Many malpractice issues related to labor and delivery result in injury to the infant. However, there are also forms of medical negligence that can have lasting repercussions for the new mother.
Women may tear during childbirth. Doctors may also perform an episiotomy, where they cut the woman to facilitate an easier birth process. Women who tear or require episiotomies during delivery often need stitches after the birth.
In some cases, the doctor attending to them may give them an unnecessary stitch, also known as a “husband stitch,” which can have major negative consequences for the woman in the future.
What is the husband stitch?
The vulva as a whole has an incredible ability to stretch and then heal during and after childbirth. Unfortunately, social attitudes about women’s bodies do not reflect that medical reality. People sometimes claim that women become “loose” after childbirth, leading to doctors adding a stitch to tighten the tissue.
The so-called husband stitch is not part of the necessary stitching to correct the tearing or incision made. It exists to alter her anatomy solely for the benefit of her male partner. Frequently, the husband stitch has the exact opposite impact.
It causes scarring and pain for the woman, leading to reduced frequency of intimacy with her partner and reduced pleasure for both parties. Doctors who follow the outdated practice of adding a husband stitch without a woman’s knowledge or consent may have violated medical ethics and best practices.
Women dealing with the scarring and chronic pain associated with the husband stitch may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. New mothers harmed by inappropriate birth interventions and negligent obstetric care can potentially hold their doctors accountable.