more questions about perineal massage

[beforesunrise]

right, following on from my post of a couple of days ago, i have decided to face my demons and have a go at the dreaded perineal massage :-)

but i have a couple of questions:

1. what is the best position to do it? i tried lying down (can't reach because of bump!), sitting (ok but awkward), standing with a leg on a chair (i get by far the best 'reach', but it's far from relaxing...). how does everyone do it?

2. am i supposed to stretch and hold the stretch? and if so for how long? OR just massage left to right and right to left?

3. when i reach inside the area i think i am meant to be massaging is far from smooth and in fact i can kind of feel some kind of "hanging" bit which i am pretty sure is not meant to be there. i am now TOTALLY freaked out and imagining all sorts of worst case scenarios (deep down i am still terrified that my first birth left me permanently damaged and that the second is going to destroy me!). will mention to mw when i see her next week but is it too much to ask for her to actually take a look and a feel? i just don't feel at all confident in my body's capacity to sustain another birth...

sorry- have gone on a bit hope i haven't bored you! and happy Easter anyway from snowy London :-)

Am interested in this too! Its very hard to get a comfortable position being the size I am!
Bump

i think as long as you get the stuff on your skin and allow it to absorb, how you do it prob doesnt matter. Just dont injure yourself in the meantime.
" hey doc no stirrups please she cant lift her legs that high but her perineal is nice and stretchy"

have you tried sitting on a chair, leaning forward slightly and placing your hand behind you. it does mean you can lean back into the chair at any moment and you should be able to reach comfortably.
Because i dont knowabout you but it takes me 3 goes just to put a sock on!