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3 years ago

Perineal Massage

My midwife recommended I start perineal massage to help prevent tearing (I’m 36 weeks). This is something I was planning on doing anyway, so the other night I thought right, let’s give this a go! Sorry for the tmi, but absolutely impossible to get two thumbs in as per the diagram, around my massive bump. How on earth is anyone able to do this!? 😅 Tried the ol’ sitting on the loo trick, but there’s just no way. Any tips or tricks?

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3 years ago

Use a mirror?

1 reply

3 years ago

I did, but that’s not the issue, it’s the fact I can’t reach both arms around my bump and in :-/

3 years ago

You can try the Aniball instead? Worked a treat, I didn’t tear with my 8lb 1oz bubba

3 replies

3 years ago

@Katelyn do you have a link to this? Its coming up as toys on google 😅

3 years ago

This looks like a great idea. Of course, they don't deliver to the USA. Have to see what I can track down...hrrrrm...

3 years ago

I do it in the bath with one thumb, as you say, too tricky with bump in the way to do two at once 😂

1 reply

3 years ago

Genius! 🤣

3 years ago

Also important: if your partner is just massaging, it's not being done correctly. If this is the technique used in the studies, no wonder it has such an abysmal success rate. Per my midwives, it really should be thought of as perineal stretching, where your partner increases the stretch each day--which is why you start the process a few weeks out from baby's birth. Approached it that way; delivered a 9 lb 14 oz baby with no tearing.

3 years ago

What oil do you use to do this? Sure I heard you should massage with coconut oil.

2 replies

3 years ago

Weleda doan oil too https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323959581814

3 years ago

I used olive oil, as it's what my midwives recommended. Never even knew what coconut oil was back then. Later was introduced when the kids had skin issues. If using coconut oil, I suspect you'll have to reapply additional amounts during the massage because of how coconut oil can be absorbed by skin, but I do think it'd help ya get the job done and is certainly one of the better choices to put on/in one's lady bits.

3 years ago

Haha when the midwife mentioned this to me I was like.. erm really! There is no flipping way that’s happening! Hubby wouldn’t do it and it seems impossible to do it yourself 🤦🏼‍♀️ It amazes me how health advice has come on, especially since the war when mums just gave birth with no help whatsoever!

1 reply

3 years ago

Midwives, and a more holistic body of knowledge, have been around for millennia. PS - if you're just 'massaging' and not *stretching* you're doing it wrong and it won't help at all.

3 years ago

It honestly only helps a small percentage. You have a greater chance of tearing anyway, than you do of a perineal massage actually preventing tearing.

3 years ago

I had my fiancé do it, I did it everyday and I still ended up tearing.

3 years ago

The odds are 1 in 15 women who does the massage doesn’t end up tearing 🤷‍♀️ that’s abysmal

3 years ago

I used the KR curve and went from the back lol it worked! I didn’t tear at all and my babies head measured 13 inches

1 reply

3 years ago

Thanks for sharing this! Looks like KR Curve is available in the USA 🙂

3 years ago

My husband did this for me as well. But I still ended up with a third degree tear for a 7lb baby

3 years ago

Baths whilst birthing helped me a lot. Hopeful thinking!

3 years ago

Your partner needs to do it. Didn't tear after doing perineal massage; son was 9 lbs 14 oz.

2 replies

3 years ago

It was only in the weeks leading up to birth, just a few minutes each night, if that long (this was 15+ years ago, memory fades). My midwife explained to me that the idea is each session gets a little wider than the last, just do it until you feel burning, then stop. The next day you should stretch a bit more. So it's small increases leading up to birth, so that the skin and muscles stretch easily during birth. It's less massage and more stretching, but guess the latter is too graphic a name!