OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize and measure perineal pain in puerperal primiparous undergoing episiotomy. METHODS: A descriptive design was conducted in 40 puerperal primiparous who underwent normal childbirth with episiotomy. Pain was measured with the Brazilian version of the McGill questionnaire (Br-MPQ). RESULTS: Participants had a mean pain level of 4.2, and the words that better characterized perineal pain were: sore; hurting, discomfort, annoying, burning, stinging, throbbing, and pressing. CONCLUSION: The intensity of perineal pain was reported to be moderate. The pain characteristics most reported consisted of the sensorial dimension. The findings of this study suggest the need for identification of both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of pain in obstetric services.
Pain; Episiotomy; Postpartum period
