Any tips for avoiding tears?

[PSL1990]

Doesn't anyone have any tips for avoiding tears in labour? Anything you did that you really felt helped? I know at the end of the day it could be unavoidable but willing to try suggestions!

I've heard of various tips, but have never heard of anything that actually works. And when you think of how big a baby's head is, and how small the average vaginal opening is, it's not surprising.

Perineal massage may help, and almost certainly won't hurt. I did it before my first birth and haven't torn at all either time. There is also the Epi-no trainer.

Giving birth in water and in a natural position, ie squatting, kneeling, on all fours, etc may also be helpful. A good midwife should coach you through the crowning to help protect your perineum.

Don't push. Let the baby come out slowly at its own pace as the contractions push it out. Dd2 came out this way with no tears - but I actively pushed DS out and tore quite badly as I didn't give the exit time to stretch. It didn't hurt though. I was terrified of tearing but actually I was totally unaware of it happening at the time and I chose not to have stitches. The midwife said I could choose not to be stitched but would have to take 2 weeks of bed rest or close to it, which was fine by me, I lazed around being waited on and it healed on its own and now feels completely normal. Second degree tear if that helps.

Not exactly sure if this helped prevent a tear - when my son was crowning the midwife was stretching my perineum with her fingers to reduce the amount of soreness and risk of tears.

Only had a graze but not sure if that's because of her help or because it was my second DC

Perineal massage is worth a shot.

Also listening to the midwife about not pushing (I failed to do this last time round).

The hospital I’m giving birth at has managed to reduce their tear rate to 1%. The hospital put a warm compress on your perineum before you push which is meant to help the muscle and prevent tears. My midwife said to me that fast labours generally encourage tears as your muscles don’t have a chance to gradually stretch. Ideally you want your labour not to be too quick but I appreciate that is in an ideal world and not all labours go smoothly!