Procedures You May Hear About

Episiotomy explained and when it is performed

Episiotomy explained and when it is performed

What an episiotomy is An episiotomy is a deliberate surgical incision in the perineum made during the second stage of vaginal birth, usually when the baby’s head is crowning or birth is imminent. Its purpose is to enlarge the vaginal opening so the baby can be born more quickly or so instruments can be used […]

Catheter use with epidural and recovery after removal

Catheter use with epidural and recovery after removal

What the epidural catheter does During labor, an epidural catheter is a very thin, flexible tube placed through a needle into the epidural space, which lies outside the dura surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots. The needle is removed after placement; the catheter remains taped to the back so local anesthetic, often combined with […]

When urinary catheter is needed and associated risks

When urinary catheter is needed and associated risks

What a urinary catheter does in birth care A urinary catheter drains urine from the bladder through a soft tube. In maternity care, the aim is usually short-term bladder management rather than long-term catheterization. The bladder sits close to the uterus, cervix, vagina, and pelvic floor. When it becomes overdistended, it may increase discomfort, interfere […]

Benefits risks and types of IV fluids

Benefits risks and types of IV fluids

What IV fluids are and how they work IV fluids are sterile solutions infused directly into a vein through a cannula. Because they enter the intravascular space immediately, they can restore circulating volume faster than oral fluids. In birth care, an IV may be placed because fluids are actively needed, or because quick venous access […]

Is episiotomy still common and its impact on delivery

Is episiotomy still common and its impact on delivery

What episiotomy means in modern birth care An episiotomy is not simply a “small cut.” It is a deliberate surgical enlargement of the vaginal opening, usually performed when the baby’s head is crowning or during an assisted vaginal birth. Local anesthetic may be used if an epidural is not already providing adequate pain relief, and […]

Risks recovery and comparison with natural tearing

Risks recovery and comparison with natural tearing

Understanding perineal trauma in vaginal birth During vaginal birth, the perineum, the tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus, stretches substantially as the fetal head and shoulders pass. Some people have no visible injury, but many experience perineal tears after vaginal birth. These are usually classified by depth: first-degree tears involve vaginal or perineal […]