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Book Review of Ever Since I Had My Baby : Understanding, Treating, and Preventing the Most Common Physical Aftereffects of Pregnancy and Childbirth

KrystaS avatar reviewed on


While some conditions may occur even in the most normal of births, many 'complications
of birth' are really complications brought about by intervention by medical staff.

The most effective "simple preventive techniques" include not having your baby in a
hospital, hiring a midwife, not having an episiotomy, and not having an epidural.

An episiotomy only destroys tissue. Left alone, the tissue will stretch, and in fact is
usually stretched to its maximum before the unkindest cut is made. Cutting through muscle
is only going to weaken it, and the scar tissue will not stretch, making both sex and
another delivery painful. The worst genital / anal tears are found in women who endured
episiotomy, because the inflicted damage creates a weak spot for tissue to tear. Women
who avoid them rarely have tears beyond first degree (very mild).

Avoid an epidural and you'll be able to 'hear' your body telling you what to do, when to
push, when to rest, and when to change position.