Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Experience, impact and expectations: a multi-centric longitudinal study of postpartum perineal pain
1
Aix-Marseille University, Midwifery, Marseille, France
2
McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences- Midwifery, Hamilton, Canada
3
McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences- Medicine, Hamilton, Canada
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A280
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Perineal pain (PP) is a prevalent issue whose proper assessment is essential to improving postpartum health outcomes. Validated tools are lacking for assessment of perineal sensation as a unique phenomenon with a range of experiences.
OBJECTIVES:
This study takes a culturally sensitive and linguistic approach to analyze data from Canadian and French sites to examine connections between maternal and birth characteristics and the intensity, description, impact, and management of PP over three postpartum months.
METHODS:
A longitudinal descriptive mixed methods study was conducted including prospective cross-sectional data obtained from participants recruited within two days postpartum. Background data was collected in a structured questionnaire at recruitment. Data on pain intensity, nature, normality, relief, impact on daily life, and perineal function were collected via identical structured questionnaires at the time of recruitment (Q1), at 2 weeks (Q2), and at 3 months postpartum (Q3).
RESULTS:
The first part of the study took place in Canada between September 2024 and January 2025, and identified that higher pain ratings were associated with induction of labour, multiparity, and instrumental delivery. Pain was not the most frequently used word to express sensation; more prevalent were discomfort, burning, and swollenness. High impact of PP on daily life seemed associated with lower self-reported perineal function. Data collection is currently taking place in France and will be analysed in late 2025. The presentation will focus on the comparison between both samples.
CONCLUSIONS:
Perineal pain was confirmed to be a prevalent postpartum concern with lasting impact on daily functioning. The diverse language describing perineal sensations was important to understanding perineal pain incidence and experience. This provides a foundation for improving PP assessment and future research about expectations, impact, and perception of PP.
KEY MESSAGE:
Midwives may use findings about diverse linguistic descriptions and impact of perineal sensations to better understand, assess, and treat PP postpartum. Postpartum - perineal
Perineal pain (PP) is a prevalent issue whose proper assessment is essential to improving postpartum health outcomes. Validated tools are lacking for assessment of perineal sensation as a unique phenomenon with a range of experiences.
OBJECTIVES:
This study takes a culturally sensitive and linguistic approach to analyze data from Canadian and French sites to examine connections between maternal and birth characteristics and the intensity, description, impact, and management of PP over three postpartum months.
METHODS:
A longitudinal descriptive mixed methods study was conducted including prospective cross-sectional data obtained from participants recruited within two days postpartum. Background data was collected in a structured questionnaire at recruitment. Data on pain intensity, nature, normality, relief, impact on daily life, and perineal function were collected via identical structured questionnaires at the time of recruitment (Q1), at 2 weeks (Q2), and at 3 months postpartum (Q3).
RESULTS:
The first part of the study took place in Canada between September 2024 and January 2025, and identified that higher pain ratings were associated with induction of labour, multiparity, and instrumental delivery. Pain was not the most frequently used word to express sensation; more prevalent were discomfort, burning, and swollenness. High impact of PP on daily life seemed associated with lower self-reported perineal function. Data collection is currently taking place in France and will be analysed in late 2025. The presentation will focus on the comparison between both samples.
CONCLUSIONS:
Perineal pain was confirmed to be a prevalent postpartum concern with lasting impact on daily functioning. The diverse language describing perineal sensations was important to understanding perineal pain incidence and experience. This provides a foundation for improving PP assessment and future research about expectations, impact, and perception of PP.
KEY MESSAGE:
Midwives may use findings about diverse linguistic descriptions and impact of perineal sensations to better understand, assess, and treat PP postpartum. Postpartum - perineal
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
