While on the maternity unit of Red Deer Regional Hospital, I was shocked about how many episiotomies were given even though research indicates they are not necessary except for in adverse situations. I felt confused, and somewhat angry, since it is such a painful cut and mothers are usually not brought into the decision-making process for the incision. I decided to pay closer attention to how often this procedure was happening and to my surprise it was happening frequently. " Episiotomy is the most common operation in women and is performed on 70% of primips and 30% of multips." (Murray, 2002, p. 408). The biggest surprise was women are not taught and probably have never heard of perineal massage and kegal exercises. These exercises are proven to be helpful to prevent tears and episiotomies. Next, I wondered how a nurse in a clinical setting could try to prevent episiotomies and educate both health care professionals and clients. .
Episiotomies were given because they were believed to be safer than the women's perineum ripping naturally. Another reason was that they quicken the process of labour. The episiotomy was given almost automatically to a primip and only if needed to a multip. " The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has not recommended its routine use for more than two decades."(Nahas, 2000). The new literature states that episiotomies should not be given unless the baby is in breech position, the babies" shoulders are stuck in the birth canal, or if the fetal heart rate lowers meaning the baby is in distress. Recommended procedures need to be more detailed, since during labor fetal heart rates are hard to interpret.
Different types of episiotomies .
There are two types of episiotomies; median and midiolateral. Median incisions have advantages of minimal blood loss, minimal scarring, and less postpartum pain. The disadvantage is that it might extend into the anal sphincter.
Episiotomies can also be performed downward or sideways or diagonal called mediolateral episiotomy. ... Episiotomies are also recommended when there is fetal distress. ... Is an episiotomy necessary Who knows! There are many advantages and disadvantages of the episiotomy. ... Episiotomies can also cause harm. ...
"Childbirth is more admirable than conquest, more amazing than self-defense, and as courageous as either one," said Gloria Steinem (Word np). This statement is so true. Pregnancy and childbirth are very demanding processes of the human body. To carry a little human being around in one's abdomen for nine months, then push it out of a ten-centimeter hole is an amazing feat. It is a beautiful and incredible process how the baby develops in his mother's womb, preparing for birth. ...
Since the dawn of human kind, women have been giving birth. For centuries, even millennia afterward, women continued to give birth and aid other women through their deliveries. Yet somehow, in the relatively recent past, the 'business' of childbirth, labour and pregnancy was taken from the hands of the women, and placed in the gloved hands of the medical establishment. If you look through the history of birthing procedures, you will see the loss of women's control, which seemed to have occurred relatively abruptly. Doctors replaced midwives and labouring women went from being ...
Abortion is the ending of pregnancy by the removal or forcing out from the womb of a fetus or embryo before it is able to survive on its own. surgical methods appear to have a lower risk of side effects. Abortion in the developed world has a long history of being among the safest procedures in medicine when allowed by local law. Uncomplicated abortions do not cause either long term mental health or physical problems. Unsafe abortions, however, result in approximately 47,000 maternal deaths and 5 million hospital admissions per year globally. An estimated 44 million abortions are performed glob...
