Postpartum perineal pain among Nigerian women

Pain free immediate postpartum period may encourage return to normal activities of daily living.

To identify the place of postpartum perineal pain as morbidity in the immediate postpartum period.

This prospective study included women who delivered in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit of the hospital. All women over 18 years who were delivered of a live neonate vaginally and were in hospital for at least 3 days after delivery were studied. The mothers were interviewed to describe the nature of perineal pain after delivery. The primary outcome was the frequency of perineal pain on days 1 and 3. The severity of perineal pain was assessed using interference with activities of daily living.

A total of 143 patients completed the form out of the 151 approached. There were 47 (32.9%) parturients with intact perineum, 28 (19.6%) sustained first or second-degree tears and 68 (47.5%) had episiotomy. The occurrences of perineal pain among the groups during hospitalization day one v day three were as follows: intact perineum 18(38.3%), 13(27.7%); 1st-/2nd-degree tears 20971%) and 14(50%); and episiotomies 59(86.8%) and 47(69.1%). Episiotomy was twice likely to produce perineal pain than no trauma group at time of discharge on day 3 (RR = 2.4).

The likelihood of being underserved in the management of perineal pain increased with minor perineal trauma and episiotomy respectively in the immediate postpartum period. The current management of postpartum perineal pain in our centre appears inadequate.