‘Husband Stitch’: The controversial after-birth suture that puts Nigerian women at risk

The practice of the 'husband stitch,' a procedure that tightens the vagina after childbirth for the supposed pleasure of a male partner, is causing immense suffering to Nigerian women. DUBAWA's investigation reveals that this medically unapproved and harmful practice leaves women shattered, broken, and traumatized, with lasting physical and emotional scars.

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I will never have another child again. Childbirth damaged me permanently.

Faith's harrowing experience, where a midwife explicitly stated the vagina was made tighter for her husband, highlights the deeply disturbing reality of this procedure. This is not merely a medical issue; it is a violation of women's bodily autonomy and a stark example of how reproductive healthcare can be perverted to serve patriarchal desires. The narrative that this procedure enhances sexual pleasure is a cruel deception that inflicts permanent damage.

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I had a tear from my vagina down to my anus after delivery and had to be stitched. I was really screaming because the pain was out of this world.

As a publication committed to shedding light on critical issues affecting Nigerian women, DUBAWA brings this story to the forefront. The 'husband stitch' is a stark reminder that even in the intimate space of childbirth, women's well-being can be disregarded. This practice underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, stricter regulation, and a fundamental shift in how childbirth and postpartum care are approached, ensuring that women's health and dignity are prioritized above all else. The silence surrounding this issue must be broken, and accountability must be demanded from healthcare providers who engage in such harmful practices.

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When my husband came into the delivery room after the whole stitching, one of the midwives said to him, ‘Oh, we made it tighter for you.’