Which oils to use for perenial massage?

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!

almond oil, coconut oil and olive are all fine :)

Awesome :) Thanks!

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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!

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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 :shakehead:

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

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)

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.

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!

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

Hey everyone, I am on my second pregnancy due in about 2 and a half weeks, and my first born was a book c-section due to breech, as was this pregnancy up until a couple of weeks ago because they didnt think this bub would turn either. But it did!!! : ) So I am esperate to have a successful vaginal birth! Please excuse me if this sounds like a really dumb question, but what is a perenial massage??? lol and can anybody tell me how it is done?
I haven't had much ed on this kind of stuff as I didn't think I would be able to birth naturally, but now I can I'm am rushing to prepare as much as possible!!!

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Hey everyone, I am on my second pregnancy due in about 2 and a half weeks, and my first born was a book c-section due to breech, as was this pregnancy up until a couple of weeks ago because they didnt think this bub would turn either. But it did!!! : ) So I am esperate to have a successful vaginal birth! Please excuse me if this sounds like a really dumb question, but what is a perenial massage??? lol and can anybody tell me how it is done?
I haven't had much ed on this kind of stuff as I didn't think I would be able to birth naturally, but now I can I'm am rushing to prepare as much as possible!!!

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PM me your email address and I can send you a scan of the sheet I have if you like! :) It's quite a visual guide - a drawn picture trying to demonstrate how to do it with an explanation and some instructions. Basically what it is though is massaging the area between the vagina and anus to make it more stretchy.

Thanks so much! I will send you my email now. : )

Hello everyone,

I found perineal massage helpful and i have just started doing it again, this is my third baby, i just use vegie oil, but i love the sound of rose oil, must get some thanks!

I also think that it is essential to really know the anatomy of your own body and to know how it all works during labour to really help with any tearing.

They say that your mouth is connected to your vagina and if your mouth is held tight in any way then your vagina will be tight as well, which in turn will cause a tear as it will be unable to stretch.

It is important to really visualise your mouth and vagina as one during labour esspecially during the second stage when you are going to push bubs out. As that is when bub has his/her head pressing down against your perineum.

One of my books tells me that when you are in the squatting position, try it! it works!, your perineum is at its most relaxed but a supported squat is even better for second stage.

Also ask your midwife to warm up your perineum with a warm face washer to help more blood flow to the area and thus assist with it stretching.

Another thing is that is helpful is to NOT PUSH (ha! if you can!) when directed to as it is usuallyto prevent a tear. Even ask if your midwife can add counter pressure on bubs head so it does not just pop out, it needs to ease out!!

Anyway i hope i have not offended anyone by writing this, i just know that the whole tearing thing is important to me and i'd love to pass on any info that may help.

It is written with love!! xxxxx Good luck ladies!! I am at 35 wks and counting!!

Thanks for the info! I have to confess... I haven't bothered with the perenial massage at all after having started this thread. How in heck am I meant to reach?!?!?!?! I want to do it, DH doing it isn't an option (he's working two jobs, no time is a good time for it and it really isn't as simple as just making time... when he's home we're both exhausted and completely crashed out, half the time he can't even string a sentence together, poor guy!) but I just don't see how physically I can do it myself....