Your obstetrician will use his experience to decide if this is necessary. By no means is this done on every woman. Other reasons why an episiotomy is required are in forceps deliveries and breech deliveries or where there is foetal distress. After the episiotomy the obstetrician will carefully sew up the cut. After that the wound should be kept as dry as possible.
Daily bathing is advised.
If there is pain you may be prescribed pain killers. An ice package or soaking in a mild salt solution can ease the discomfort. Copyright 1999, Telekom Multimedia.