Could a simple manual technique performed by a midwife reduce the incidence of episiotomy and perineal lacerations? A non-randomized pilot study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Women experience medical interventions, episiotomy, and perineal lacerations during childbirth, impacting their physical, psychological, and sexual well-being. This study compares the perineal status of prospective women who had the midwifery intervention of perineal myofascial release during childbirth, to a matched retrospective control sample of women who received standard care during childbirth. METHODS: A non-randomized pilot study with prospective data collected for 50 women after informed verbal consent was obtained to having the midwifery intervention of perineal myofascial release during childbirth, and the matched retrospective data for the control group of 49 women were collected from a random sample generated from the medical records. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, regression, and chi-squared analyses. Retrospective trial registration was granted with The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ANZTR. RESULTS: (1)= -0.37, p=0.542]. CONCLUSIONS: This study found perineal myofascial release benefits women by reducing perineal trauma and episiotomy. However, there were no significant differences in the duration of the active pushing stage of labor or mode of birth. This study has shown some promise in obtaining data for a larger, definitive, randomized controlled trial. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ANZTR. IDENTIFIER: ID ACTRN12623000807651.
Source: European Journal of Midwifery
DOI: 10.18332/ejm/191749
Authors: Kathryn E. Taylor, Virginia Stulz
Institutions: Nepean Hospital, University of Canberra
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,617
OpenAlex ID: W4402276113