Clinic aiming to take pain out of childbirth
WOMEN enduring severe tears from childbirth are receiving specialised care from a new clinic in the Townsville Hospital.
The perineal clinic opened six months ago and operates on a monthly basis, with about six to eight patients coming through every session.
It includes a specialist doctor, nurse and physiotherapist.
Staff specialist in urogynaecology Dr Kurinji Kannan said the tears had a devastating impact on women.
“We had a patient tell us that for three months after delivery she hadn’t been sexually active because of the fear,” Dr Kannan said.
“There are long- term implications for their next birth as well. When this happens they need to go to the operating theatre to get it fixed and then they need some kind of follow up to make sure they’re not suffering from it.”
About 1- 2 per women will sustain cent third of to fourth degree perineal tears through a natural or unassisted delivery. Urogynaecology nurse practitioner Audrey Corstiaans is the most qualified in her field in the country.
“We really want women to know they don’t have to suffer and that we can do something for them. We have a service in place,” Ms Corstiaans said.
“We can answer all their questions that they’ve had about their delivery or any issues they have.
“If they have worries about future deliveries and give them evidence- based answers.”
Ms Corstiaans said the tears were detrimental to the mental health of the women.
“It’s a massive impact on a patient’s quality of life,” she said.
“Women become social recluses, they stop doing things.”
Dr Kannan said it was hard for women to mask the adverse effects that arise.
“They worry about the smell, they avoid going to social places and they avoid going out,” she said.