Why ask about 1 topic when you can ask about 2?!
I am almost 36 weeks pregnant with #1. In an ideal world hoping for a natural(ish) midwife led birth (in MLU), hopefully in water if a pool is available - am pretty open-minded if the situation requires it but really I want as little intervention as possible.
With that in mind I wondered if anyone has experience of perineal massage actually working? I first read about it years ago and thought it seemed like an excellent idea, is now mainstream rather than weird (it's in my book from the hospital) but I can't seem to work myself up to starting it! The research I found about it it seems to have a v minimal impact, and given that a water birth helps avoid tearing I just don't know if I can be arsed (excuse the pun!)
Meanwhile, our NCT teacher recommended eating Dates - 6 a day from about 5 weeks before EDD - and having found the research study this is an actual proven method of softening the cervix that seems to work (unlike everything else!) but doesn't seem to get mentioned on these pages. Has anyone done it and found it helpful? Am eating 6 dates daily now anyway because it seems more fun than sticking my fingers where the sun don't shine...*
*(I do realise that the 2 things are done for different reasons!!)
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Childbirth
eating dates to soften cervix and/or perineal massage
14 replies
cantbelieveImquittingcoffee · 05/04/2016 12:32
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