Olive oil to prevent tearing and preparing for labour

[lucky24]

I had a third degree tear with DS someone at the time mentioned using olive oil to reduce the likely hood of tearing.

Is anyone else doing this? Do you just massage it in to the vagina entrance (sorry not good with the correct terminology) or further inside?

Are you doing anything else to prepare for labour?

You can get perineal massage gels as well, if Olive Oil is a bit runny / greasy for your liking. I got DH to do it for me, as I couldn't see what I was doing, and it was a bit of a reach later on in pg! I have copied this explanation of how to do it from a website:

Wash your hands.
Find a private, comfortable place and sit or lean back in a comfortable position. Some women lie on their side and bring their hand round the back. Use cushions to support your legs.
Use an unscented vegetable oil, such as sunflower oil or olive oil on your thumbs and around the perineum.
Place one or two thumbs (or fingers if you can't reach) about 1 inch (2-3cms) inside your vagina. Press downwards and to the sides at the same time. Gently and firmly keep stretching until you feel a slight burning, tingling or stinging sensation.
Hold the pressure steady at that point with your thumbs for about 2 minutes until the area becomes a little numb and you don't feel the tingling as much.
Keep pressing with your thumbs. Slowly and gently massage back and forth over the lower half of your vagina. Do this for 3-4 minutes. Remember to avoid the urinary opening. You can start with very gentle massage, increasing the pressure as sensitivity is reduced.
As you massage, pull gently outwards (forwards) on the lower part of the vagina with your thumb(s) hooked inside. This helps stretch the skin as the baby's head will stretch it during birth.

HTH and good luck!

I did this with almond oil after a friend suggested it, it seemed to work as i didn't tear, would recommend it. The midwife had a laugh about it with me when i told her- any excuse she said!

Thanks for the explanation catsycat, thats helpful i wouldnt have done it right

My DH is currently doing my perineal massage with olive oil, which is what our hypnobirth teacher told us to use. Seems to be working as area is definitely more flexible than it was.

pruney as you type?!

How often should you do it and from when? I wasn't consistent last ime with this but would like to be this time. Thanks.

Coffee you were thinking what I was thinking...

muslimah, once a day ideally.

lol @ CoffeeOne just read what I'd put :)