Implications of pain in functional activities in immediate postpartum period according to the mode of delivery and parity: an observational study

OBJECTIVES: To identify women's complaints about pain in the immediate postpartum of vaginal delivery and cesarean section; to measure the intensity of pain in postpartum women at rest and with selected movements and to compare the activity limitations in relation to the mode of delivery and parity. METHOD: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Eighty-six women, in the immediate postpartum period after vaginal delivery (n = 43) and cesarean section (n = 43), were evaluated for physical discomforts and their difficulty in performing functional activities. RESULTS: Abdominal pain (mean differences = −39.5%; 95% CI = −57.3 to −21.8%), neck pain (mean differences = −16.3%; 95% CI = −32.3 to −0.3%) and edema (mean differences = −41.4%; 95% CI = −63.3 to −20.4%) were reported of cesarean women postpartum. Perineal pain (p < 0.05) was reported in vaginal delivery women postpartum. Postpartum pain was more severe during movement after cesarean section (p < 0.05) resulting in pain during the activities of sitting down (mean differences = −30.2%; 95% CI = −50.7 to −9.8%), standing up from a sitting position (mean differences = −46.5%; 95% CI = −65.0 to −28.0%), walking (mean differences = −44.2%; 95% CI = −65.2 to −23.1%), lying down (mean differences = −32.6%; 95% CI = −54.9 to −10.3%) and taking a bath (mean differences = −24.0%; 95% CI = −43.1 to −5.0%). Correspondence analysis found no association between parity and functional limitations. CONCLUSION: The highest number of complaints was associated with movement activities and cesarean section postpartum. There was no relationship between functional limitations and parity in this study.