Perineal Massage Performed During the Labour

The Effects of Perineal Massage Performed During Labor on Childbirth Comfort, Perineal Pain and Trauma in Nulliparous Women: A Quasi Experimental Study

In this study, perineal massage was applied to primiparous women who did not give birth before, as a quasi-experimental control group to determine the effects of massage on birth comfort, perineal trauma and perineal pain.

In this study, perineal massage was applied to primiparous women who did not give birth before, as a quasi-experimental control group to determine the effects of massage on birth comfort, perineal trauma and perineal pain. Perineal massage was administered to all pregnant women in the experimental group during both the labor and resting phases between contractions. The participants received an average of 5-10 minutes of perineal massage two, four and four to six times at the latent (0-3-cm cervical dilation), active (4-7-cm cervical dilation) and transition (8-10-cm cervical dilation) phases of labor, respectively. These women continued to receive perineal massage at every push throughout the second stage of labor. Before perineal massage, the researcher wore sterile gloves, placed two fingers into the 3-4-cm wide-open vagina and applied Vaseline routinely to lubricate the vagina in the delivery room. . Perineal massage was applied using all three of the "from one edge to the other", "U shape" and "pressure" massage techniques. The researcher gently applied a rhythmic "U" pressure with both fingers, moving them on the vagina downwards about 3 to 9 o'clock. Each pressure movement was maintained laterally for 1-2 minutes towards the rectum.

Since the researcher did the intervention and analysis, only the participants did not know which group they were in, so single blinding was done.

Perineal massage was administered to all pregnant women in the experimental group during both the labor and resting phases between contractions. The participants received an average of 5-10 minutes of perineal massage two, four and four to six times at the latent (0-3-cm cervical dilation), active (4-7-cm cervical dilation) and transition (8-10-cm cervical dilation) phases of labor, respectively. These women continued to receive perineal massage at every push throughout the second stage of labor. The researcher midwife gently widened the perineal muscles by making stretching movements with her fingers. Perineal massage was applied using all three of the "from one edge to the other", "U shape" and "pressure" massage techniques. The researcher gently applied a rhythmic "U" pressure with both fingers, moving them on the vagina downwards about 3 to 9 o'clock. Each pressure movement was maintained laterally for 1-2 minutes towards the rectum.

The mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the pregnant women in the experimental and control groups were compared to determine the level of perineal pain. Women were asked to rate pain from zero to 10. A score of zero means no pain, while 10 = indicates the most severe pain experienced.

The "Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ)" score averages were compared to determine the birth comfort levels of the pregnant women in the experimental and control groups. As the score increases, high-level comfort is mentioned, as the score decreases, low-level comfort is mentioned. The lowest and highest possible total scale scores are 9 and 45.

The REEDA scale mean scores were compared to determine the perineal trauma levels of the women in the experimental and control groups. The REEDA scale, consists of five variables of wound healing. These variables are redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge and approximation of the wound edges. The scale items are scored between 0 and 3 points. The lowest and highest possible total scale scores are 0 and 15. A higher score indicates a greater level of perineal trauma.

Inclusion Criteria: Having no complications for vaginal delivery Having no dystocia affecting the birth process (e.g., prolonged labor, precipitate labor, shoulder dystocia) Having a singleton pregnancy, Having a fetal head with an anterior cephalic position, Being at the latent phase of labor, Having no perineal scar tissue, Having no diagnosis of vaginal fungus or infection, Having a fetus with a birth weight between 2500 and 4000 g, Having no communication problems. Exclusion Criteria: -All pregnant women who developed fetal distress during labor or had to undergo cesarean delivery were excluded from the study.

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