Perineal massage?

[burritofan]

Please can I have all your stories of positive outcomes (including tearing but good recovery!) after not bothering to do this? DP has just spent 10 mins ineffectually thumbing at me and I don't think he's keen to repeat the experience; I can't really reach to do it properly, but the midwife running my birthing class was APPALLED that I've got to 37 weeks without doing it.

Is it actually effective or is it a luck of the draw combined with genetics, position, size of baby, not going hell for leather while crowning...?

Hi op. Not sure I'm the best one to comment as we did do this and I still needed an episiotomy?

Anyhoo, I think a lot of people don't even know it's a thing so I'm sure some of them won't have?

To be honest, it's probably luck of the draw. Depending on how labour goes, how big baby is, how long you're pushing etc.

Sorry, don't feel like I've been much help.

Good luck x

I didn't do it, had a second degree tear that needed stitches but that healed super quick with little discomfort and no long term problems.
I was petrified of tearing but it was fine in reality tbh.

I didn't do it at all and had no tears, no episiotomy. I tend to think that it's just plain luck if you tear or no t - there are so many variables ! Of course, people who say they did it and had no tearing, will credit the massage. Or they'll tear and feel like it's all their fault. I'd guess that most women all over the world would never have heard of it !

I could not be arsed. I had tears with DS1&2 and needed stitches but recovery was fine.

I'm a midwife... the research shows that there is a small reduction in the severity of tears when women do frequent perineal massage. One of the bigger studies puts this at 6% reduction so not huge. This reduction is only for first time mum's (Or first vaginal birth).

I had DS 7 weeks ago, my main worry with childbirth was tearing/incontinence after birth so the midwives suggested I do the massage and also pelvic floor exercises (Nhs Squeezy app is great) they said it couldn't guarantee anything but if I was concerned then it was better to try than not try.

I hated the massage and literally had to force myself to do it, DP did it a few times. I wasn't doing it religiously at all, I started late and maybe did it around 15 times before birth.

Baby had quite a large head so birth took over 26 hours ended in episiotomy and forceps. No natural tears, and 7 weeks later and I'm fine down there - everything looks feels back to normal and pelvic floor is in good shape.

Can't say if it was the massage or not but worth persevering if like me your main concern was tearing and pelvic floor.

Thank you all, a variety of views but it does seem like birth is luck rather than preparation – sometimes feel like I'm revising for an exam!

Think I'll keep trying in a vagueish manner (same way I'm vaguely doing kegels... I'll download the squeezy app, thank you!), hope for the best, be aware of the worst, and keep fingers crossed!

Never done it, never torn.
27 weeks pregnant with my third and I won't be bothering again