Episiotomy - series

An episiotomy may be needed if the baby's head is too big for the mother's vaginal opening, or the baby is in a breech position (feet or buttocks coming first) and there is a problem during delivery.

Just before the baby is born and while the woman is awake and pain-free (local anesthesia), an incision is made at the bottom of the vaginal opening to enlarge it for the delivery of the baby's head.

Review Date: 05/23/2005
Reviewed By: Sharon Roseanne Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., Clinical Fellow, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.