If you're planning a vaginal birth, you'll want to minimize the amount of injury caused by the birth of your baby. Episiotomies, tearing and perineal massage are all options that can create more room for your baby to pass through the birth canal. When is each option typically used and how effective are they? What is the recovery process like for episiotomies versus tearing? And why are episiotomies considered taboo these days?

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