Episiotomy rates for women experiencing childbirth in New South Wales (NSW) hospitals are another indicator that private insurance may be a risk factor for obstetric intervention. A recent comparison of episiotomy rates in NSW public and private hospitals between 1993 and 1996 revealed that episiotomy rates were 12 to 15 percentage points higher in NSW private hospitals than in public hospitals...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between the geometrical properties of episiotomy and obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) because episiotomies angled at 40-60° are associated with fewer OASIS than episiotomies with more acute angles. DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø and Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway. SAMPLE Seventy-four women ...

Based on the perception that episiotomy prevents obstetric trauma, the procedure is liberally performed in U.S. Hospitals. Using linked Nevada Birth Registry and Nevada Impatient Hospital Discharges (2000 to 2005), we applied descriptive analyses and logistic regression to examine the status of Nevada episiotomy practice and its impact on birth trauma for mothers. Of 106,461 vaginal live births...

In 1984, we proposed to study the need for episiotomy in the first North American randomized controlled trial on this subject. Getting funded and published proved to be difficult since we were questioning not only established views on episiotomy but also conventional beliefs about birth. During the 10-year process from conceptualization to publishing, we were confronted with the paradigm of bir...

The routine use of the supine position during the second stage of labor can be considered to be an intervention in the natural course of labor. This study aimed to establish whether the continuation of this intervention is justified. Nine randomized controlled trials and one cohort study were included. A meta-analysis indicated a higher rate of instrumental deliveries and episiotomies in the su...

Lacerations are common after vaginal birth. Trauma can occur on the cervix, vagina, and vulva, including the labial, periclitoral, and periurethral regions, and the perineum. Most of these lacerations do not result in adverse functional outcomes. Severe perineal lacerations, extending into or through the anal sphincter complex, although less frequent, are more commonly associated with increased...

OBJECTIVE To compare collaborative and traditional childbirth care models. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 655 primiparous women in four public health system hospitals in Belo Horizonte, MG, Southeastern Brazil, in 2011 (333 women for the collaborative model and 322 for the traditional model, including those with induced or premature labor). Data were collected using interviews and medical...

1 Russell JK. Episiotomy. Br MedJ 1982;284:220. 2 Thacker SE, Banta HD. Benefits and risks of episiotomy: an interpretative review of the English language literature, 1860-1980. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1983;38: 322-38. 3 Donald I. Practical obstetric problems. London: Lloyd-Luke, 1979:817. 4 Flood C. The real reasons for performing episiotomies. World Medicine 1982 Feb 6:51. 5 House MJ. To do or no...