Practices of midwives working in delivery rooms for protection of perineum during intrapartum period and their feedback on these applications

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Perineal traumas occurring during labor are undesirable for both the midwives and the woman. Midwives and obstetricians could use different techniques to protect the perineum.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the practices of midwives working in the delivery room to protect the perineum during the second stage of labor.

Methods

This is a prospective observational study regarding practices of midwifes for protection of perineum during intrapartum period. The study was conducted with a total of 20 midwives in a maternity unit of an training and research hospital. The data were collected through the forms prepared by the researchers.

Findings

The average age of the midwives was 34 ± 8.77. The majority of midwives (n: 17, 85%) believed that the need for practices to protect the perineum during labor; 40% of them used perineal protection (hands on) technique to protect perineum and they preferred to perform routine episiotomy in all primiparas.

Results and conclusions

As a result of the study, it was observed that evidence-based practices was not applied sufficiently enough by the midwives although they were knowledgeable and believed that they are beneficial. Studies are needed for the obstacles to these practices to be identified and removed.

Keywords:

• Midwife
• perineal trauma
• intrapartum period

Ethical approval

In order to carry out the study, permission was obtained from Ege University Medical Research Ethics Committee (date: 29.05.2019 and Decree: 19-5.2 T/24) and the institution where the study was conducted (Date: 17.07.2019 10: 50-24404279-702.99-E.307). All participants gave written consent to anonymised quotes being used in publications.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.