Perineal Massage Using A Pelvic Wand During Pregnancy

There is limited research on the optimal strategy to reduce obstetric laceration, postpartum urinary retention, and postpartum pelvic pain. In systematic reviews, clinician-directed massage of the perineal muscles at the time of birth and patient directed massage of the perineal muscles in the third trimester to inconsistently reduce the incidence of severe obstetric laceration.1,2 However, there is significant heterogeneity of these studies is due in large part to the lack of a standardized protocols and unpredictability of clinician availability to perform perineal massage around the time of birth. The purpose of this study is to understand how perineal massage with a pelvic wand in late pregnancy and during labor influences one's sense of self-control over the labor process and birth experience.

NCT Number	NCT06986824
Lead Sponsor	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Conditions	Pregnancy Related, Pelvic Floor Disorders, Obstetric; Injury, Patient Empowerment
Enrollment	140 participants
Start Date	2025-10-01
Primary Completion	2026-04-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-09-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-03-09