How much do you stretch open when crowning- 10cm?

[labels]

hi

i have a fear of baby crowning and causing a bad tear with no 2 baby

I have never experienced a normal delivery as had forceps and induction (induction did not work) so don't know what the second stage feels like when baby is nearly out and the skin is stretching in the perineum as had epidural

is it very difficult to slow down when the baby's head starts to show down below and how much does the opening stretch to?

I have started perineal massage and can't see any difference in the size of down below so think how it will stretch enough to allow a baby's head through??

Are you supposed to be able to stretch the opening to a full 10 cm (ouch) in width by the end of the pregnancy?

thanks

please tell me you aren't trying to stretch your cervix now????? please please please restore my faith in antenatal care?

at ladyintheradiator.

labels - if you are not a troll then I think you really need to speak to the person who advised you on the perineal massage!

I think LadyintheRadiator covered it!

you are getting confused between the amount the cervix needs to dilate and the baby crowning at the vaginal opening

the cervix has to dilate to 10 cm to allow delivery

you don't need to learn to stretch your vagina that far

perineal massage is to help you get used to the sensation of crowning and can help soften and prepare the tissues

you have been misadvised if you are trying to widen your vagina

if you pant/breathe and follow the midwive's instructions on crowning, it is easier to control the delivery

delivery in water can help support and help the tissues stretch

Eh? I don't understand your OP!

Your cervix dilates 10 cm when you're actually in labour. When your cervix is 10 cms dilated that's when you start to push. Are you having us on?

I think the OP has got confused with dilation of the cervix and crowning

OP , the cervix is internal ,that is the bit that opens to 10 cm.

I think the OP does make some sense - if your cervix has to open to 10cm to let a baby through then your vagina will also have to stretch on crowning to about 10cm to let the baby through. I.e. a baby's head is about 10cm.

Agree though with Lulumaam that this is not the aim of perineal massage.

Ah, now I understand! Sorry OP didn't mean to be rude. Was

When I did Perineal massage, I was advised that the skin had to be stretched out about 7cm, Not many people know about the massage, it is well worth doing it though!

Tbh I'm not sure she's stretching her vagina - I'm wondering if she's got a bit carried away with the perineal and is now stretching her anus. :(

It does sound hideously painful, but isn't painful in all cases.

Your vagina is made to stretch out like a fun and some lucky women do manage to give birth without tearing.

The important thing is to give birth in a good position. If you are on your knees or squating then your pelvis can open further. If you are vertial then gravity will help you get the baby out. The colxyic bone (ie. liek

A lot of women give birth on their back. This closes down the pelvis and you do not have gravity to help you. It makes intervention more likely.

thanks for some of your helpful replies

sorry to those who felt they needed to swear in their replies to me, it was not very helpful and upset me a bit at first

I came on here for some support thats all and its a shame some people choose to react that way
but that is their choice

if you had a traumatic birth first time round and are trying their best to find a way to prevent it happening again then you need to understand things

maybe there are other women out there who want to ask the same question but are too embararrassed

i'm grateful to those who have helped me with my posts recently but now don't feel like posting anything else here again

I am sorryu you've had a traumatic birth, you could seek some help from the birth trauma assoication or birth crisis. they are very helpful

don't be put off ! there are plenty of people with similar fears and you should feel free to post where you want to. i responded on your other thread BTW about consultants in labour.

i think if oyu don't have an undersatnding of birth physiology etc it can all be confusing and worrying

Hi
You might want to try an Epi-No www.epi-no.co.uk I agree with all of the above but I used an epi no and know of a few people who did and it really helped

Labels, I did perineal massage and I didn't tear AT ALL! They said at the time that if you have existing scars and things like that to massage those a little bit more. It was truly very beneficial for me and I have since gone back to normal so it isn't a permanent stretch! :)

labels - I am really really sorry you were upset by the thread - I don't think anyone meant to upset you .

I think it's just that the thought of trying to manually stretch your vagina to 10cm is a bit !

Please don't be afraid to post again - sometimes you get odd reactions on mumsnet, but we are a caring bunch and sometimes things come across differently in text form than they would in RL.

Well done on managing to do the perineal massage - I couldn't face doing it and I had a 2nd degree tear.

I'm sure there will be an expert along soon to help you.

My sincere apologies once again x

I hope I didn't upset you Labels. MN is the one place where you should feel able to ask anything without feeling embarrassed. I feel awful that this thread has upset you .

I did perineal massage. I read that the aim was to get you accustomed to pressure on your perinium and learn to relax your muscles under that pressure. But that you are not aiming to stretch yourself.

I assume you do open to 10cm when the head comes out.

Btw, I didn't tear at all. When he was crowning I closed my eyes, pretended it was perineal massage, and relaxed my muscles. My sister also did it and did not tear so I firmly beleive it works.

Good luck!

Hello, I did perineal massage last time and didn't tear at all either. When my dd's head crowned I felt a sting but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and I had no pain relief at all, as I'm in Spain and the only thing you can get here is an epidural. It didn't actually feel as if my vagina was stretching loads, t'was probably a bit numb down there by then The contractions were worse ime.

Yes, the vagina will stretch to allow the baby through - the head is the widest part, although if the baby has an arm up in an awkward position it may have to stretch wider.

Not trying to scare you, just being factual.

Crowning feels like an intense, burning sensation. At NCT classes it was likened to putting a finger in each side of your mouth and pulling slowly but firmly apart, until it get to the stage it hurts, and then a bit more. I found it the worst part, but the plus side is that it doesn't last long and you know the baby is almost there.

Hi Labels.You are doing the right thing with the perineal massage.I did it for both of mine and had no tears,upright for DS1,and only on bed for last 5 mins with DS2.This sounds a bit freaky,but bear with me.When the perineum stretches to allow the baby's head through,(crowning),the nerve endings are stretched so far that they cannot transmit the "pain signals". Now,when I was pregnant with DS1 that sentance HAUNTED me,I was terrified,but I found it to be true.The midwife will tell you that the head is coming,you push,she puts her hand on the baby's head-to slow it down-then eases the perineum over the head.This is done slowly-a few seconds-and should mean you have no tear-or at least a very small one.When she is slowing the head,she will stay stop pushing,this is because if you keep pushing it will all be too fast,and you tear.To stop pushing,you pant.Try practising this at home,imagine you are pushing really hard,say stop,now pant,pant,pant,you actually can't push if you pant.In the heat of labour many women just keep pushing-DON'T! And the crowning was nothing!Definately not as bad as I had thought-plus it means it is all just over-hurragh! Good luck.