Love this topic.

For my next labour in Sept, I will remember Sue's advice about relaxing my body during contractions. I'm sure I always get tense, despite my very loud vocalising. And Vanita's advice about 'riding it like a wave, to work with it, not against it" is great too. I'm putting these in my birth plan, and going over all the other posts again. My birth plan is something I'm always working on.

Re fear of tearing, Megan, there's lots you can do.
-Perineal massage. Stretch it while you're pregnant.
-Oils on the area during labour - haven't tried but read about it.
-Warm compress (like a face washer) held against the perineum during crowning. My midwife did this for my last birth and no tear at all. Very comforting.

I had a small natural tear for each of my first 2 births, and a slight graze (where theres a small surface splitting of skin). I didn't feel them at all. The stinging I feel is always at the front and nowhere near the tears.

For my first baby, HC 34cm, 8lb 10oz, one midwife thought she might need to snip me a bit and the other one talked her out of it. I'm very glad, because my little natural tear didn't need a stitch. Next 2 babies had slightly bigger heads & all ok.

I think baby being in a good position, and being allowed to take your time because baby not in distress, and not being told to push too much, being told when to stop pushing etc by a good midwife helps a lot.

I think we should all talk to our midwives and doctors as much as possible, ask them every time we see them about how they deal with various aspects of labour. If they don't want to talk to you about it, ask youself why.

Happy posting girls. Anxiously awaiting new installments.

Oh yes, Vanita, how was the birth of your twins? C section or vaginal? How were they positioned? Did they come early? I'll be after lots of detail from you in particular. Any other twins mums around?

Yvette