Lube...

[TooImmature2BMum]

I had an idea last night (three guesses what I was up to at the time!) - can you oil yourself down there during labour in the hope of preventing tearing? After all, I use oil during sex and it makes everything so much comfier. I think the same principle would apply (refrains from drawing lip balm parallel ). I'm not saying it would necessarily work, but is there any reason why I shouldn't try it? It wouldn't have any adverse effect on the baby, or anything, would it?

Thank goodness for Mumsnet - I can't imagine asking the midwife this sort of thing!

you can do perineal massage while you are pregnant which is supposed to reduce the risk of tearing

however, having a giant baby head coming out your fanjo is slightly different to a penis entering you, so i very much doubt that using lube would make any difference to whether you tear or not

I don't suppose it would harm the baby, but i wouldn't do it personally

I was thinking exactly the same this morning when practising a spot of PM

I think, however, the body produces enough in the way of natural lubrication during birth so a spot of KY is unlikely to ease things.

Olive oil is recommended by several midwives.

Ina May Gaskin mentions using massage and oil in just this way quite a few times in her book, either applied by mw or by woman herself, right at point of crowning, I believe. Not sure what your average hospital mw would make of you or your dh havin a go at it right at the crucial moment but you never know unless you give it a go...

Might make it harder to push out.

imagines MW's face! I might try to stifle my blushes and ask the community midwife if they ever do this at the hospital. Thanks, guys!

Pmsl! BRILLIANT subject! Can you imagine the face on some of the more 'refined' midwives out there? I work with Community Midwives and I know a few who would blush lol!

I had an episiotomy with DD1 (a whopper!), NO tearing or cuts - fully intact with DD2 (a mega whopper - but yoga birth so natural) and a ELCS with DD3 (another whopper!).

Given the history chances are this little one will be a porker too so I fear for my ladybits .

Think this is actually a very valid issue so will be keeping my eyes peeled for tips! As it happens I'm not very au fait on perineal massage (despite having heard of it!), is there anywhere to get practical advice?

i have started PM but get bored/cant be bothered after a few seconds - not entirely sure if i'm doing it right though...... wish there was a lazy/easy way out of this!