Preventing a tear the 2nd time around??

[EmmaKateLouise]

Does anyone know how I could prevent a tear "down there" the 2nd time around?? With my first it was sooo painful afterwards that I could hardly get up and down on the sofa/chair etc. I had 3 stitches and it was, to my memory, the most painful bit of the whole birth!
Is there something I can massage with to prevent it happening again? I thought I had heard of something but I can't remember it now.
Thanks x

I had the same problem - nasty 3rd degree tear with my first and was absolutely paranoid about it happening again (particularly as I had a homebirth second time round and had no intention of having to go to hospital for a spinal block and repair in theatre!) I wrote lots on my birth plan about how I intended to try and avoid it happening again, which the midwives followed to the letter, and was overjoyed to get away with only a graze! What I found helpful was:

giving birth on all fours - 'opens you up' a lot more
asking the midwives to monitor the birth of the baby's head closely - 'breathing' it out, going as slowly as possible, stopping pushing when they said.

I never bothered with perineal massage but it may well be worth a try. Good luck!

As mentioned a waterbirth but if you are unable to have a waterbirth going down on all fours and pushing down takes the pressure of your perinium, this position also opens up the pelvis more allowing baby to move thru more easily. If you upto it place your hand on your perinium as this helps you feel baby coming thru so you can gently birth baby