It's also believed that an episiotomy is easier to repair than a tear in the vagina, which can occur if an episiotomy is not done. In addition, some thought that it resulted in shortened delivery times and that a shortened second stage of labor was better for the baby. The second stage of labor begins with complete dilation of the cervix, or opening of the uterus, and ends with the delivery of the baby. This is not always the case, say researchers who reviewed classic teachings and some of the recent evidence on delivering without an episiotomy. They include doing perineal massage, slowing the delivery, controlling the head delivery, and avoiding episiotomy and forceps delivery.
Perineal massage is done on the perineum, the area below the vagina.
I'm surprised it took so long for something like this to come out. Many of us who are in active practice have long given up routine episiotomies. Trupin is clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and was not involved in the study. Klein, who was also not involved in the study, is professor of family practice and pediatrics at the University of British Columbia School of Medicine and head of family practice at Children's and Women's Health Center of British Columbia. Official guidelines agree.