What is it about?
Women who have sustained physical birth trauma to the levator ani muscle or the anal sphincters are often injured more seriously than generally believed.
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Why is it important?
The recent literature documents that sufficient quantitative research has been performed to propose that maternal birth trauma, both psychological and somatic, is a major public health issue, despite receiving scant attention to date. Somatic pelvic floor trauma is more common than previously believed. Major external anal sphincter and levator trauma affects at least 30% of primiparae delivered vaginally, with forceps being the main risk factor.
Perspectives
Modern imaging modalities have greatly simplified the identification of somatic trauma, but there is an urgent need to learn more about women’s perceptions of traumatic childbirth and their problems. Qualitative research will play an important function in improving clinical services to post-natal women.
Dr Elizabeth Mary Skinner
University of Sydney
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Psychological and somatic sequelae of traumatic vaginal delivery: A literature review, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, December 2014, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/ajo.12286.
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