Pregnant women often ask what does an episiotomy really mean. The tissues surrounding the birth canal are not elastic enough to accommodate the child’s head. But with the pressure that is necessary to push the baby through the birth canal, the baby will keep coming in spite of any resistance. If this happens the tissues without intervention from your doctor will tear as they make room for the head to push through.

Doctors instead of letting this happen will make an incision rather than permit the tissues to tear from all that pressure. The incision that the doctor makes is called an episiotomy.

The doctor will then stitch the repair after you have given birth. The area may be tender for several days but soon it will resume its normal shape and position.