Numerous parturient women suffer from perineal trauma during vaginal delivery. Perineal
trauma is mostly coupled with pain and serious long life complications. Consequently, prevention of perineal
trauma become an urgent need. This study aimed to compare the effect of warm compresses versus lubricated
massage during the second stage of labor on perineal outcomes among primiparous women.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted at labor room in Beni-
Suef general hospital, Beni-Suef city. A convenience sample of 304 parturient women undergoing normal
vaginal delivery was randomly assigned to three groups warm compresses group (102 women), lubricated
massage group (102 women) and control group (100 women). Three tools were used for data collection; 1)
structured interview schedule to collect data about the women' demographic data, and their current pregnancy
profile, 2) second stage and perineal outcome assessment sheet, 3) pain assessment tools, it involves two parts,
pain analogue scale and behavioral pain scale.
Results: There were no significant differences between the three groups as regards the rate of intact perineum,
spontaneous tears not requiring repair, tear requiring repair and episiotomy (P = 0.174, 0.111, 0.114 and
0.660) respectively. In contrast, a significant difference was observed between the lubricated massage, warm
compresses and control groups in favor of the former as regards the degree of tears (P = 0.012). Perineal pain
intensity and behavioral response parameters significantly reduced among the warm compress and lubricated
massage groups 15 minutes after starting the intervention (P = 0.000) with a significant difference between the
three groups.
Conclusion: Perineal warm compresses and lubricated massage didn’t significantly decreased the rate of
episiotomy and genital tract tears, but they significantly reduced the degree of tears and the degree of extension
of episiotomy, when compared to control group. Lubricated massage was more effective than warm compresses
in this respect. Perineal pain intensity and behavioral pain response parameters had significantly reduced in
lubricated massage and warm compresses groups than the control group.
Recommendation: All governmental hospitals should provide adequately planned in-service training programs
for maternity nurses regarding the benefits of warm compresses and lubricated massage during the second
stage of labor in order to develop their best practice. |
