Abstract
Introduction: Episiotomy is a surgical incision made in the perineum
to enlarge it. Perineal pain is the most common complaint of mothers after
episiotomy. Chamomile extract has been proposed as a sedative in traditional
medicine. This study was conducted to assess the effect of chamomile cream on
the pain after episiotomy.
Methods: This triple blind clinical trial was performed
on 114 eligible women at Ommolbanin Hospital in Mashhad, Iran in 2014.They were
randomly assigned to two groups using random blocks. After delivery, mothers in
the intervention group used 0.5 g of prescribed chamomile while the control
group used placebo cream on the stitch twice a day lasting ten days. Episiotomy
pain was evaluated before intervention and 12 hours after episiotomy repair and
also on the first, seventh, tenth and fourteenth day after delivery by McGill pain
questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS ver.13.
Results: There
was no significant difference between the two groups before the intervention,
12 hours and the first day after delivery. However, a significant difference
was found on the seventh, tenth and fourteenth day after delivery. McGill mean
(SD) score on the seventh, tenth and fourteenth in experimental group was 11.36
(5.04), 4.44 (3.43) and 7.16 (4.10) respectively. It was reported 14.88 (7.34),
7.41(4.92) and 9.96 (4.81) in placebo group, respectively.
Conclusion: Chamomile
cream can be used to reduce episiotomy pain in Primiparous us women.