Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Perineal massage and raspberry leaf tea

16 replies

Polkadot123 · 17/02/2021 16:26

Hello all, just wondered if we have any experienced mamas on here who have any wisdom on these two different methods.
I’ve heard wonder stories about peri massage and wondered it actually helps... also raspberry leaf tea? It’s apparently meant to strengthen the uterus. It sounds a little hippy dippy to me but I’m open minded as a first time mama and willing to give anything a go if it means a helping hand along the way. Tar loves

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Whirlwind14 · 17/02/2021 16:31

I wish I’d massaged second time around as the episiotomy scar from first time tore again. Spitz for Bitz (amazing, by the way!) also do a massage oil.

As for raspberry leaf, I bought some when I was overdue and before I got home- boom!- I was in labour. So yeah, great stuff!!

jellybe · 17/02/2021 16:45

Take the raspberry leaf tablets the tea is disgusting. It won't bring on labour but it should make your contractions more effective when the do start and help you to heal afterwards.

notalwaysalondoner · 17/02/2021 16:57

You are definitely not supposed to drink raspberry leaf tea until the very late stages as it can cause uterine contractions and bring on labour or accelerate it too fast. From what I can gather, it's generally recommended against by medical authorities.

MeadowHay · 17/02/2021 17:00

My midwife recommended perineal massage. I did this in the last few weeks of pregnancy, found it very uncomfortable and I then had a ventouse delivery with an episiotomy. But I didn't have any natural tears, so it could have helped prevent them, who knows. I was reading about the aniball on here awhile ago now I'm pregnant with no.2 so I think I'm going to try that this time round instead, it looks like a more effective version of perineal massage.

Loti92 · 17/02/2021 17:12

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

SnooperTrooper12345 · 17/02/2021 18:50

I did nothing with my first and had a 10 hour labour, 1st degree tear.

My second, I took raspberry tea capsules and did peri massages before birth and ended up being induced and also had a 3rd degree tear.

I think it's so hard to actually say whether the things work or not but also you're not really losing anything from trying them. Especially the peri massages

BML123 · 17/02/2021 19:09

Not exactly robust evidence but I did both perineal massage from 25 weeks and raspberry leafy tea 35 weeks onwards. 5 hour labour and no tears!

kensue19 · 17/02/2021 19:24

I did both with first baby, along with eating dates in the weeks before birth. Labour was 4 hours and I was pushing for under 10 minutes. No drugs and no tears. I definitely recommend and will do both again this time around.

lemorella · 17/02/2021 19:32

Did the massage with my first and ended up with an episiotomy. Second time didn't do it and didn't tear at all. But did have a water birth so think that helped.

Raspberry leaf tea made me feel really nauseous, did not like it.

Chelyanne · 17/02/2021 19:36

Did the raspberry leaf tea with 2nd & 3rd, 2nd had a 6 day labor but only 2hr 19mins after waters broken, 3rd 2 days labor and 11mins after waters broken. No idea if the tea helped or not tbh but it's okay as a drink.
Never done the massage thing. Episiotomy with 1st, 2 x episiotomy with 2nd, tore from V2A with 3rd. Our twins had no labor as they were breech and came out the sunroof.

Gennia · 17/02/2021 19:49

I did both with my first.

I took raspberry leaf tea from around 34 weeks, one cup a day, increasing to 3 cups by the end.

Did the perineal massage (recommend using KY Jelly or such as it is cheaper than the specific oils and more hygienic than using olive oil or such).

Anyway, I was 42+1 when my DC was born. I had to be induced, I had to have an episiotomy and forceps for delivery. Now to be fair my DC was not in position or facing the right way, he was turned on his side and went back to that position after the doctor had managed to turn him. Perhaps if he had been in position and facing the right way I might have managed to deliver him easily without tears.

Planning on doing both again this time because I don’t think it does any harm.

goldielockdown2 · 17/02/2021 19:51

I did neither and didn't tear with any of my (whooping) kids.
I don't see how the massaging would work, makes no sense to me and I didn't fancy doing it.

Piccalily19 · 18/02/2021 03:13

I couldn’t be arsed with the massage, logistically wasn’t sure how I’d even reach and yeah couldn’t be bothered as no guarantee it would work 😆 2nd degree tear (baby no 1)
I did chug the tea from 38 weeks, didn’t enjoy it but it was easy to just down a few cups a day. My delivery was quick and natural so it may have helped, who knows! Delivered at 39+3 too which was a bonus

Chunkymenrock · 18/02/2021 04:06

I hate 'handling myself ' so couldn't bear to massage. Totally recommend raspberry leaf. My midwife advised the extract in tablet form, rather than twatting about with cups of tea. Taken over the last 4 weeks at the advised dose. Baby 1 was 1 day early, 6 hr established labour, slight tear. Baby 2 was 2 weeks early, 2.5 hours established labour. Everyone I know who took raspberry leaf daily feels it really made a difference. Absolutely nothing to lose. I think it should be mainstream and advised far more.

PFin · 18/02/2021 04:45

I did the peri massage with first and only had a minor tear and didnt need any stitches. Might not of happened anyway if I had done nothing suppose no one will ever know but I defo plan to do it this time too.

pinknsparkly · 18/02/2021 04:49

Just keep in mind that, as with anything, raspberry leaf tea isn't suitable for everyone. If you have other medical conditions, particularly those affected by hormones, it may not be advised. I have endometriosis so couldn't take raspberry leaf.

However, I did do perineal massage manually (I got my husband to do it as I couldn't reach!!) and using the aniball device. I had to have a manual placenta removal after delivery and at my 5 day checkup my midwife didn't believe that I didn't have a tear! I absolutely recommend the massage and device, as uncomfortable as they are, for the results I got.

Flip