How women feel about the care they receive for their perineal area during labour and childbirth.

What is it about?

Many women experience serious tears during childbirth that can affect their long-term physical and emotional health. These injuries seem to be increasing in the UK. Although there is lots of research on ways to reduce tearing, we don’t know much about what women actually think of these methods. This review looked at studies exploring how women feel about the care given to their perineal area (the skin and tissue between the vagina and anus) during labour, and how midwives might improve this part of the birth experience. Twelve studies were included. Most of them focused on episiotomy (a cut made during birth) or a standard care bundle used to try to prevent severe tearing. Many of the studies used surveys, which meant they didn’t capture women’s feelings in much depth. Some parts of the care bundle were not acceptable to many women and even caused long-term physical or emotional distress for some. The review concludes that more research is needed to understand how midwives can provide perineal care that supports a better birth experience. It also highlights that maternity staff should consider how perineal care methods may affect women’s feelings about their birth.

Featured Image

Photo by Rebekah Vos on Unsplash

Photo by Rebekah Vos on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Some women experience serious tears during childbirth that can cause long-lasting pain, emotional distress, or problems with bowel control. These severe tears are becoming more common in the UK. Doctors and midwives have created different methods to try to reduce tearing — like: - the OASI care bundle (a set of steps midwives are encouraged to follow) -episiotomies (a cut made to widen the vaginal opening) -warm compresses, massage, cold packs, -hand techniques and -different birthing positions But very little research has asked women how these methods feel for them.

Perspectives