EPI-NO instead of perineum massage?

[skybie]

i wouldnt bother hun, if ur going to tear, ur going to tear.
i did pelvic floor excersizes religiously with both the girls.
DD1 i birthed flat on my back (notorious for horrible tears) followed my bodies lead as per midwifes instructions and didnt even have a paper cut!
DD2, although she was posterior and a tear was unavoidable, i stupidly listened to the mids when they TOLD me to push instead of letting my body tell me, i was very out of sorts and incredibly scared and just wanted her out. 2nd degree tear in 3 different directions.

in other words, listen to ur body, push when it tells u to, dont be forced into pusing when ur body doesnt want u to

much love hun, not long now xxx

[LionsandBears]

I asked a pelvic floor physio about EPI-NO. She said it can stretch more than the perineum and affect your pelvic floor strength, so not to use it. For perineal massage, she suggested just trying to massage the perineum from the positions of 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock (if the bottom of it is 6 o'clock) with some olive oil from 38 weeks on.