Perineal Massage

[Jenjen85]

So has anyone tried it and does it actually stop you from tearing?? I'm 35weeks now an have been considering doing it (if I can reach that is) bit embarrassed to ask DH altho I'm sure he would be more than willing. I figure if your going to tear your going to tear so not sure if its worth doing

I didn't do it, and I didn't tear because I had a small episiotomy (sp) in the end (I planned to but in the event it just made me feel queasy so I stopped after a couple of attempts). I won't bother this time.

This came up at our last NCT group meeting up - most did it fairly religiously, and on a straw poll it didn't seem to make any difference. Discounting those who ended up with an episiotomy or C-section, the rest still tore to some extent, although there's no way of knowing if it stopped a more severe tear.

There's no harm, but if you feel weird about it I wouldn't worry you're missing out... (I'm sure someone will be along to correct me though )

I did it with DC1, I did everything - raspberry tea, arnica, hypnobirthing etc on the basis that none of these things do you any harm so of theres even a tiny chance they work then whats the drawback to doing it. I also think it mentally prepares you and gets you in the zone to do things that may (or may not) help.

In the event, I did tear (forceps delivery) but I healed very very quickly and very well so I dont know if it had any direct effect, but on my "in for a penny, in for a pound" approach I would recommend it!

There is a german company that markets a type of dilator which has lots of followers. I tried it for my attempted vbac and found it helpful to know what to expect and to feel which muscles moved when I pulled and pressed. Can't remember the name, blueish colour.

Did perineal massage religiously with dc1, for ages because she was two weeks late. Got a 2nd degree tear and stitches.
Didn't do anything with dc2 (disillusioned). Didn't tear at all.

How was the hypnobirthing, rollmeover? Thinking about doing it because I'm shit scared of childbirth.

I think hypnobirthings effectiveness depends on you as a person and your openness to "believe". I was induced and it didnt work (ended up with the full suite of interventions apart fromc-section, so probably not a poster child for the cause).

Out of the rest of my class, who all went into labour naturally, two it totally worked for and one it didnt (but I know she was sceptical and didnt put the "work in" that they recommend.)

It definately helped keep me calm during the actual pregnancy and it helped me sleep well. It is a bit woo, but I know quite a few people that it has worked for and I would definately use it again in future pregnancies in the hope that I had a natural start.

its been proven to help and the nhs now back it: www.kch.nhs.uk/Doc/pl%20-%20522.1%20-%20antenatal%20perineal%20massage%20-%20information%20for%20women.pdf

www.evidence.nhs.uk/search?q=antenatal%20perineal%20massage

my partner and i found this helpful:

As a horse rider that muscle is much more tense than normal so we started with one finger going each side before going in with two (also to get used to the feeling) its actually really worth doing, episiotomy really do screw the structure of that muscle which in time will affect your core muscles (after all, the muscle you massage works as the base of the core muscle group)

i did it every day for 3 weeks before birth (tried to do it myself as didnt like the idea of DH doing it!) - i was terrified of tearing and figured that i might as well give it a go in case it would help. i got a 2nd degree tear in the end - but it was a vaginal tear rather than a perineal tear - which the mw told me was better and which would heal quicker - which it did. so i guess it worked for me to some extent. i'll be doing it again for DC2 as theres no harm in trying!