Episiotomy during childbirth: procedure and recovery

It is made through the perineum, the tissue between the vaginal opening and anus. The cut is repaired with stitches after the baby and placenta are delivered, using pain relief or anaesthesia appropriate to the situation.

The maternity team may recommend an episiotomy when birth needs to be expedited because the baby is showing signs of distress, when forceps or a vacuum device is required, or when more room is needed for a complicated delivery. It is not intended as a routine part of every vaginal birth.

When circumstances allow, the clinician should explain why the cut is advised and ask for consent. In an urgent birth, the explanation may be brief, but you can request a fuller discussion afterward about what happened and how the wound was repaired.

Keep the area clean, change maternity pads regularly, wash your hands before and after pad changes, and gently pat the skin dry. Use pain medicines as directed by your maternity team. A wrapped cold pack applied briefly can ease swelling; do not place ice directly on skin.

Preventing constipation reduces pressure on the repair. Drink fluids, eat fibre-containing foods, and use a prescribed stool softener if advised. Pelvic floor exercises can support recovery once they feel comfortable. Resume sex, driving, lifting, and exercise according to comfort and your clinician's guidance.

Contact your maternity service promptly if pain is worsening rather than easing, the wound becomes increasingly red or swollen, discharge smells unpleasant, pus appears, stitches separate, or you develop fever or feel unwell. These changes can suggest infection or wound breakdown.

Seek urgent help for heavy vaginal bleeding, fainting, breathing difficulty, chest pain, or sudden severe illness. Report inability to control wind or stool, difficulty passing urine, or persistent severe pain so the repair and pelvic floor can be assessed.

Ask what type of episiotomy and repair you had, whether the wound is healing as expected, which pain relief is compatible with breastfeeding, and when pelvic floor physiotherapy may help. If birth was difficult or upsetting, request a birth debrief and discuss emotional support as well as physical recovery.