NCT05854888

Perineal Massage and Warm Compresses - RCT for Reduce Perineal Trauma During Labor

Perineal Massage and Warm Compresses During Second Stage of Labor - Randomised Controlled Trial for Reduce Perineal Trauma

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 800 (actual)
• Sponsor: Universidade do Porto · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a combined perineal massage and warm compresses intervention on the perineum integrity during second stage of labor.

Detailed description

A single-centre, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted. Eligibility and informed consent to participate were checked once the woman was in established labor. Eligible participants were randomized at the second stage of labor. The trial intervention took place during the second stage of the spontaneous vaginal birth. Participants were randomized to one of the two groups, perineal massage and warm compresses on second stage of labor or control group (hands-on).

Conditions

• Perineal Tear Resulting From Childbirth

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Perineal Massage and Warm Compresses (PeMWaC)	Perineal Massage was performed in the II Hodge Plan, between maternal contractions and regardless of maternal position. Warm Compresses were applied by the midwife between Hodge plans III and IV, during pushing and regardless of maternal position.
PROCEDURE	Control Group (Hands-on)	The midwife placed the index, middle, and little fingers of the non-dominant hand together on the child's occiput, with the palm facing the anterior region of the perineum, when the child's head was crowning. In this way, the expulsion was controlled, maintaining the flexion of the head. Simultaneously, the dominant hand was flattened and placed on the posterior region of the perineum, with the index finger and thumb, forming a "U", exerting pressure on the posterior region of the perineum during the crowning process. During the birth of the shoulders and the rest of the body, the dominant hand was kept in place, protecting the posterior region of the perineum.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-03-01
• Primary completion: 2020-12-31
• Completion: 2021-07-01
• First posted: 2023-05-11
• Last updated: 2023-05-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Portugal