Tearing and episiotomy jargon

[CinderToriella]

has anyone tried the massage ? i tried but it makes me feel really uncomfrtable as i am already really sore and swollen inside it hurt a lot

im worried that as i am not going to do the massage that u will tear -although i would rather tear then be cut

[Cricket]

Shell1 - if you are getting sore and swollen, then I'd maybe suggest that you stop. Swollen tissue can't stretch very well. I've heard of women using a bit of massage oil in labour as the head descends to add a bit of lubrication if they want, or just stick with the warm compresses/warm water. If the perineum is supported and the head emerges in a controlled way (ie. BREATHE it out if you can), that will be your best help.
All the best!

[Nelle]

Shell Cricket is right, if you're hurting yourself then maybe give it a rest. You might be able to write in your birth intentions or get your support partner to tell the midwives that you'd like your perineum supported during pushing, or that you'd like warm compresses, or to be coached to breathe through pushing.

I tore, but I always realised that needing to push meant that labour was almost over and I wanted it to be over as fast as I could! Ah well.

[Linzy]

Um how do you end up with a 'graze'? Aren't babies slimey and covered in vernix? Just wondering what causes the grazes, is it the Ob's hands, instruments?

[*star*]

Thanks for this information - very interesting.

Are you more likely to tear, if during normal sex you get a tiny little tear/bleeding? Sorry if TMI.

Or is this completely unrelated as you're so much more stretchy down there during labour?

[CinderToriella]

This is a great thread we need to be informed about these things its good to know what could happen ..

yeah i tried again but i cant way to sore , so i will def get the midwife to help me by putting pressure or a compress when the time comes, and i guess like u said Nelle, im worried now about tearing but when it comes to the point of almost delivery my baby im sure i wont care about it and ill just be like get this baby out of me lol

[Nelle]

I think the graze is from the stretching?

[Linzy]

Ahhh maybe thats it...

I guess the next time we ladies see our ob's in the coming week or so it'll be 'whats a graze' lol I'm so asking mine tomorrow...even though am having a c section this time.

[Inertia]

For those who do, peeing with hands on the floor and butt in the air helps (and you also have the benfit of looking super classy while peeing)

Been there, done that, was offered the TShirt but it was way too classy for me!

On a related note, can anyone extol the virtues of Perineum massage coming up to labour? I guess the theory is sound as far as preparing the area, but considering the vagina etc are so stretchy in the first place, wouldn't any massage just bounce back IYKWIM? Has anyone done it and noticed a benefit, or is it a bit of a myth?

Never massaged and never tore or snipped. Think its just the luck of the draw, so to speak.

Um how do you end up with a 'graze'?

A graze is just a very very very very very very very teeny tiny insignificant tearing of the skin. Its only a slight crack on the top rather than a full on tear.