Perineal Prep Solutions?

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There was a similar post on this years ago, but after an exhaustive lit search, I'm coming to you guys. For the perineal prep immediately before SVD, what does your facility use? Betadine? Baby shampoo? Sterile water? Do you even do a prep? L&D nurses seem to agree that it's ridiculous, as the lady parts is far from sterile, and any sort of scrub must be rendered null and void by delivery. So what do you use? And do you know why you use it?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

The smallish community hospital where I used to work would open up a tub of 4x4s, pour a glob of Phisoderm onto it, pour prewarmed sterile water into the tub, and use the 4x4 and Phisoderm solution.

Where I work now (large teaching hospital), we don't do anything. If there has been a lot of stooling while pushing, the provider might request a perineal wash first, and then we just use warm tap water and a squirt of betadine put in an emesis basin.

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We use bath wipes in a white package that we keep in a warmer. I couldn't tell you why, that's just how it's been since I was orientated!

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Specializes in OR and Midwifery.

Nothing. If its a dirty down there just warm tap water and a bit of a wipe.

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Yeah.. Just regular pericare... One physician likes to use baby shampoo as the head emerges.

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My old workplace, and currently where I am at.... always betadine.

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Betadine on 4x4s and sterile water. There is always the risk for impaired skin integrity through tearing/episiotomy so maybe they use it to wash off as much bacteria as they can and decrease infection risk? That is my guess. We use chlorhexadine scrub for people with betadine allergies

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Also Betadine on 4x4s with sterile water.

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We use Premade betadine wipes and warm sterile water if the physician on CNM wants to prep. About half of them do, and if you ask any of them if they want to prep, they will always say yes.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

We don't prep

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Specializes in labor & delivery.

Secura Personal Cleanser. It is a spray that we use just before delivery. Kind of silly before delivery, but it is no-rinse and it works great after delivery cleaning mom up and when we get her up for the first time to the bathroom.

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Betadine. And if the woman is pooping while pushing I've seen those daily care wash wipes used to clean that area.

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