PURPOSE:
Although 60-80% of women giving birth vaginally experience perineal suturing, most of them do not receive proper post-operative wound care. Some North- and Middel-European countries offer regular visits for support and counselling including short- and long-term follow-up of perineal healing. We would like to give you an insight into the experiences and clinical outcomes of these screening programmes. Our experiences cover healing of 1st – 2nd – 3rd and 4th degree lacerations in approx. 40.000 vaginal births (1). In less than 1% we offer early secondary repair due to misalignment of wound, under diagnostics or wound dehiscence.

DISCUSSION:
This presentation will highlight different clinical cases of healing and show photos from assessments. 99% of the birthing population have a good perineal healing outcome by clinical assessment at 2-3 days postpartum. This screening program gives us the opportunity to detect complications early, requiring our attention and potentially also early intervention. For example, if suture breakdown is observed, we can offer early secondary repair, preferably within the first week postpartum. We have contributed to the production of a dedicated online chapter about wound healing and early secondary repair targeting midwives and obstetricians (2).

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
1: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877575617302641 2: https://my.gynzone.com/courses/133-early-secondary-repair

KEY MESSAGE:
We as midwives can ensure the quality of our own clinical work and safeguard the woman’s health. This offer for all women promotes equality in healthcare and has proven to be a significant quality improvement initiative. Education - issues