What are the advantages and disadvantages of both an episiotomy and naturally tearing?
Recent studies have shown that patients who get an episiotomy are at increased risk of developing a 3rd or 4th degree laceration. Which means an extension of the episiotomy that may go into the rectum. While a straight incision may be easier to repair, a tear may take a little longer , either way everything gets put back together. Sometimes an episiotomy is the difference between a c/s and a vaginal delivery. So, depending on the situation at hand, the doctor may not have a choice. Example being, use of forceps, fetal distress, maternal exhaustion.
