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Article

Antenatal Perineal Training for Injuries Prevention: Follow Up after Puerperium

1
Multidisciplinary Doctoral School, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310414 Arad, Romania
2
Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310414 Arad, Romania
3
The Rehabilitation Therapy of the Pelvic Floor, UniCamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
4
Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
5
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy
6
Department of Functional Sciences, Medical Informatics and Biostatistics Discipline, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Medicina 2024, 60(8), 1264; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60081264
Submission received: 16 July 2024 / Revised: 31 July 2024 / Accepted: 2 August 2024 / Published: 5 August 2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This retrospective analysis investigated the impact of preparation of the pelvic floor for childbirth with stretching balloons and perineal massage on the risk of pelvic floor injuries. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 150 primiparous women who accessed private clinics in Padua (Italy) in the period 2019–2023 regarding the rate of perineal trauma and postpartum dysfunction across three groups: the balloon stretching group (BSG, N = 50, 33.3%), the perineal massage group (PMG, N = 39, 26.0%), and the control group (CG, 61, 40.7%). Results: Prenatal perineal training had a significant impact on reducing the rate of perineal injury and episiotomy (27.5% in BSG vs. 48.7% in PMG and 68.3% in CG, p = 0.008, respectively, 9.8% vs. 26% and 40%, p = 0.046) and the duration of the second stage of labor (BSG and PMG had a shorter duration compared to CG with a mean difference of −0.97892 h, p < 0.001, respectively, −0.63372 h, p = 0.002). Patients who carry out the preparation with the stretching balloon are less likely to develop urinary and anal incontinence and pain during intercourse. Specifically, the rate of urinary incontinence in BSG stands at around 23.5% compared to 43.6% in PMG (p = 0.345) and 55% in CG (p = 0.034). Dyspareunia in BSG was detected in 11.8% of cases compared to 35.5% in PMG (p = 0.035) and 61.7% in CG (p < 0.01). Symptomatology inherent to the posterior compartment was reported in 9.8% of cases in BSG vs. 23.11% in PMG (p = 0.085) and 33.3% in CG (p = 0.03%). Conclusions: Stretching balloons and perineal massage can be chosen as tools to prevent and reduce the rates of obstetric trauma during childbirth and to reduce the use of episiotomies as well as protect against the development of dysfunctions of the pelvic floor.
Keywords: antenatal perineal training; stretching balloon; perineal massage; perineal injuries; episiotomy; pelvic floor dysfunctions antenatal perineal training; stretching balloon; perineal massage; perineal injuries; episiotomy; pelvic floor dysfunctions
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MDPI and ACS Style

Villani, F.; Furau, C.; Mazzucato, B.; Cavalieri, A.; Todut, O.C.; Ciobanu, V.; Dodi, G.; Petre, I. Antenatal Perineal Training for Injuries Prevention: Follow Up after Puerperium. Medicina 2024, 60, 1264. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60081264

AMA Style

Villani F, Furau C, Mazzucato B, Cavalieri A, Todut OC, Ciobanu V, Dodi G, Petre I. Antenatal Perineal Training for Injuries Prevention: Follow Up after Puerperium. Medicina. 2024; 60(8):1264. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60081264

Chicago/Turabian Style

Villani, Federico, Cristian Furau, Barbara Mazzucato, Antonella Cavalieri, Oana Cristina Todut, Victoria Ciobanu, Giuseppe Dodi, and Ion Petre. 2024. "Antenatal Perineal Training for Injuries Prevention: Follow Up after Puerperium" Medicina 60, no. 8: 1264. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60081264

APA Style

Villani, F., Furau, C., Mazzucato, B., Cavalieri, A., Todut, O. C., Ciobanu, V., Dodi, G., & Petre, I. (2024). Antenatal Perineal Training for Injuries Prevention: Follow Up after Puerperium. Medicina, 60(8), 1264. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60081264

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