An episiotomy is when a surgical cut is made in the perineum, which is the muscular area between the vagina and the anus.

Nowadays, this procedure is avoided. It can cause problems with pain, incontinence and poor healing.

After you are "cut", you need to be stitched up. If you didn't have an epidural, you will be given a local anaesthetic into your perineum before getting stitched.

You can try to avoid this procedure by learning to relax while you are giving birth. You can also learn how to use different positions to help give birth to your baby in order to avoid having this procedure. Antenatal classes can teach this.

How To Ease The Pain And Discomfort From An Episiotomy

* Place an ice-pack (or bag of frozen peas) on your stitches. This will ease the discomfort and reduce swelling.

* Use a "donut cushion". This is a blow-up cushion that resembles a "donut". The pressure will be relieved off your perineum.

* Fill a squirt bottle with warm water and epsom salts, then gently spray the mixture to your wounds. This will cleanse the area and speed up healing.

* Expose your perineum to the air once in a while. The oxygen will also help speed up healing.

* Apply witch hazel to a cotton pad, and apply it to the affected area.

Your stitches shouldn't take longer than a month to heal.

Of course, when in doubt see your doctor or midwife if you think you're not healing properly or fast enough.