When your baby is born, his or her head stretches the opening of the vagina. The skin inside and surrounding the vagina will often stretch well to allow your baby to be born, however during this process it is common for women to sustain a tear to the inside of the vagina and/or the skin inside the vagina or both – which may require stitches. The stitches used will always be dissolvable and should not need to be removed.First degree tears These affect the skin of the perineum/vagina. Some of these tears require stitches and some may heal well without stitches. Your midwife will advise you on this after birth.Second degree tears These affect the skin and muscle of the perineum/vagina. Most of these tears require stitches to assist with healing.Third and fourth degree tears These affect the skin and muscle of the perineum/vagina, as well as some of the structures associated with the anal sphincter. These tears require a repair by an obstetric doctor, under surgical conditions to repair them.Labial tears These occur to the labia minora and will often require stitches to aid healing. Your midwife will advise you on this after birth.Episiotomies These are sustained during the birth, when your doctor or midwife makes a cut to facilitate the birth of your baby. These are similar to second degree tears and will require stitches.
When your baby is born, his or her head stretches the opening of the vagina. The skin inside and surrounding the vagina will often stretch well to allow your baby to be born, however during this process it is common for women to sustain a tear to the inside of the vagina and/or the skin inside the vagina or both – which may require stitches. The stitches used will always be dissolvable and should not need to be removed.
First degree tears These affect the skin of the perineum/vagina. Some of these tears require stitches and some may heal well without stitches. Your midwife will advise you on this after birth.
Second degree tears These affect the skin and muscle of the perineum/vagina. Most of these tears require stitches to assist with healing.
Third and fourth degree tears These affect the skin and muscle of the perineum/vagina, as well as some of the structures associated with the anal sphincter. These tears require a repair by an obstetric doctor, under surgical conditions to repair them.
Labial tears These occur to the labia minora and will often require stitches to aid healing. Your midwife will advise you on this after birth.
Episiotomies These are sustained during the birth, when your doctor or midwife makes a cut to facilitate the birth of your baby. These are similar to second degree tears and will require stitches.
