Midwives and doctors train to improve birth injury care

Midwives and doctors practised identifying and repairing childbirth tears at a training session in Hämeenlinna, Yle reported. The course aimed to improve and standardise care for birth injuries.

Participants used animal tissue models to practise suturing, as their texture resembled human tissue. The training was organised this week by the Finnish Perinatological Society, which promotes care during pregnancy, childbirth and the newborn period.

Severe third- and fourth-degree perineal tears were reported in 1.7 per cent of births in 2025, according to statistics from Finland’s Institute for Health and Welfare. The figures have risen slightly since 2012, but have changed little since then. First- and second-degree tears are not recorded.

Doctors repair the most severe tears, while midwives can treat milder ones. Midwife Anna Into, who attended the course, said it provided new information about suturing techniques and helped participants develop their existing skills.

Marja Kaijomaa, a specialist in obstetrics, gynaecology and perinatology, said patients should receive clear information about the extent and nature of an injury. After a severe tear, they should be given written aftercare instructions they can understand, offered a physiotherapist’s consultation and scheduled for a follow-up examination at the maternity hospital or a child health clinic.

First-time mothers whose births involve vacuum assistance are at greater risk of tears. A birthing parent’s age over 35 or a large baby can also increase the risk. Yle reported in February that some Finnish women had sought treatment for birth injuries in Sweden.