On the Blog: From Induction to Injury: What the Research Says About Intervention & Pelvic Floor Risk
It’s not about fear—it’s about facts. The research is clear: some common birth interventions can increase the risk of pelvic floor trauma. But with preparation, the risk can be reduced.
What the Evidence Says
Inductions with syntocinon often cause stronger, more painful contractions, increasing the likelihood of epidural use and instrumental delivery. They can also cause baby's heart rate to fluctuate, meaning that they can appear in distress, leading to more interventions.
Instrumental births (especially forceps) have the highest rates of pelvic floor muscle injury, and are often used incorrectly and in some situations a C-section would be better. However in some situations they are the safest option, and need to be used correctly.
Episiotomy use is decreasing overall, but still common with up to 22% of first time mums in Australia having one (this rate is much less in some other countries and much higher in others), and may increase long-term scar pain, and nerve damage if not done correctly. But it may also reduce your chances of more severe injury and be really helpful during your birth in some situations.
This is where birth is nuanced, and we need to know when interventions are helpful, and when they can be harmful. There is also no one size fits all approach, and different things will be helpful in each persons individual circumstances.
What You Can Do
Learn the evidence. Know your options. Prepare your body. Don’t leave it up to chance or your healthcare provider to make the decision solely on your behalf as it may not always apply to you.
Pelvic floor training and education have been shown to reduce tearing, shorten second stage of labour, and improve recovery.
Birth is overwhelming, but we know that preparation reduces that overwhelm.
Don’t just hope for the best—prepare for it. Join Pelvic Floor Prep for Birth and get evidence-based tools to support your pelvic floor before, during, and after birth.
