TY - JOUR
T1 - Genital tract tears in women giving birth on a birth seat : a cohort study with prospectively collected data
AU - Thies-Lagergren, Li
AU - Uldbjerg, Trine
AU - Maimburg, Rikke Damkjaer
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Background: Birth positions may influence the risk of tears in the genital tract during birth. Birth positions are widely studied yet knowledge on genital tract tears following birth on a birth seat is inconclusive. Aim: The objective of this study was to describe the proportion of genital tract tears in women who gave birth on a birth seat compared to women who did not. Method: An observational cohort study based on birth information collected prospectively. In total 10 629 live, singleton, non-instrumental births in cephalic presentation were studied. Results: Fewer women who gave birth on a birth seat experienced an overall intact genital tract compared to women who gave birth in any other position. Women who gave birth on a birth seat were less likely to have an episiotomy performed. Women who gave birth vaginally on a birth seat after a previous caesarean section may have an increased risk for sustaining a sphincter tear. Discussion: It is important to be aware of the decreased chance of an overall intact genital tract area when giving birth on a birth seat. Furthermore, there is a possibly increased risk of sphincter tear in women having a vaginal birth after caesarean. It is required and of importance to provide pregnant women with evidence-based information on factors associated with genital tract tears including birth positions.
AB - Background: Birth positions may influence the risk of tears in the genital tract during birth. Birth positions are widely studied yet knowledge on genital tract tears following birth on a birth seat is inconclusive. Aim: The objective of this study was to describe the proportion of genital tract tears in women who gave birth on a birth seat compared to women who did not. Method: An observational cohort study based on birth information collected prospectively. In total 10 629 live, singleton, non-instrumental births in cephalic presentation were studied. Results: Fewer women who gave birth on a birth seat experienced an overall intact genital tract compared to women who gave birth in any other position. Women who gave birth on a birth seat were less likely to have an episiotomy performed. Women who gave birth vaginally on a birth seat after a previous caesarean section may have an increased risk for sustaining a sphincter tear. Discussion: It is important to be aware of the decreased chance of an overall intact genital tract area when giving birth on a birth seat. Furthermore, there is a possibly increased risk of sphincter tear in women having a vaginal birth after caesarean. It is required and of importance to provide pregnant women with evidence-based information on factors associated with genital tract tears including birth positions.
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:65632
U2 - 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.006
DO - 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.006
M3 - Article
SN - 1871-5192
VL - 33
SP - 15
EP - 21
JO - Women and Birth
JF - Women and Birth
IS - 1
ER -