The effect of perineal massage on labor second stage period perineal tear and its outcomes

Background and aims: Long liness second stage of labor may cause fatigue and discomfort for women. Most of the women experience perineal injury and perineal pain during vaginal delivery. Perineal pain makes the mother too weak to take care their babies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectivness of perineal massage on labor secound stage period, intact perineal, episiotomy and intensity of perinal pain. Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 141 nulliparous women (71 massages and 70 control group) who referred to Koohdasht Imam Khomeini hospital for normal vaginal delivery. Countinuous sampling method with random assignment was conducted. In massage group the there cervical dilatation (6-7) was used cm after dipping the pointing and middel fingers in to a lubricating substance (key jell) then dipping 4-5 cm offingers in to the vaginal of the parturing women massaging between 3 to 9 oclock alternatively. Questionnaire and code sheets were used for data collection. Data were analysied by SPSS version 14. Results: The mean length of second stage of labor in massage group was 58.16 ± 28.22 and in control group was 57.07 ± 28.93 minutes, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P=0.723). In the massage group the prevalauce of safe perineal, was 29.6%, episiotomy 32.4% and perineal tear was 38%. In the control group the prevalance of safe perineal was 11.4%, episiotomy 67.1% and perineal tear was 21.4%. Perineal pain on the third day of postpartum in massage group was 50.7% and in control group was 70% (P=0.019). Perineal pain on the tenth day postpartum in massage group was 29.6%, and in control group was 45.7% (P=0.048). There was a significant difference between the two groups comparing perineal pain, but there was no significant difference comparing the pain inteasty between the two groups (the third day P=0.036), (the thenth day P=0.390). Conclusion: The study shows that perineal massage is effective in increasing the likelihood of intact perineume and in decreasing the perineal pain