
6:57 PM, Janet Fraser wrote:
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./smaller>/color> Just
my 2c ;
)/smaller>/color> Janet/smaller>/color>
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/x-tad-bigger>Päivi/x-tad-bigger>/color>
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Sunday, August 21, 2005 6:31 PM/x-tad-bigger>/fontfamily> Subject:/x-tad-bigger>/fontfamily>
[ozmidwifery] when to cut an
episiotomy/x-tad-bigger>/fontfamily>
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?/smaller>/fontfamily> Paivi/smaller>/fontfamily>
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