Perineal massage tips?

[Littlemissnonam]

Hi all, I’m currently 35 weeks pregnant and have started to try perineal massage, but as lame
as it sounds I’m not really getting anywhere.

Ive tried sitting on my bum and spreading my knees but have found I can’t really get both of my thumbs in (sorry for the tmi!) I’ve had a couple of tries but have stopped as I think my nervousness around it was making my clench up.

does anyone have any tips please? Do I need to do this? I’m assuming so as I want to avoid a bad tear if I can, but I can’t seem to do this properly 😫 thank you x

In the bath. Almond oil. It feels weird but keep at it.

I swear it's perineal massage that helped me have two births without tearing.

I did it religiously from 13 weeks pregnant and still got a second degree tear! Waste of time imo, what will be will be.

Try the Aniball. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I had a back to back birth with no tearing. My friends that used it before me had no tearing. You can use it post birth also to tighten everything back up

The research indicates that even perineal massage deployed during first and second stages of labour significantly reduces the risk of episiotomy. Less of an effect on tears.

The likelihood is that it helps considerably to reduce risk of episiotomy and/or tearing, but it doesn't reduce the risk to zero. So some will do it and still tear.

You never know, your 2nd degree tear might have been a 3rd or 4th degree if you hadn't practised massage.

My antenatal class leader suggested having your partner do it if you're struggling to reach 😂😂😂

I've literally found the only way I can get around bump is to stand with one leg up on toilet seat or bed and do one finger, no way I could reach to do both thumbs together. Anyway I still do the same motion with one finger and just alternate sides/hands.