episiotomy

American  

[uh-pee-zee-ot-uh-mee, ep-uh-sahy-] / əˌpi ziˈɒt ə mi, ˌɛp ə saɪ- /

noun

Obstetrics, Surgery.

plural

episiotomies

1. an incision into the perineum and vagina to allow sufficient clearance for birth.

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episiotomy British  

/ əˌpiːzɪˈɒtəmɪ /

noun

1. surgical incision into the perineum during the late stages of labour to prevent its laceration during childbirth and to make delivery easier

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episiotomy Scientific  

/ ĭ-pĭz′ē-ŏt′ə-mē,ĭ-pē′zē- /

1. Surgical incision of the perineum during vaginal childbirth to facilitate delivery.

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Etymology

Origin of episiotomy

1875–80; < Greek epísio ( n ) pubic region + -tomy

Example Sentences

MLK officials credit round-the-clock staffing with an OB and midwife with driving its notably low rates of C-sections and episiotomies, measures widely used to gauge the quality of maternal care.

From Los Angeles Times

Some parts of the birth story I can only hope to forget: induction, complications, “failure to progress,” interventions, fetal distress, “poor expulsive effort,” tearing, episiotomy, hemorrhage.

From New York Times

I remember looking at my episiotomy scar and it looked tiny.

From The Guardian

But the continuously monitored mothers are subjected to significantly more interventions—oxytocin stimulation, forceps deliveries, episiotomies, C-sections, etc.—with their attendant expenses and complications.

From Scientific American

"We have reports of biopsies being done without anaesthetic, of medically-assisted fertility procedures without anaesthetic, sewing to repair tears after vaginal childbirth, episiotomy being done without anaesthetic," she says.

From BBC