19. What to Know About Birth Injuries with Dr. Anne Sammarco

Did you know that certain childbirth-related injuries can have a significant impact on women's lives? Let's talk about an important statistic that highlights the importance of addressing this issue.In the general population, the risk of experiencing a third or fourth-degree perineal injury (tear) during childbirth, which involves the rectum and the sphincter muscle, is approximately 6.7%. These injuries are some of the most feared and challenging to recover from.Here's the game-changer: If you've never encountered this type of injury during childbirth, your future pregnancy risk drops significantly to around 1.5%. However, for those who have experienced such injuries, the risk of incontinence or a lack of control over feces and gas can soar to a daunting 47%, compared to the average risk of 13% for women.Why does this matter? Because nobody should have to lose control over their bodily functions.Welcome to Our Womanity with Dr. Rachel Pope, the podcast series that empowers women with knowledge and insights on various aspects of their health and well-being.In this episode, we kick off our "Pregnant & Prepared: Navigating the Journey Ahead" series with a focus on birth injuries. Our guest, Dr. Anne Sammarco, is a highly regarded urogynecologist with extensive experience in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Sammarco specializes in providing comprehensive care to patients with pelvic floor disorders, offering surgical and conservative therapy options.Join us as we delve into what every expectant mother should know about birth injuries and how to navigate this crucial aspect of pregnancy and childbirth.Featured in this episode: Fecal matter and gas control Poor healing of birth injuries Postpartum check-ups Fistulas Anal sphincter tearsWant more from Our Womanity?Submit your questions on anything and everything women's health-related and we will answer them in one of our episodes.