Effect of different delivery modes on pelvic floor muscle potential and muscle strength of primiparas in early postpartum period

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of different delivery modes on pelvic floor muscle potential and muscle strength of primiparas in early postpartum period.

MethodsA prospective study has been conducted on primiparas who received prenatal and postnatal pelvic floor function examination in The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University since September 2018.According to the delivery mode, the primiparas were divided into the vaginal delivery group, emergency cesarean section group and elective cesarean section group, and the vaginal delivery group was subdivided into the perineal lateral resection group and non-perineal lateral resection group.The maximum electromyographic value of pelvic floor muscles, strength and fatigue degree of class Ⅰ and Ⅱ muscle fibers were quantitatively measured at 36-38 weeks of gestation and 6-8 weeks of postpartum.

ResultsTo August 2019, a total of 221 parturient women were included, 139 cases in the vaginal delivery group(61 cases in the perineal resection group and 78 cases in the non-perineal resection group), 27 cases in the emergency cesarean section group and 55 cases in the elective cesarean section group.At 36-38 weeks of gestation, the differences of the maximum myopotential, muscle fiber strength and fatigue of pelvic floor muscle among three groups were statistically significant(P > 0.05).At postpartum 6-8 weeks, the maximum myopotential, strength and fatigue degree of class Ⅰ and Ⅱ muscle fibers in vaginal delivery group were lower than those in emergency cesarean section group and selective cesarean section group(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The differences of the maximum myopotential, strength and fatigue degree of class Ⅰ and Ⅱ muscle fibers between the perineal lateral resection group and non-perineal lateral resection group were not statistically significant(P > 0.05).

ConclusionsThe effects of vaginal delivery on the pelvic floor muscle potential and muscle strength in early postpartum period is more obvious than that of elective or emergency cesarean section.Compared with the emergency cesarean section, the elective cesarean section has no benefit on pelvic floor muscle function.Lateral perineal resection does not reduce the effects of vaginal delivery on pelvic floor muscle function.