THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Participants will have the opportunity to practice suturing various types of first-degree lacerations, guided by international standards (1).

THE PROCESS/ACTIVITIES:
Suturing vaginal and perineal lacerations following a vaginal birth is an essential skill for both midwifery students and practicing midwives. In cases of first-degree trauma, the key anatomical landmarks include the vaginal tissue, hymen, perineal skin, and labia (2). To ensure safe and effective care, it is vital that students first build their competence and confidence by training on medical models. Our guiding principle is clear: “Never on patients first.”

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
This 90-minute session will follow a blended learning approach, combining visual learning with interactive, hands-on practice. Participants will be guided by instructional videos as they work through low-fidelity skills stations designed to support the repair of perineal lacerations (3). Additional reading Ramar CN, Vadakekut ES, Grimes WR. Perineal lacerations. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; updated August 11, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559068/ Adelskov SK, Seehafer P, Halkier LE, Dimon E. Suturing first-degree lacerations. GynZone Online Learning. Accessed May 31, 2026. https://my.gynzone.com/courses/6-first-degree-lacerations Vulva Enterprise. Perineal Repair Trainers. Accessed May 31, 2026. https://www.vulva-enterprise.com/shop/11-perineal-repair-trainers/