On 31 August 2021 Shane Crowe (EDONM), Wendy Watson (Divisional Director) and Sue Sweeney (Director of Midwifery Practice) met with the maternity teams on the Birthing Unit in Joan Kirner Women’s & Children’s to celebrate their recent success as Safer Care Victoria’s winners of the Better Births for Women Collaborative.
The SUPPORT Project aimed to improve outcomes for women by reducing the severity and occurrence of perineal tears during birth. The rates of severe perineal trauma involving the anal sphincter were perceived to be unacceptably high.
Women having their first birth vaginally in Victoria are four times more likely to experience a severe perineal laceration (third- or fourth-degree tear) compared to those having a subsequent birth vaginally. Whilst severe perineal trauma (SPT) is not possible to prevent entirely, the likelihood can be reduced by employing appropriate labour management and care standards. Some of the evidence based interventions incorporated by Western Health through the SUPPORT project include:
- Warm perineal compresses,
- hands on technique,
- slow controlled birth of the head,
- correct episiotomy angle,
- genito-anal exam on all women post a vaginal birth,
- grading of perineal tears with two clinicians,
- consumer engagement with birth planning decisions, and
- documentation of intervention on the Perineal Care, Assessment and Management Form.
Western Health received the best results within the Better Birth Collaborative which is an incredible achievement showcasing the team’s commitment to Best Care and improving birthing outcomes for the women and families of the West.
They were able to achieve an overall decrease in severe perineal tears by 48%, and a decrease in severe perineal tears with normal vaginal births by an incredible 69%! Well done team!!