Cryotherapy after childbirth: the length of application and changes in perineal temperature

Abstract

We present a descriptive study based on the data from two clinical trials conducted at a maternity hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2008 and 2009. This study aimed to describe perineal temperature after the application of an ice pack during the postpartum period. Three groups of 38 postpartum women (n=114 total) received an ice pack between 2 and 48 h after delivery. The results showed that after 10 minutes of cryotherapy, the mean perineal temperature varied between 13.3°C and 15.3°C, with a small reduction at the end of the 15- and 20-minute applications (2.4°C and 2.7°C, respectively). Women who received cryotherapy for 10 minutes reported a cool sensation and pain relief; after a session of 15 or 20 minutes, the women reported anesthesia and numbness. In conclusion, an ice pack applied for 10 minutes reduced the perineal temperature to the recommended levels for analgesia (10-15°C).