Perineal massage

[Bellyrub1980]

I'm 38 weeks and only just starting to acknowledge the fact that at some point soon I shall be pushing a baby out of my vagina. (Have basically been in denial for 8 months!)

Anyway, I've read a bit about perineal massage and I can see the logic behind it (if I can actually reach).

But... Have I left it too late?

Maybe but give it a go. It helped a lot, IMO.

Every little helps....go for it. Also, imagine pushing a baby out. Push, push, push....then stop and blow out...blow, blow, blow.
As the baby's head comes out, you need to stop pushing, and the MW will ease the head out slowly to prevent tears.
Blowing will stop you pushing, slowing the exit of the head.
Good luck!

It's great to be pro-active with this kind of thing- you give yourself the best chance of having a straightforward birth.

Bear in mind though that labour is very unpredictable and even with your best efforts you may still suffer a tear. I did perenial massage from 36 weeks and listened carefully to the midwives when pushing and still ended up with a second degree tear. Quite frustrating but completely out of your control in the end.

Yeah do it.

Bear in mind that some deliveries you just can't control the pushing urge at all. The push/breathe never happens: baby just shoots out! My mw recognised this in my birth. I was "trying to poo" from the outset (or so i thought) and simply could not stop the urge. Just a quirk of nature. Meant a quick labour though!

Mind you the massage saved me from a tear needing surgery and instead I just needed lots of stitches from the mw with baby on my tummy! I did not feel the tear or stitching at all, they numb you down below straight after. Also I am healing ok and can wee and poo normally: so even if massage doesn't mean NO tear, it's still totally worth it.

definitely give it a go but as others have said, the time on the day is really unpredictable.
I ended up tearing upwards and it just couldn't be helped.
good luck

Worked for me (no stitches)
Also when they say pant do it !!!

Thumbs up to perineal massage from me.

Aside from the physical stretching, I found that by the time I actually gave birth, the sensation of being stretched was fairly familiar, so that I didn't panic or tense up when the baby's head crowned.

You haven't left it too late at all.

Thanks for the replies!

I've been doing it for the last few days! Using almond oil and a mirror and trying not to get to panicky when I look 'down there' and realise a baby has to pass through that space!!!! So I'm stretching as much as I can tolerate. I'm a massive wuss though (or should I say totally pathetic and terrified!) So using the breathing control techniques pp's have recommended whilst stretching.

It just doesn't seem possible that a baby will come out without the skin tearing...!?????

Also, I think the almond oil may have triggered off thrush. Will I get the same effect using nothing?

switch it for olive oil you cook with, all natural and won't set off thrush :)

You should simply avoid perineal massage if you have thrush, as infection can spread to baby. I had used sunflower oil; I read it is very close to the oil present in your skin. You can also try using coconut oil or olive oil, both serves as great lubricants.

I had a 9lb1 and a 10lb3 baby with no stitching. The almond oil perineal .massage may have helped with this or may not but it definitely didn't harm the cause. (Didn't do much good for the 6lb3 Csection though). Just keep pelvic floor exercising OP, you will be fine, am sure.