Randomised controlled trial of perineal shaving versus hair cutting in parturients on admission in labor.

OBJECTIVES To compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes between perineal shaving and hair cutting in parturients on admission in labor MATERIAL AND METHOD Five hundred pregnant women with labor pain and no medical or obstetric complications were selected at random on admission to be assigned into two groups at Rajavithi Hospital from 1st November 2001 to 28th February 2002. Forty two women were excluded because of cesarean section. Two hundred and twenty-seven cases received perineal hair cutting and 231 cases received perineal shaving. RESULTS The gestational age at delivery was statistically significant difference between those receiving perineal hair cutting (39.4 week) comparing with those receiving perineal shaving (39.1 week) (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in 2 groups for puerperal morbidity, perineal wound infection and dehiscence. There were no neonatal infection and puerperal infection in both groups, where as both accoucheurs and perineorrhaphy operators were more satisfied the perineal shaving group than the cutting group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Perineal shaving or hair cutting on admission in labor had no statistical significant difference effect on the perineal wound infection and dehiscence, neonatal infection, puerperal morbidity and infection.