How should I manage common postnatal complications such as perineal pain or infection?

Management of common postnatal complications such as perineal pain or infection involves:

• Assessing perineal wound healing at each postnatal contact by asking about pain that is not resolving or worsening, increasing need for pain relief, discharge with a strong or unpleasant smell, swelling, or wound breakdown.
• Advising good perineal hygiene, including daily showering of the perineum, frequent changing of sanitary pads, and hand washing before and after care.
• Using validated pain scales to monitor perineal pain and offering appropriate analgesia such as paracetamol and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) if there are no contraindications.
• If perineal wound breakdown or infection is suspected, urgently referring the woman to appropriate maternity services for further management to prevent complications and long-term adverse outcomes.
• For perineal trauma repair, ensuring aseptic technique, effective analgesia, and appropriate suturing methods to promote healing and reduce infection risk.
• Providing information to the woman about pain relief, diet, hygiene, pelvic floor exercises, expected recovery, and when to seek further advice or psychological support.

These steps help manage perineal pain and prevent or treat infection effectively in the postnatal period.

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