Better Births for Women Collaborative
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Summary
Women having their first birth vaginally in Victoria are four times more likely to experience a severe perineal laceration (third- or fourth-degree tear) compared to those having a subsequent birth vaginally (Victorian perinatal services performance indicators 2018–19 report).
This can have devastating long-term or lifelong impacts on physical and psychological wellbeing. Many of these tears are avoidable.