Baseline antepartum and intrapartum characteristics at trial entry
| Resutured (n=17) n (%) | Expectancy (n=16) n (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | ||
| 20–24 | 7 (41) | 3 (19) |
| 25–29 | 3 (18) | 5 (31) |
| 30–34 | 5 (29) | 7 (44) |
| 35 and over | 2 (12) | 1 (6) |
| Ethnicity | ||
| White | 17 (100) | 10 (63) |
| Non-white | 0 (0) | 6 (37) |
| BMI (NICE reference range, kg/m2) | ||
| Underweight: <18.5 | 0 (0) | 1 (6) |
| Healthy: 18.5–24.9 | 5 (29) | 10 (63) |
| Overweight: 25–29.9 | 7 (42) | 2 (12) |
| Obese: ≥30 | 5 (29) | 3 (19) |
| Predelivery medical conditions* | ||
| Yes | 6 (35) | 6 (37) |
| No | 11 (65) | 10 (63) |
| Smoking (woman's self-reported status) | ||
| Yes | 3 (18) | 1 (6) |
| No | 14 (82) | 15 (94) |
| First vaginal delivery | ||
| Yes | 14 (82) | 13 (81) |
| No | 3 (18) | 3 (19) |
| Previous perineal trauma | ||
| Yes | 3 (18) | 3 (19) |
| No | 14 (82) | 13 (81) |
| Previous perineal wound dehiscence (in women with previous perineal trauma) | ||
| Yes | 2 (67) | 0 (0) |
| No | 1 (33) | 3 (100) |
| Analgesia used in labour | ||
| Entonox | ||
| Yes | 14 (82) | 13 (81) |
| No | 3 (18) | 3 (19) |
| Epidural | ||
| Yes | 11 (65) | 6 (37) |
| No | 6 (35) | 10 (63) |
| 2nd stage of labour in minutes, mean (SD) | 80 (64) | 93 (66) |
| Mode of vaginal delivery | ||
| Spontaneous | 7 (41) | 9 (56) |
| Operative | 10 (59) | 7 (44) |
| Birth weight ≥4 kg | ||
| Yes | 3 (18) | 2 (12) |
| No | 14 (82) | 14 (88) |
| Meconium liquor present | ||
| Yes | 4 (23) | 2 (12) |
| No | 11 (65) | 14 (88) |
| Type of perineal trauma | ||
| Information not available | 2 (12) | 0 (0) |
| Spontaneous (2nd degree) | 5 (29) | 4 (25) |
| Episiotomy | 12 (71) | 12 (75) |
| Clinician performing primary repair | ||
| Midwife | 7 (41) | 8 (50) |
| Doctor | 10 (59) | 8 (50) |
| Vicryl rapide used for repair of 2nd degree tear or episiotomy | ||
| Yes | 15 (88) | 15 (94) |
| No | 1 (6) | 1 (6) |
| Information not available | 1 (6) | 0 (0) |
| Location of perineal repair | ||
| Delivery room | 14 (82) | 13 (81) |
| Theatre | 3 (18) | 3 (19) |
| Estimated blood loss >500 mLs | ||
| Yes | 5 (29) | 4 (25) |
| No | 12 (71) | 11 (69) |
| Information not available | 0 (0) | 1 (6) |
| Most recent haemoglobin (Hb) <11.0 g/dL | ||
| Yes | 5 (29) | 4 (25) |
| No | 10 (59) | 11 (69) |
| Information not available | 2 (12) | 1 (6) |
| Antibiotics in labour | ||
| Yes | 2 (12) | 2 (12) |
| No | 15 (88) | 14 (88) |
*Predelivery medical conditions: resuturing, scoliosis; raised blood pressure; antibiotics for pyelonephritis 1 week prior to birth; bicuspid aortic valve and supra ventricular tachycardia; mild thoracolumbar scoliosis—reported back pain during pregnancy; previous laparoscopy and salpingectomy. Expectancy, factor 5 leiden; possible obstetric cholestasis; mild thrombocytopenia in pregnancy; gestational hypertension on labetalol; hypothyroidism; palpitations and shortness of breath.
BMI, Body Mass Index; NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.