Preventing tearing

[chewbacca83]

Hi everyone. I am 29 weeks pregnant with my first. I am interested in people's experiences of perineal massage and whether it prevented a year? When is the best time to start it and can anyone recommend an oil?

Also is there any other way of preventing tearing? I've read that trying to keep mobile helps and gravity assisted positions. I really don't want to tear!!

Thanks in advance

Massage will definitely help. You can use specialist oils if you're happy to spend the money, but any oil will do. Just use something natural like jojoba.

The other option (that you can do alongside the massage) is to use the EpiNo. It's a balloon device that you insert into your vagina and inflate. Use every other day from 37 weeks and gradually you should be able to stretch the balloon to a maximum of 10cm. You can buy them online.

Finally, try and listen to your midwife and follow her instructions on pushing and when not to (can be difficult in the moment!).

Thanks so much for the advice. Would I will or coconut oil work? I have loads of that at home.

That was meant to say olive oil

It does help to reduce the risk of needing an episiotomy so it's always worth doing. However nothing can prevent it - I've needed to be cut both times as my babies both delivered back to back and got distressed. They healed quickly and without much pain though so maybe the massage helps even if you do tear.

I think they recommend from 32 - 34 weeks.

Giving birth whilst lying on your side has been shown to reduce the risk of tearing. Standing up/squatting increases the risk. Upright positions are good to get baby to descend but move to a side lying position when the head is visible.

That's really useful information thank you!

I think a combination of the epi no and massage helped prevent a tear on the perineum but I still got a couple of internal tears. I will definitely do it again though. I think the damage could have been much worse without preparation and it doesn’t cause any harm.

Hi! Yes, perineal massage towards end of pregnancy. Think if you search POGP website you should find info.

Lying on side too. Lying on left side better. It's also recommended for resting. Think it's to do with heart rate.

LISTEN to midwife when pushing and follow what she tells you. It's hard cause you're going against your urge to push but it's to give time to your perineum to stretch (and therefore prevent tearing).

If you use the pool, get out for pushing (and delivering) so the midwife can see your perineum and help control the delivery (see point above).

Do ask your midwife what procedures they have in place: OASI care bundle or STOMP or simply supporting the perineum with a warm compress. Ask what the procedures involve and personally I'd have that conversation recorded in my notes + my birth plan to "make sure" your preferences are respected.

😊

Always worth trying, but I needed an episiotomy, despite doing perineal massage for the recommended length of time.