Red flags for episiotomy in a midwife-led birth: Using co-production with midwives to capture clinical experience

Jo Gould; Sara Webb; Carmen  Byrne; Emily  Brace; Jane Cleary; Lorna Dow; Elizabeth Edwards; Elizabeth Glyn-Jones; Tracey  Hunter; Jacqueline Longton; Katie Tibble; Jennifer  MacLellan

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2022.06.009

Red flags for episiotomy in a midwife-led birth: Using co-production with midwives to capture clinical experience

Jo Gould, Sara Webb, Carmen Byrne, Emily Brace, Jane Cleary, Lorna Dow, Elizabeth Edwards, Elizabeth Glyn-Jones, Tracey Hunter, Jacqueline Longton, Katie Tibble, Jennifer MacLellan

School of Sport and Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: One of four key points in the Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury Care Bundle, first piloted in the UK in 2016, was the directive to perform episiotomy when clinically indicated. Midwives are the primary health care professional for straightforward births in the UK and there is very little published literature that relates to their practice in this area.

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore experienced midwives' decision-making processes in their assessments for episiotomy during birth.

Methods: 43 midwives self-identifying as confident in performing episiotomy were sampled across 8 NHS Trusts in England and Wales. Data collection was via online focus groups and 1:1 interviews. Primary thematic analysis was undertaken by the research team. Preliminary themes were used to structure a co-production analysis workshop where eight experienced midwives undertook a secondary analysis of the data resulting in four overall themes.

Findings: Four themes were identified, 'Optimising Perineal Function', 'Red Flags to Stimulate Decision-Making', 'The Midwives' Episiotomy' and 'Infiltration as a Catalyst for Birth'.

Discussion: Midwives use a number of visual, auditory and touch cues to inform their assessments for episiotomy during birth.

Conclusion: This study provides valuable insight into the cues that guide experienced midwives' decision-making in relation to episiotomy and contributes evidence related to performing episiotomy when clinically indicated in spontaneous vaginal birth.

Keywords: Birth; Decision-making; Education; Episiotomy; Midwifery; Perineum.

Original language	English
Number of pages	7
Journal	Women and Birth
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2022.06.009
Publication status	Published - 6 Aug 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the Burdett Trust for Nursing for funding the co-analysis workshop (Grant reference: ZB\SA\101010662\609995 ), The University of Brighton for their scholarly leave allowance and the University of Oxford Health Research Bridging Salary Scheme (Reference: 0011071 ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022

Keywords

episiotomy
perineum
midwifery
education
birth
decision-making

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10.1016/j.wombi.2022.06.009

Cite this

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title = "Red flags for episiotomy in a midwife-led birth: Using co-production with midwives to capture clinical experience",

abstract = "Background: One of four key points in the Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury Care Bundle, first piloted in the UK in 2016, was the directive to perform episiotomy when clinically indicated. Midwives are the primary health care professional for straightforward births in the UK and there is very little published literature that relates to their practice in this area.Aim: The aim of the study was to explore experienced midwives' decision-making processes in their assessments for episiotomy during birth.Methods: 43 midwives self-identifying as confident in performing episiotomy were sampled across 8 NHS Trusts in England and Wales. Data collection was via online focus groups and 1:1 interviews. Primary thematic analysis was undertaken by the research team. Preliminary themes were used to structure a co-production analysis workshop where eight experienced midwives undertook a secondary analysis of the data resulting in four overall themes.Findings: Four themes were identified, 'Optimising Perineal Function', 'Red Flags to Stimulate Decision-Making', 'The Midwives' Episiotomy' and 'Infiltration as a Catalyst for Birth'.Discussion: Midwives use a number of visual, auditory and touch cues to inform their assessments for episiotomy during birth.Conclusion: This study provides valuable insight into the cues that guide experienced midwives' decision-making in relation to episiotomy and contributes evidence related to performing episiotomy when clinically indicated in spontaneous vaginal birth.Keywords: Birth; Decision-making; Education; Episiotomy; Midwifery; Perineum. ",

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note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the Burdett Trust for Nursing for funding the co-analysis workshop (Grant reference: ZB\SA\101010662\609995 ), The University of Brighton for their scholarly leave allowance and the University of Oxford Health Research Bridging Salary Scheme (Reference: 0011071 ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022",

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AU - Cleary, Jane

AU - Dow, Lorna

AU - Edwards, Elizabeth

AU - Glyn-Jones, Elizabeth

AU - Hunter, Tracey

AU - Longton, Jacqueline

AU - Tibble, Katie

AU - MacLellan, Jennifer

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the Burdett Trust for Nursing for funding the co-analysis workshop (Grant reference: ZB\SA\101010662\609995 ), The University of Brighton for their scholarly leave allowance and the University of Oxford Health Research Bridging Salary Scheme (Reference: 0011071 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2022

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N2 - Background: One of four key points in the Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury Care Bundle, first piloted in the UK in 2016, was the directive to perform episiotomy when clinically indicated. Midwives are the primary health care professional for straightforward births in the UK and there is very little published literature that relates to their practice in this area.Aim: The aim of the study was to explore experienced midwives' decision-making processes in their assessments for episiotomy during birth.Methods: 43 midwives self-identifying as confident in performing episiotomy were sampled across 8 NHS Trusts in England and Wales. Data collection was via online focus groups and 1:1 interviews. Primary thematic analysis was undertaken by the research team. Preliminary themes were used to structure a co-production analysis workshop where eight experienced midwives undertook a secondary analysis of the data resulting in four overall themes.Findings: Four themes were identified, 'Optimising Perineal Function', 'Red Flags to Stimulate Decision-Making', 'The Midwives' Episiotomy' and 'Infiltration as a Catalyst for Birth'.Discussion: Midwives use a number of visual, auditory and touch cues to inform their assessments for episiotomy during birth.Conclusion: This study provides valuable insight into the cues that guide experienced midwives' decision-making in relation to episiotomy and contributes evidence related to performing episiotomy when clinically indicated in spontaneous vaginal birth.Keywords: Birth; Decision-making; Education; Episiotomy; Midwifery; Perineum.

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DO - 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.06.009

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SN - 1878-1799

JO - Women and Birth

JF - Women and Birth

ER -

Red flags for episiotomy in a midwife-led birth: Using co-production with midwives to capture clinical experience

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Keywords

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