Hands off or hands on delivery?

[BeMorePacific]

What are you opting for and why?
A midwife to have their hand on your perineum, and to slow down the birth of the head.
Or hands off, and let your body be responsible for the delivery?

I’m swaying towards hands off, but I haven’t had a vaginal birth before, so I’d be hoping my body expels the baby slowly.
Anyone have any personal experience of either? x

Hands on has been shown to decrease risk of bad tears including third and fourth degree tears. I wouldn’t plan hands off.

In my experience, tell them to hold on TIGHT to your perineum to prevent tearing. Two babies hands off and one hands on, I had much better outcome hands on. Baby can come very fast, no matter if it's your first or not.