Perineal pain relief therapies after postpartum

Abstract

Objective: identifying therapies for treating perineal pain after vaginal birth and to verify indication, technique and duration of local cooling. Method: an exploratory study (survey) conducted in 32 public maternity hospitals in the city of São Paulo (Brazil). A nurse or midwife who provided direct care to the woman was interviewed in each maternity ward. We investigated: institutional characterization, professional qualification, pain relief method, criterion for administration of therapies, indication, contraindication, method, local cooling technique and interval. A descriptive analysis was also carried out. Results: pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods were used for perineal pain relief, despite the use of non-pharmacological therapies not having protocols in these institutions. Among the pharmacological-based methods, analgesics and anti-inflammatories were the most common. Local cooling was the most used non-pharmacological method, and its main indication was perineal edema. Application time and local cooling interval ranged from 10-30 min and 3-8 h, respectively. Ice cubes in latex gloves were the main cooling technique. Conclusion: drug therapies predominated for control of perineal pain. Considering the advantages of non-pharmacological therapies, it is necessary to develop protocols to ensure their safe and effective use in maternity care.