Perineal massage and episiotomies/tearing

[sazzybee]

Before I go and cut off all my nails, does perineal massage really work to avoid tearing?

And what's the rate of episiotomies nowadays? I can't find any data on it except that it's ridiculously high. If I'm very firm about not wanting one will they listen to me?

Thanks

They'd have gone with the 1st flush of maternal chores anyway

Happy massaging and have a fab birth, please keep us informed (if you want that is)

I will report back.

Thanks for your help.

message to rumpel - i see you said the cord snapped, would like to hear more about it, that happened to us with dd1 but i've never found anyone else who it's happened to before.
maybe i should start a new thread?

I didn't do perineal massage and I didn't tear or anything. I did have a water birth though :O

Sazzybee - I was really adamant about not wanting an episiotomy - had it in my birth plan that NOTHING was to be done without my consent, etc. etc. When it came down to it I ended up having two separate episiotomies after I'd been trying to push the head out for nearly 3 hours. I couldn't have cared less at the time - all I cared about was getting my DS out safe and well. I didn't feel a thing and having the stitches afterwards was something of nothing. Yes it's not pleasant for the next few weeks but it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. So what I'm saying I'm suppose is don't rule it out completely. Hope the massage thing works for you though.

I've had 3 vaginal births and never been cut or torn, didn't do any massage either

I had an episiotomy 2 weeks ago - they do still do them and boy is it sore! Massage away - i kept meaning to but never got round to it!
Didn't have ventouse or forceps, but was tiring, and was VBAC so only had limited time.
Good luck

Hi, i dont know how much good it will do as Im 36 wks on my first but I use wheatgerm oil(can get frm holland and barett) i dont know abt massage lol...but i try 2 rub a bit around there after shower...lets hope it helps...ive read a few places its good for stretching,u cud use it on ur body4stretchmarks 2 altho it smells nasty so id stick with the regular creams

My midwife told me that when women tear, they always tear in the right places. She meant that your body knows how to tear if it needs to (unless there are complications that needed forceps). From what I understand, episiotomies are unjustified most of the time, although the women are often told afterwards that they needed one, otherwise they would have endangered the baby. Obviously doctors would say that, wouldnt they. I would make sure you get a midwife you feel you can trust. A kind one. Ive heard some midwives end up not being sympathetic to women in labour (have NO idea why such kind of person would want to become a midwife, but anyway). A kind midwife will be more useful than any other preparation you do for labour.
I half-heartedly gave perinial massage a go with calendula cream (same consistency as lip-balm). I didn`t tear, but as I say, I put that down to having a good midwife.

I did the massage thing but still ended up with an episiotomy - the cord was around my baby's neck and his heart rate was dropping. It also looked like I would tear badly anyway. I didn't want one either, but it healed fine, so I have no complaints .

Birth plans are important, but I wouldn't say never to anything - some epis may be unnecessary but you may need one for very good reasons.