Just wondering who has done this and whether or not you think it actually helped you in preventing tearing?
I was told this could/should be started around the 34 week mark and to use something like olive oil/almond oil/vegetable oil as opposed to lubricants.
Ooh I'll be keeping an eye on this thread cos I'm interested in the answers!! I've heard about using olive oil too. I didn't get around to it last time - I thought you had to be 36 weeks?
One of the Gyno's I work with suggests 34-35weeks also. I did do it with both my kids and I didn't tear. Weather it helped I don't know. Maybe I wouldn't have torn anyway but if/when I have another I will be doing it again also. I didn't use any oil I did mine whilst I was in the bath so the water might have acted abit like a lubricate and to soften the peri whilst doing it. I have heard people say olive oil is the best and there is another oil with Vitamin E in it but I don't know the name of it. Can't hurt anyway.
I did it with my last pg, can't remember when I started, but probably 6-7 weeks before DS was born. At the time just about everyone recommended it, from the Ob down to my acupuncturist. I used almond oil.
During DS's birth, I did ask the midwife to use a warm compress on my perineum around the time prior to DS crowning. Not sure what did/didn't work but all I ended up with was a very minor tear which required a stitch or two (I only pushed for 30 mins, so not sure if that can have an impact on the perineum's ability to stretch??). Can I add the small tear caused me no probs after the birth - I didn't feel it, and didn't need panadol or pain relief, so it must've been minor.
All in all, I reckon perineum massage is worth the time and effort. At the very least, it can't hurt to do it.
i too am interested in this thread. how often do i need to be massaging the perineum?
I feel weird doing it, but ill give it a shot if it helps me to not tear during labour...lol
My midwife just left my house and said that you can start doing it at 35 weeks, and you can use olive oil, or you can use evening primrose tablets - that are broken open.
She showed DH how to do it, must of figured out that its hard enough to wipe my own butt, let alone fiddle around down there.. LOL
But yeah, she gave us a print out of how to do the exercises (can't say they look too bloody nice either.. LOL)
I havn't done it with either of my babies and probably wont this time either - I just cant be bothered lol! DD was 7lb12oz and DS was 9lb and I didnt tear with either of them. I also had an induction, epidural and 12 hr labour with DD and an induction, drug free 2 hr labour with DS. I think if you are going to tear or not it will happen either way. NOT LONG NOW NAE!!!!
I did it a little bit, didn't really use oil cause I just did it in the shower. Not sure whether it helped with the stretching BUT I think what it did help with was showing me where I needed to relax the muscles during the pushing phase ITMS. I think that helped, although by the time you're pushing everything is pretty surreal! I had augmented labour with ARM and synto and did not tear at all.
ETA OMG Nae barely a month to go! That is so exciting, I can't wait to see that BA!
I haven't done it with any of the three pregnancies...a mix of can't be bothered and can't reach, I think I have had a 7lb 13oz and a 9lb 5oz bub so far, and although I've had little internal tears and grazing, haven't torn the perenium as such. We tend to DTD right up to and beyond the due date, and fairly often and because my belly gets sooo big, it tends to be done....with me on all-fours....(trying to think of a polite way of putting it ) which puts a bit of pressure/stretch on that area anyway, so maybe that helps....your hubby might be awful pleased to hear that, too
Wish I'd known about this sooner as I got 2 stitches that were quite painful and probably wouldn't have if my tiny baby girl didn't decide to stick her elbow out on the way through
Going to keep this in mind for when we plan the next I think.
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Perineum Massage
I have had a 7lb 13oz and a 9lb 5oz bub so far, and although I've had little internal tears and grazing, haven't torn the perenium as such. We tend to DTD right up to and beyond the due date, and fairly often
and because my belly gets sooo big, it tends to be done....with me on all-fours....(trying to think of a polite way of putting it
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