PERINEUM MASSAGE

[chipscheesegravy]

Hi all,

I'm 37 weeks and I've been told about the benefits of perineum massage for reducing tearing. I've tried it and I find it really painful - is this normal!? I also find it so difficult to reach!

The massage has just made me even more anxious about the birth now. If I can't cope with a thumb down there how am I going to push a whole person out!?

😭😭😭

Yeah I wouldn't bother tbh - have an epidural and hope for the best. I had a bad tear but it healed fine.

I tried it with my first and didn't really do it regularly enough to know whether it helped...
DD came along quite easily with no fuss, minor pain and only Tens to help me through it.
I did have a 'graze' which required two stitches.

I have just had another, didn't do any stretching, and had another tear which needed an unknown number of stitches (but can't be that bad as doesn't hurt or sting).

I figured it was worth a try. Stick at it. Ask DH to help?

I can't advise on massage as I didn't try it, but pushing a person out is very different - your body just sort of does it. When I was in labour I wouldn't let the midwifes examine me internally as it was too sore, but baby was born fine I don't remember it being excruciating - although I did get a 3rd degree tear - so maybe the massage is a good idea! I have now healed fine, so getting a tear is not the end of the world, overall I would say I was lucky to have a positive birth experience. Do the massage if you want to, but don't compare it to labour

I had a tear but it went up instead of down so would have made no difference to me had I bothered.

I never bothered with either of my two.

First one needed an episiotomy so would have been pointless.

Second one I did tear but was superficial and stitches healed well.

I'm currently 41 weeks so can't say whether it helped or not, but I did find the massage quite uncomfortable when doing it myself. Got DP to do it (reluctantly) and it was much better, I think because of the angle he could get vs me trying to reach round bump!

Your midwife should be managing the birth properly and doing an episiotomy if it becomes apparent that you’re going to tear. The epis is angled away to the side, to avoid tearing your anal sphincter or urethra, and will be more comfortable when sutured.
I’m doubtful that perineal massage makes a lot of difference, to be honest. Mothers nowadays tend to be older when having first babies, and the perineum may well be a bit tougher and less elastic than in a teenager, so more at risk of tearing, whether massaged or not.

I got DP to do it. I think it did stretch it as it became more comfortable and he was able to do more each time, but then I had an emergency section so it was all in vain!