The management of the perineum during birth has multiple long-term effects on women and their families. The midwife has a key role to play and often the techniques they employ vary significantly, as does their justification of these practices. This article seeks to examine current evidence to explore what is known to contribute to lower perineal trauma rates and what practices should be avoided to protect childbearing women. The conclusions drawn show that the updating ofpractice and antenatal education may be required so that woman are given the information they need to make an informed choice as to what they want for their own body, child and experience.
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