Delivery mode and the pelvic floor function of primiparous women at
early postpartum: an observational retrospective cohort study
Abstract
Objective To compare the associations between different modes of
delivery and the pelvic floor function of primiparous women at early
postpartum through pelvic floor muscle surface electromyography(sEMG).
Design Retrospective observational study. Population A total of 3638
primiparas who experienced singleton delivery were selected as the
research objects. Methods There were 1469 cases of cesarean section
delivery (CD) and 2169 cases of vaginal delivery (VD). Furthermore, the
vaginal delivery group were separated into four subgroups. The pelvic
floor sEMG indexes of the subjects were analyzed at 6–8 weeks
postpartum. Main outcome measures The pelvic floor sEMG were compared
between CD and VD,and the four vaginal delivery subgroups. A modified
Glazer protocol was used to analyze the pelvic floor sEMG value. Results
The results showed that the average peak amplitude of phasic (flick)
contractions and the average mean amplitude of tonic contractions were
both significantly higher in CD than in VD (P < 0.01). In
contrast, CD had less the mean amplitude variability of tonic
contractions than VD (P < 0.01). The average peak amplitude of
phasic (flick) contractions and the average mean amplitude of tonic
contractions in forceps delivery group was statistically lower than the
other vaginal delivery groups (P<0.05). The mean amplitude
variability of tonic contractions was larger in forceps delivery group
than group A, B. (P <0.01). Conclusion There is a clear link
between mode of delivery and pelvic floor sEMG at 6-8 weeks postpartum
in primiparas. Keywords pelvic floor dysfunction;pelvic floor muscle
surface electromyography;postpartum;delivery mode;Glazer protocol