Vaginal deliveries are associated with some degree of trauma to the genital tract with significant short- and long-term morbidity. Risk factors associated with perineal trauma include: first birth, increased fetal weight, operative vaginal delivery, prolonged second period, maternal lithotomy position, maternal age, induction of labor, use of episiotomy, and strong medicalization of the labor process. Basic strategies to reduce perineal trauma begin as early as the third trimester of pregnancy. Midwifery practice plays a leading role through prenatal education. In the antenatal period, a combined training program based on perineal massage after the 32nd gestational week and pelvic floor exercises are recommended.
The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent antenatal training with a combined training program resulted in less perineal trauma and restrictively reduced the incidence of routine episiotomy.
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Venugopal, V., Deenadayalan, B., Maheshkumar, K., Yogapriya, C., Akila, A., Pandiaraja, M., Poonguzhali, S., & Poornima, R. (2022). Perineal Massage for Prevention of Perineal Trauma and Episiotomy During Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of family & reproductive health, 16(3), 162–169. https://doi.org/10.18502/jfrh.v16i3.10575
Weronika Milka, Weronika Paradowska, Daria Kołomańska-Bogucka, Agnieszka I. Mazur-Bialy, Antenatal perineal massage - risk of perineal injuries, pain, urinary incontinence and dyspereunia - a systematic review, Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction, Volume 52, Issue 8,2023, 102627, ISSN 2468-7847, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2023.102627.
https://brochures.mater.org.au/brochures/mater-mothers-hospital/perineal-massage
https://epi-no.co.uk/how-to-use-the-epi-no-delphine-plus/
