The Effects of Perineal Massage Performed During Labor on Childbirth Comfort, Perineal Pain, and Trauma in Nulliparous Women: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of perineal massage performed during labor on childbirth comfort, perineal pain, and genital tract trauma in nulliparous women. Material and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with a control group. The sample consisted of a total of 182 pregnant women, including 91 in the experimental group and 91 in the control group. Perineal massage was performed in the experimental group two, four, and four to six times during the latent, active, and transition phases, respectively. The participants in the experimental group continued to receive perineal massage with every push throughout the second stage of labor. Data were collected using the “Personal Introductory Form”, “Visual Analog Scale (VAS)”, “REEDA Scale” and “Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ)”. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of labor conditions including duration of the second stage of labor, perineal trauma status, severity of perineal trauma, and episiotomy application status (p<0.05). After perineal massage, the CCQ mean score at the end of the active phase was 30.53±8.78 in the experimental group and 26.83±7.78 in the control group (p<0.05). Additionally, the postpartum VAS mean score was 3.04±2.08 in the experimental group and 5.72±2.64 in the control group (p<0.001). The REEDA mean total score was 3.23±0.53 in the experimental group and 5.50±1.70 in the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Perineal massage administered to nulliparous women during labor increased childbirth comfort and decreased perceptions of perineal pain, and it was associated with lower rates of genital tract trauma.