The effect of perineal massage performed during the labour on the childbirth comfort, perineal pain and trauma in nulliparous women

Purpose: This study was carried out to determine the effect of perineal massage performed during the labour on childbirth comfort, perineal pain and trauma in nulliparous women. Material and Method: The research was carried out by using a control group quasi-experimental model. The population of the study consisted of nulliparous women applying to the maternity hospital in Diyarbakır. When the power analysis was performed, the sample size was calculated as 91 pregnant (91 experiment, 91 control) for each group. Pregnant in the experimental group was performed perineal massage at least 2 times in latent phase, at least 4 times in the active phase, at least 4-6 times in transition phase and during in second period of delivery in every strain. Data were collected with "Personal Identification Form", "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)", "REEDA Scale" and "Childbirth Comfort Scale". Percentage distribution, arithmetic mean, standard deviation t-test in independent and chi square test groups were used in statistical evaluation. Results: When the characteristics of labour, such as duration of the second phase of the birth, perineal trauma state, degree of perineal trauma and episiotomy application were compared in terms of features the difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant (p <0.05). Mean SAI score at the end of the active phase after perineal massage performed that was found to be 30.53±8.78 in the experimental group and 26.83±7.78 in the control group, p <0.05). The mean VAS score was found to be 3.04 ± 2.08 in the experimental group, 5.72 ± 2.64 in the control group (p <0.001). Moreover It was also achieved that the mean REEDA total score was 6.25 ± 1.40 in the experimental group, 10.12 ± 2.29 in the control group in postpartum, (p <0.001). Conclusion: It was found that perineal massage given to nulliparous women during labour increased the childbirth comfort and reduced the possibility of perineal pain and trauma development. Keywords: Labour, Childbirth Comfort, Nulliparous Women, Midwifery, Perineal Massage, Perineal Pain, Perineal Trauma