How to prevent tearing?

[organicem]

I didn't tear with either of mine. I put it down to per massage. With my first I did have an internal graze but with second I had a water birth and no injury at all.
Good Luck. My advice...try everything...something is bound to work for you.

[Inanna]

I also want to add - I did perineal massage with my first & the tear was 2nd degree. The others I did nothing - and very little trauma with 1 and no tears with the other two...

I do use water immersion in labour & DD5 was born into the water...

[mbear]

MBear thanks to you I burnt my boobies by choking on tea!

...mmm sorry about that.....

I actually remember reminiscing about ( when trying NOT to push when all i did was WANT to push) the movie i saw 3 days before....Wolverine. I tried so hard to think of something that was not birth related,baby related, anything to do with me related...and whammo, i thought of Wolverine. It musta worked, coz i didnt tear.

I agree with Flowerchild...you will be great Bekz....it might be a little quicker being your third, so control, breathing and Wolverine.......