Red Light for Post Partum Perineal Healing
I totally get it—you're excited about meeting your little one, but you're also worried about the potential for tearing during labor or an episiotomy (which is hopefully very rare in your hospital). Let's talk about an interesting study that might help ease some of those fears.
First off - avoid ICE on your perineum or use it sparingly. Learn about the new recommendations here.
A group of researchers in Ludhiana, Punjab, looked into how effective infra-red therapy can be for managing episiotomy pain and speeding up wound healing. They worked with 60 postnatal moms, dividing them into two groups: one received infra-red therapy, and the other got routine care. Here's what they found:
Pain Relief: The moms who got the infra-red therapy reported a significant drop in pain levels. On the first day, their pain scores dropped from 4.17 to 3.00, and by the third day, it went down to just 0.53. Meanwhile, the routine care group's pain scores dropped from 4.17 to 2.90 over the same period.
Wound Healing: The healing process was faster and more effective with infra-red light. By the third day, their wound healing scores improved from 3.73 to 0.73, compared to the control group's improvement from 4.37 to 3.63.
Intervention
Infra-Red Therapy Group (Experimental):
Application: Infra-red light therapy was directly applied to the episiotomy wound.
Frequency: The therapy was administered for three consecutive days.
Mechanism: Infra-red light therapy works by penetrating the skin to release nitric oxide, relaxing blood vessels, and improving blood circulation to the affected area. This increased blood flow delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissue, promoting faster healing and less pain.
Routine Care Group (Control):
Standard Postnatal Care: This included the usual postnatal care procedures provided in the hospital, but without the application of infra-red therapy.
Results
Episiotomy Pain:
Experimental Group:
Pre-intervention: 4.17 ± 1.55
Day 1: 3.00 ± 1.23
Day 2: 1.67 ± 1.30
Day 3: 0.53 ± 0.94
Control Group (usual care in hospital):
Pre-intervention: 4.17 ± 1.55
Day 1: 4.27 ± 1.57
Day 2: 3.43 ± 1.63
Day 3: 2.90 ± 1.52
Episiotomy Wound Healing:
Experimental Group:
Pre-intervention: 3.73 ± 2.26
Day 1: 3.17 ± 2.18
Day 2: 1.80 ± 1.79
Day 3: 0.73 ± 1.28
Control Group:
Pre-intervention: 4.37 ± 1.45
Day 1: 4.23 ± 1.57
Day 2: 4.00 ± 1.93
Day 3: 3.63 ± 2.19
2023 Study in Lucknow
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of infra-red lamp therapy on episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers.
Protocols:
Participants: 30 postnatal mothers who met the inclusion criteria.
Application: Infra-red radiation lamp therapy was administered.
Frequency: Twice a day (morning and evening) for three consecutive days.
Duration: Sessions were conducted 6 to 12 hours post-delivery, continuing for three days.
Results:
Significant Healing: Marked improvement in wound healing and reduction in pain (p<0.001).
Benefits: Infra-red lamp therapy proved to be a simple, cost-effective, and efficient method for postnatal care.
Comparison and Key Takeaways
Similarities:
Therapy Type: Both studies used infra-red light therapy applied directly to the episiotomy wound.
Duration: Each session lasted around 10-20 minutes, though the exact time wasn't always specified.
Frequency: Daily applications were common, with the 2023 study applying it twice daily.
Differences:
Participant Numbers: The 2015 study had 60 participants, while the 2023 study had 30.
Intervention Timing: The 2023 study specified starting 6 to 12 hours after delivery, while the 2015 study didn’t specify this timing detail.
Outcome Focus: Both studies showed significant improvements, but the 2023 study emphasized the therapy's simplicity and cost-effectiveness more.
So, what does this mean for you? If you end up needing an episiotomy or had perineal tearing, infra-red therapy could be a game-changer in reducing your pain and helping you heal faster. This therapy helps by improving blood circulation to the affected area, which means more oxygen and nutrients get to the wound, promoting faster healing. Another very soothing tool is the simple sitz bath. As I’ve written about earlier - minimize ice on the perineum - it can give short-term relief but may slow healing.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the options available to you, but knowing that such therapies exist can give you some peace of mind as you prepare for your little one's arrival. Having this kind of information empowers you to make the best choices for your birth experience.
