Perinieum Massage

[Julie Doula]

Hi Jess,

I'd suggest checking out:

* The Pink Kit

and

* Waterbirth

Very nice support for the perineum when you give birth in water.

I feel that perineal massage pre-natally can be helpful in terms of familiarity with your body and confidence in its tensile strength and elasticity. Just do it all gently - you're not *making* it stretch - it already can and does - you're simply finding out that it does stretch and satisfying yourself that it already is quite capable.

I also found that as I felt the sensations, I practiced totally relaxing with the exhale of my breath. That's great practice for labour, I found - using breath to relax when I felt intense or uncomfortable sensations - instead of tensing up.

When the head is crowning, you could ask a support person to remind you to stop pushing, exhale and basically - do nothing - just let your body do its thing and *b*r*e*a*t*h your baby out ....

Some women like warm compresses and olive oil or similar on the perineum during crowning also.

Also - our bodies are truly amazing - and they work. They do stretch, and sometimes, if they need to, they tear. The more gentle and unrushed and supported the birth is, the more likely it is that you won't tear or will only tear a little. I feel that a tear is still better than an episiotomy. It's been my expereince that tears, even when a few stitches are needed, heal well - and are not as painful as healing episiotomies.

I also use a herbal bath for the post-natal mother (herbs known for astringent & antiseptic properties, along with a good amount of sea salt), and I've read some research about how Manuka Honey (active) is quite amazing for healing the peri. (Sticky, sure - but that's OK if you're about to sink into your herbal bath in a while!)

We also use these peri-squeeze bottles - great when toileting during those first tender days.

Anything that can build your confidence in your body and enable you to relax and just 'let go' and trust when the time comes will help.

Pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy can help with this too - it helps you practice first tightening those muscles & tissues - and then intentionally letting them go. This exercise increases blood flow and oxygenation to the perineum.

I hope all goes really well for you Jess.