episiotomy

[uh-pee-zee-ot-uh-mee, ep-uh-sahy-]

noun

Obstetrics, Surgery.

plural

episiotomies 

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

episiotomy

/ 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

episiotomy

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of episiotomy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of episiotomy¹

C20: from episio-, from Greek epision 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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He did not honor her request for an episiotomy — an incision near the vaginal opening to make it larger for childbirth — and she suffered a painful tear, she says.

Read more on Washington Post

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.

Read more on New York Times

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on Scientific American