soooo they recommend massaging the perineal area .....

[MamaMaiasaura]

but cant i reach it? Not a chance! DP thinks is hilarious and he is buggering off one Saturday for 2 weeks so no chance of him helping.. He is all fingers and thumbs anyway (ok so that is all that is needed) but if he goes near 'there' being male he is ever hopeful of more and I am too tired and huge at.

If it's any consolation, I never did, and didn't have to have stitches after any of my three.

I did do it, and was cut anyway because of instrument delivery. The decreased % chance of tearing with massage isn't that great. I did it just because I thought "why not?", but it certainly isn't the most important factor of not tearing. From posts here I would reckon that the most important thing is to let the baby crown in its own time and not rush at the end because you're desperate to get it out!

I think it is all bolleuax anyway. How any pregnant woman in later stages of pregnancy are meant to be able to reach there is beyond me and my arms reach

I couldn't reach mine either

I had a very quick delivery for a first timer and only got a small graze. I'm about how much difference it makes tbh

I remember rubbing all the creams into bump to avoid stretchmark.... fat lots of good that did last time round. This time hardly have ata all and no new stretchmarks (sooo far).

I think that those who can are nimble yoga types anyway Good advice tho mrstittlemouse. That is why they say pant then isnt it?