Effect of Application of Ice on Episiotomy

Childbirth can be moment of supreme beauty and joy, which the midwives are privileged to share. These felling are borne out of confidence and commitment between the mother and midwife. Of all the health care members, nurse midwife spends the most time with the post natal mothers and are recognized as their primary care givers. Maternal confidence is based on the feeling that the midwife will act in the best interest of her and her baby and is committed to provide highest standards of care. To deserve such trust demands professional accountability that the midwife bases her practice on sound and scientific evidence. By keeping in mind the need to expand the dimensions of independent role of professional nurse the present study was done.

The study was conducted in partially controlled setting of Cama and Albles Hospital in Mumbai. The sample consisted of 60 post natal mothers who had undergone full term normal vaginal delivery with episiotomy. Non probability convenient sampling technique was used. Quasi experimental approach with multiple time series design was adopted. Numerical pain rating scale and REEDA scale were used as tools of the study. The techniques followed were self report technique and structured observation.

The major findings of the study showed that there was significant difference in the pain scores of experimental and control group. Majority of samples in experimental group experienced no to mild pain in first three postnatal days, whereas majority of samples of control group were victims of moderate to severe pain at episiotomy. The REEDA scores of episiotomy was also significantly different at 0.01 level of significance among experimental and control group indicating the better episiotomy condition in experimental group.

It could be concluded from study that application of ice on episiotomy plays important and beneficial role in the management of post episiotomy pain and in the improvement of episiotomy condition.