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Genital tract tears in women giving birth on a birth seat : A cohort study with prospectively collected data

Thies-Lagergren, Li LU orcid ; Uldbjerg, Trine and Damkjær, Rikke Maimburg (2020) In Women and Birth 33(1). p.15-21
Abstract

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... (More)

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.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Birth position, Birth seat, Genital tract tears, VBAC
in
Women and Birth
volume
33
issue
1
pages
7 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85059754141
  • pmid:30642782
ISSN
1871-5192
DOI
10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7029844d-7ab4-4afe-bee2-3bc29b405b3a
date added to LUP
2019-01-24 12:46:26
date last changed
2024-07-09 04:40:52
@article{7029844d-7ab4-4afe-bee2-3bc29b405b3a,
  abstract     = {{<p>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.</p>}},
  author       = {{Thies-Lagergren, Li and Uldbjerg, Trine and Damkjær, Rikke Maimburg}},
  issn         = {{1871-5192}},
  keywords     = {{Birth position; Birth seat; Genital tract tears; VBAC}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{15--21}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Women and Birth}},
  title        = {{Genital tract tears in women giving birth on a birth seat : A cohort study with prospectively collected data}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.006}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.wombi.2018.12.006}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}