Saram,
You will find mixed responses to perineal massage. Personally, I believe the positions that you adopt in labour. The noises you make with your mouth and your lips and the use of water are possibly more beneficial than weeks of stretching that poor peri! I say possibly as I know some wome swear by perineal massage. Personally before my first baby I stretched my peri and oiled it and talked to it!!!! I did have a second degree tear. My others I ditched the whole idea and I haven't had a tear in childbirth since. Now that doesn't mean it doesn't work for some women. It doesn't mean much really except my experience was different. However, I have had a bit to do with this and haven't seen any antecdotal evidence that it is that beneficial. Maybe Kelly has some stats?

In some indigenous cultures peri massage/stretching is used and others it isn't. I often look to indigenous women for answers as their wisdom is great but even there there seems to be a divide.

I would say if you want to give it a burl keep stretching (use oil such as olive oil) but if it's becoming a bit tiresome than give it a break.