Perineal Massage - are you, have you, would you??? Pro's and cons' please [smile]

[Nikki2510]

Hi All,

Well I'm coming up to the point where I need to start thinking about this but I'm interested in peoples thoughts. Spotted a few threads/spoken to a few people who haven't bothered and others that did.

Am also interested in the gymnastics of being able to reach said area of fanjo - I'm 31 weeks and haven't seen anything below the top of my bump for or been able to reach much either

Am perfectly open to the idea - just wondering what peeps thoughts and views are and how you physically manage to do it

Yes, I did, religiously every day from 36 weeks or so with dc1 and then less religiously with dc2. I used almond oil, I think, and remember sort of putting on leg on the side of the bath to reach or squatting.

I think it really helped. I didn't tear with either of them, although they were both less than 6.5lb so definitely on the small side, and it also meant that the stretching sensation during crowning wasn't a surprise. Whether that meant that I didn't tense up, so didn't tear, I don't know, but it gets a thumbs up from me!

I did it with all three of mine & had no tearing or stitches with any of the births. My babies were 6 lbs, 7 lbs & 7lbs 15 ozs & I was told by midwife I stretched really nicely . I would do anything if there was a chance of not tearing!

I tried it for the first time today and wish I had done it sooner.

The sensation was not nice but I think with practice it'll probably become a bit more tolerable. To think that a baby's head could come out of there at any time and feel worse than that, is worrying!

I did it in the shower with one leg up on the side of the bath.

I just can't seem to reach but DH has been doing it for me. Not entirely sure we're doing it right but hopefully it will help...

MB34's right - the sensation isn't pleasant, but it becomes easier within a few days and you will definitely notice that you become easier to stretch. It's good to discover this with your thumbs, rather than waiting for a 30cm diameter head to come out, I think.

Yep, bought perineum gel from mother care (although am sure almond oil works just as well) stood with one foot on toilet & 'massaged' religiously twice a day from 36 weeks

Not a single tear!

Does anyone have any good links you can share that help you figure out what to do - or did you just improvise?

Thanks All. Ok, so sounds like there are definite benefits - I might have to find a different position though as I'm suffering with PGP/SPD [on crutches] and the thought of standing with one leg up on the bath is making my eyes water

Might have to trim my thumbnails too...

And I've heard/read that you can just use normal olive oil for massaging - has anyone used this or is it worth buying a gel/oil specifically for perineal massage?

I found this the other day - gives a bit more information

www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/forpatients/090427patientinfoleaflets/090924perinealmassage.pdf (Hope it works!)

I started it a couple of weeks ago and it is certainly getting easier, I think...
Hope it works, but it can't hurt to give it a try really. I bought a specific gel, but I'm sure olive or almond oil are just as good.

If you have SPD, then you're absolutely right, don't go putting one leg up on the toilet.

I had SPD with dc2, and I remember sitting on the side of the bath and reaching down or swatting with ankles and knees together.

It's not glamorous but not something you'll be doing for long....

Sit on the edge of the bath and reach behind you, easiest position I found when I was no longer comfortable bringing foot up.

Didn't work for me though, midwife had to do episiotomy as I was apparently "very tight" and would have had a severe tear if she hadn't cut me first. Wasn't pleasant but wasn't as bad as I'd have expected it to be.

I used normal olive oil and gently stretched everything. No tears/ stitches with any of my 3 births.

I had a woman in my postnatal group that got her husband to do it from the moment she found out she was pregnant. Turned out that the baby was huuuge and she had to have a c-section. She was very bitter about that....