Perineal massage - does it work?

[coneywonder]

Any stories about tearing ect after doing perineal massage? I'm 34 weeks and I am debating whether to start but it sounds hurrendous. I know a baby is gonna come out of there which will be a whole lot more uncomfortable and I am willing to try it if it's proven to work but it sounds like an added discomfort that I don't need at this stage of my pregnancy!

I did it using vitamin e oil and i didnt have any perinal tearing, just a graze internally

I did it obsessively. Complete waste of time, had to have a full episiotomy.
Certainly won't bother this time around (ditto the hypnobirthing, breathing exercises, etc etc that I did last time).

I had 3rd degree year first time and so got referral to a Physio specialising in women's health for second pregnancy and she gave me some guidance on how to. So ask for a referral? But I asked loads of midwives etc and most said it's worth a shot but no guarantee. Anyway I bought the oil (perenium oil from boots) and tried and failed and gave up. I focused on NCT stretch n breathe classes and at birth pleaded with midwife to help me not tear. She guided me to do really small breaths at end and I think she put her hands on me down there to slow the actual delivery. Anyway no tearing. To be honest I think that it all depends on size n position of baby. I'm not sure there is much you can do. But I did hear that anecdotally in the U.S they are saying that u more likely to tear if u give birth in pool. So I tried to labour in pool then get out for delivery....,but tbh when it came to it I just couldn't face getting out of pool (as the pain relief offered is immense) and I was ok in the end - thanks to the amazing midwife. Good luck x