[masraum]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Tricare was 150ish

In-law who works at the local hospital group paid to the catastrophic cap on the deductible, so 5k with no complications. I think what’s interesting, a lot of gals are ripping their rear ends and docs aren’t performing episiotomies. Yolo i guess.

My understanding is that the natural tear is actually better than an episiotomy in most cases.

While an episiotomy was once a common practice to prevent severe tearing during childbirth, current medical recommendations favor letting the perineum tear naturally, as it generally leads to better outcomes. Episiotomies are no longer considered routine and are only performed when medically necessary.
Here's why:

Natural tears often heal better:
. Studies show that natural tears, especially those that are minor, often heal faster and with less pain than episiotomies, according to Parents.
Episiotomies can increase the risk of complications:
. Episiotomies can sometimes lead to deeper tears (third or fourth degree) which are more difficult to heal and may cause complications like fecal incontinence, according to What to Expect.
Routine episiotomies are not recommended:
. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises against routine episiotomies.
Episiotomies are only considered when medically necessary:
. Doctors may consider an episiotomy in situations where the baby is in distress, forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery is needed, or there are other complications that necessitate a quicker delivery, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.