The Perineal Health Clinic is a specialist clinic for women who have experienced severe perineal trauma during childbirth and require extra support and follow up care.
Approximately 85 out of 100 (85%) women will sustain some degree of perineal trauma during the birth of their baby.
A 3rd or 4th degree tear occurs in about 3 in 100 (3%) women having a vaginal birth.
A 3rd or 4th degree perineal tear (also known as ‘obstetric anal sphincter injury’ OASI) involves the muscle that controls the back passage.
If you have experienced a 3rd or 4th degree perineal tear in a previous birth, or have experience female genital mutilation (FGM) you will automatically be referred to the clinic at your antenatal boking appointment. You will be seen in the clinic at around 24 weeks pregnant
You may also be referred to the perineal clinic by your Community Midwife if you experience problems with perineal wound healing, infections or ongoing perineal pain post birth
The clinic is held on alternate Thursdays in the gynaecology department at Kingston Hospital.
You will be seen in the clinic by the Perineal Specialist Midwife – Katy Wickham
Care and Support Following a 3rd or 4th Degree Perineal Tear (kingstonhospital.nhs.uk)
Miss Rhiannon Bray- picture and link to my Kingston hospital webpage
We provide a weekly consultant led speciality clinic to follow up women who have sustained an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) during delivery. We offer endo-anal ultrasound scans to asses healing of the tear and counsel women regarding future mode of delivery. We also see women in their next pregnancy if required.
RCOG Tears Hub rcog.org.uk/en/patients/tears/
