From social to surgical: Historical perspectives on perineal care during labour and birth

Dahlen, HG; Homer, CSE; Leap, N; Tracy, SK

From social to surgical: Historical perspectives on perineal care during labour and birth

Dahlen, HG Homer, CSE

Leap, N Tracy, SK

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women and Birth, 2011, 24 (3), pp. 105 - 111
Issue Date:: 2011-09-01

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	2010005427OK.pdf		279.09 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Dahlen, HG	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Homer, CSE https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7454-3011	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Leap, N	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Tracy, SK	en_US
dc.date.available	2010-09-09	en_US
dc.date.issued	2011-09-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Women and Birth, 2011, 24 (3), pp. 105 - 111	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15511
dc.description.abstract	A review of key historical texts that mentioned perineal care was undertaken from the time of Soranus (98-138. A.D.) to modern times as part of a PhD into perineal care. Historically, perineal protection and comfort were key priorities for midwives, most of whom traditionally practised under a social model of care. With the advent of the Man-Midwife in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, the perineum became pathologised and eventually a site for routine surgical intervention - most notably seen in the widespread use of episiotomy. There were several key factors that led to the development of a surgical rather than a social model in perineal care. These factors included a move from upright to supine birth positions, the preparation of the perineum as a surgical site through perineal shaving and elaborate aseptic procedures; and the distancing of the woman from her support people, and most notably from her own perineum. In the last 30 years, in much of the developed world, there has been a re-emergence of care aimed at preserving and protecting the perineum. A dichotomy now exists with a dominant surgical model competing with the re-emerging social model of perineal care. Historical perspectives on perineal care can help us gain useful insights into past practices that could be beneficial for childbearing women today. These perspectives also inform future practice and research into perineal care, whilst making us cautious about political influences that could lead to harmful trends in clinical practice. © 2010 Australian College of Midwives.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Women and Birth	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2010.09.002	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Perineum	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Episiotomy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Obstetrics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor, Obstetric	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Social Support	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	History, Ancient	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	History, 16th Century	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	History, 17th Century	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	History, 18th Century	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	History, 19th Century	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	History, 20th Century	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	History, 21st Century	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.title	From social to surgical: Historical perspectives on perineal care during labour and birth	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	24	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
dc.location.activity	Perth, Australia
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	24	en_US

Abstract:

A review of key historical texts that mentioned perineal care was undertaken from the time of Soranus (98-138. A.D.) to modern times as part of a PhD into perineal care. Historically, perineal protection and comfort were key priorities for midwives, most of whom traditionally practised under a social model of care. With the advent of the Man-Midwife in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, the perineum became pathologised and eventually a site for routine surgical intervention - most notably seen in the widespread use of episiotomy. There were several key factors that led to the development of a surgical rather than a social model in perineal care. These factors included a move from upright to supine birth positions, the preparation of the perineum as a surgical site through perineal shaving and elaborate aseptic procedures; and the distancing of the woman from her support people, and most notably from her own perineum. In the last 30 years, in much of the developed world, there has been a re-emergence of care aimed at preserving and protecting the perineum. A dichotomy now exists with a dominant surgical model competing with the re-emerging social model of perineal care. Historical perspectives on perineal care can help us gain useful insights into past practices that could be beneficial for childbearing women today. These perspectives also inform future practice and research into perineal care, whilst making us cautious about political influences that could lead to harmful trends in clinical practice. © 2010 Australian College of Midwives.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15511