A Pilot Study To Assess The Effect Of Antepartum Perineal Massage Using A Pelvic Wand On Labor Agency And Pelvic Health
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Summary
There is limited research on the optimal strategy to reduce obstetric laceration, postpartum urinary retention, and postpartum pelvic pain. In systematic reviews, clinician-directed massage of the perineal muscles at the time of birth and patient directed massage of the perineal muscles in the third trimester to inconsistently reduce the incidence of severe obstetric laceration.1,2 However, there is significant heterogeneity of these studies is due in large part to the lack of a standardized protocols and unpredictability of clinician availability to perform perineal massage around the time of birth. The purpose of this study is to understand how perineal massage with a pelvic wand in late pregnancy and during labor influences one's sense of self-control over the labor process and birth experience.
Description
Study Overview and Design This is a randomized controlled, single-center study to assess the effect of the Intimate RoseTM Pelvic Wand device (Figure 1) on the birth experience. Methods Recruitment We will enroll eligible adult pregnant patients who plan to give birth at BIDMC. Randomization After providing consent, we will randomize participants in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or control arm. Enrollment and Antepartum Period The intervention arm will receive standard of care education about the benefits of perineal massage and receive instruction to perform the massage three times weekl…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant * Plan to give birth at BIDMC * Age ≥18 years old * English language preference * 32-36 weeks 'gestation Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to vaginal birth, active genital herpes infection, fetal anomaly requiring cesarean birth).
Interventions
- DevicePelvic wand
Use of a pelvic wand to perform perineal massage
Location
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, Massachusetts