Which oils to use for perenial massage?

[Yarrawin]

Hi all,

I've been told by a midwife that since I have gotten quite a lot of stretch marks that I should start thinking doing some regular perenial massage as belly stretch marks and tearing are linked.

Tbh that makes perfect sense to me - if my belly skin isn't stretching well, which it definitely isn't, I can see how that could indicate that my skin down there wouldn't fare so well either!

I've been given some instructions on how to do it and that's all fine - I'm not going to go out and spend a fortune on something like an epi-no when I can do the same thing myself for free! I just don't know what kind of oil to use. It just says that I need to use a cold pressed vegetable oil when I'm doing the massage techniques.

I'd be interested to know what others have used or are using and what works for you? All I have atm is cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and I don't know if that counts as a cold pressed vegetable oil.

Thanks!

[allycat06]

almond oil, coconut oil and olive are all fine

[Yarrawin]

Awesome Thanks!

[Lily Dust]

Hi all,

I've been told by a midwife that since I have gotten quite a lot of stretch marks that I should start thinking doing some regular perenial massage as belly stretch marks and tearing are linked.

Tbh that makes perfect sense to me - if my belly skin isn't stretching well, which it definitely isn't, I can see how that could indicate that my skin down there wouldn't fare so well either!

Hun, I never got a single stretch mark on my belly or boobs (got one on my belly when DD was 6 months) and I had a 3rd degree tear. Some women are more prone to tearing then others~ unfortunately. I birthed upright and also used an epi-no religiously

As for the oil, olive oil is what we were recommended. Good luck with it

[LimeSlice]

You need to use Rose oil for an effective peri massage - the oil itself has properties which help soften and stretch the skin and prepare it for birth, itis not simply lubrication.
Get it from a health food store or anywhere what sells pure essential oils - rose oil is sold as a 3 or 5% dilution (because pure it is about $300 for 3 ml! lol)

[luna moth]

I use home brand olive oil. $5, and it's the same one we'll probably use on baby's bum when it's on the outside.

I have also heard that the stretch mark-tearing link is a myth.

[Yarrawin]

Thanks everyone!

Don't worry, I'm not going in thinking that if I do perenial massage because I have stretchies then I'm not going to tear but hey, might as well do what I can to help myself for when the big day arrives! Who knows, I could do the massage all the time and still tear terribly - it comes down to so much on the day!

[~*familyof3*~]

hey yarra i decided last week that i too were going to give this a go Im was also told rose oil was the best due to the properties in it Im going to get DH do do it for me tho hehe