Learn and Practice the Art of Suturing so you can confidently assess and repair vaginal lacerations
Suturing is an essential skill for community midwives to practice. Both to effectively and efficiently control excessive bleeding, should it arise, but to help your clients maintain the integrity and strength of their pelvic floor and prevent dysfunction, now or in their future.
Together, let's learn and practice the skills we need to help our client's enjoy a fabulous sex life and optimal pelvic floor function for a lifetime!
In this workshop, we will dive into all things Perineal Laceration
I put this workshop together because I have heard over and over again, that midwives (and definitely student midwives) need more practice in this area. So let's practice! I believe that all too often, our own hesitancy prevents us from suturing tears that would heal better when brought together. If only all legs stayed together for a full week or two after birth to optimize the natural healing of a tear...but often that is not the case! We only have the ONE window of opportunity to heal the tearing associated with birth, so let's maximize it!
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HOP down to the 2024 Calendar
Prevention
It all starts with prevention! Let's apply research, common sense, and client's preferences to come up with the best prevention strategies for each individual.
Equipment & Setup
Explore the basics; instruments, needles, suture materials and what you need along with getting situated for optimal comfort / success for both you and your client.
Knots & Stitches
Master the surgical square knot plus two other cool knots (specifically for continuous stitches). Learn & practice basic stitches, both continuous and interrupted.
Sterile Fields
Although suturing vagina's and vulva's is not a sterile procedure, it is critical to be as clean as possible. Together, we will think this through and practice the basics.
Anesthesia
Understand and practice pharmaceutical & non-pharmaceutical anesthesia options; proper injection techniques, how to apply gels & sprays, and acupuncture!
Assessment & Repair
It begins with a thorough assessment and a plan. Practice different repair strategies for primarily1st & 2nd degree tears. 3rd degree tears will be discussed.
Tying it all together!
Pun intended! (lol). Putting it all together is key for your success. Often-times, we practice individual skills, then fumble when putting it all together.
Handbook & Online
Lifetime access to online materials including video demonstrations, 50+ page - fully illustrated - handbook, outlining the course curriculum, reminder pdf's for your birth bag.
This 8 hour workshop focuses on:
- it all starts with prevention so we will review and practice strategies to prevent tearing
- review of the anatomy and tips to identify what you're looking at
- how to thoroughly assess, determine degree of tear and create a plan of repair
- maternal and midwife positioning for maximum comfort
- pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical pain relief
- familiarize yourself with suturing equipment (needles, suture material, instruments)
- analgesics (topical and injectable)
- differing techniques to suture 1st, 2nd & 3rd degree tears
- sterile technique
- practice drawing up and injecting lidocaine
- practice surgical knots (instrumental)
- practice basic stitches and when to use them and how to end!
- specific stitches to repair fascia, muscles, sphincter, clitoral, labial and perineal tissues
- how to check your repair once complete
- special considerations to think about
- stabilize and transport for complex or severe tears
- review of postpartum care of tears
- AND of course, practice, practice, practice!!
What People are Saying...93% of participants rated this workshop as 'Excellent'
And it's only getting better as I improve visual aids and put the suggestions of participants into practice!
Very Valuable!
This workshop added a lot of skills & confidence to my practice!
Great Training!
It was really great! Very informative with quality handouts. The practice was much needed & effective!
Excellent!
Avril is an excellent teacher and is clearly passionate about the work she does!
Models for Practice:
1) Knot Practice
- Knots are foundational! This model uses string to master knot tying with. I teach instrument ties, so we will be using instruments, with string, to practice with. This is useful because you can actually see the way the knot lays.
2) Silicone Stitch Practice Pads
- Just to practice and master the basic stitches. These are ideal to help you quickly and easily practice interrupted and a variety of continuous stitches.
3) Silicone Perineal Model for Practice
- To practice labial and perineal repairs. These are especially helpful in tying it all together and practicing different repair strategies and techniques.
4) Foam Model with Labia & tight space for Perineal Repair Practice
- These offer the perfect way to do a complete assessment including palpation and repair of both the bulbocavernosus and transverse muscles, and a rectal examination. They also come with a 'tight space' to have to work within when practicing
5) Meat!
- Working with actual flesh gives the student an opportunity to 'feel' what it is like to actually suture muscle.
2025 Calendar
The following workshops are paired with Birth Emergency Skills Training.
Find a BEST workshop here
April 27th - Oconomowoc, WI - workshop full - reach out to [email protected] to add an additional day
2024 Workshops
June 9th - Salt Lake City, Utah
- Register Today - full!
Aug. 26th - Rockhill, SC (Birth Junkies Retreat)
Sept. 16th - Indianapolis, IN
- Register Today ~ Full!
Oct. 6th - Arkansas
Oct. 20th - Las Cruces, NM
Oct. 27th - Des Moines, IA
- Register Today - Full!
Nov. 18th - Austin, TX
