What is it called when they cut your perineum (taint) to make it easier to deliver a baby?

Just so you know, they rarely do episiotomies anymore. They have found that to let the 'taint' tear on it's own will lead to faster healing and less likley for infection. Think of it like a broken bone, the kind that break clean through take longer to hear, whereas those that are a little jagged heal faster. The body is better able to heal when the skin is broken as opposed to cut clean. Don't worry about the pain while tearing, that is what the epidural is for. Good Luck!!