Perineal massage

I ordered the expert midwife peri prep oil, however I’m finding perineal massage so uncomfortable ☹️ even got my partner to try do it to see if I could cope with that better but I think I’m just too in my head about it! Been aiming for a few minutes about 3-4 times a week so hopefully I get more relaxed about it soon x

I haven’t started yet but I used sweet almond oil last time. Will probably start next week at 36 weeks. I did eat dates for the last few weeks and I was 1cm dilated when I had a sweep at 39 weeks, so I think there’s some truth in them helping to soften the cervix. I was so sick of dates by the end though 😂

I have the mamma mio oil and am also finding it super uncomfortable! Started at 34 weeks, will not be stomaching dates but I have some raspberry leaf tea for start at week 35/36

You can use water based lubricant, I started quite late in last pregnancy but have started now at 35 weeks. It gets sore at first but it does ease

Bought My Expert Midwife, got my partner to do it and it was sooo uncomfortable even though I could tell he was being as gentle as possible. Reluctant to try again but that tiny bottle cost me £15 so I’m going to persevere 😅

I never did it with my last 3 pregnancies and probably won't with this one, hearing how uncomfortable it sounds confirms that 🤣 will stick with Raspberry leaf tea, eating pineapple, bouncing on my gym ball and good old sex 😂

@Emma I really didn’t find it that bad, I think maybe everyone needs to be a bit more gentle! Seems worth it to me to avoid tearing 😁

@Lauren how did you find consuming dates? I've never really been a fan but anything to soften that cervix 😅😁

@Emma I like dates but I was sick of them after several weeks of eating them 🤣 my SIL stuffed them with peanut butter and drizzled them with chocolate and she said they tasted like snickers so I’m gonna try that this time, maybe pop them in smoothies etc as well rather than eating just straight up dates.