Perineal Massage? Red Raspberry Leaf Tea?

BBhopes15

Hi Ladies, I am a regular lurker here. Planning a natural birth using hypnobabies at a hospital. I was wondering if any of you who had a natural birth were given a perineal massage during crowning to help prevent tearing. My OB says he does it only when you get an EPI because its too harsh and I wont like the pain. I still asked him to try it and he agreed....I am wondering if you had this done and what your experience was. Also, I know you ladies have talked about RRL tea. But i don't remember much on the subject. Do you recommend it? If so, for what purpose? Thanks in advance for the responses.

alanap

I had written in my birth plan for the MW to do perineal massage or warm compress to help prevent tearing.  I know that she did do something to help prevent tearing and I didn't tear, but I didn't feel anything so I'm not sure what she did (my hunch is that it was just a warm compress).

My understanding is that RRL tea is to tone your uterus to prepare it for birth.  I think you can drink it at any time, but the suggestion is to really start chugging it down during the third semester.  I drink one glass per day.

wifeofadam

My MW with #1 and #2 did.  I didn't even notice she was doing it, but she was gently helping me stretch as I was crowning.  With #3 I was in the tub pushing, so it didn't happen.  I'm happy to say I have never torn with any of my babies, so either my MW knew what she was doing with the first two or my body is just built to push babies out.  lol

I drank RRL with #2 and #3.  I'm not sure that it made a difference in the births, but it can't hurt.  I just started drinking it again with this one (I also add nettles, rosehips and spearmint to my tea).  The RRl helps to tone your uterus and make it stronger for labor.  Some women swear that it makes their labor shorter and easier.

NoeliaV

Our OBs/MWs do the massage, warm compress and olive oil during crowning to help reduce tears. With all that's going on with your perineum at that time, what's a little more stretching at the hands of your OB, epi or no? :-)

aylafsu88

I was given a perineal massage during crowning.  My LO had a nuchal hand and the OB was trying to prevent me from tearing.  Honestly, I do not remember the massage hurting at all because I was focused on the pressure of my LO in the birth canal. I did end up tearing and my OB told me that the massage probably helped it not be as bad as it could have been (I ended up with a second degree tear).  Any discomfort from the massage will be the last thing on your mind when you are delivering, so I would recommend having it done.

I drank RRL tea starting at 37 weeks.  I had a quick labor and everything progressed smoothly.  They say RRL tea helps condition the uterus and tones it for effect contractions.  I dont know if the tea helped my labor but it tasted good, so I did not mind drinking it!

eatdrinkstretch

My MW recommends 2-3 glasses of RRL every day starting in the third tri. She also recommends the loose leaf tea, as the bags often aren't very concentrated. It's pretty good... just beware of the quantity if you buy it on amazon - I ended up with more tea than I'd be able to drink in 5 pregnancies.

Mrs E in Oregon

I don't think your Dr. is doing it right if it causes pain. Its something you can start doing a few weeks before you go into labor too. The stretching helps you get blood therefore oxygen to the area. Reducing tearing.

RLT also helps condition your uterus to conceive, it is an all around uterine tonic.

ashmin

I had that done and honestly, my toes still curl at the thought of it.  I don't think the nurse had realized that the epidural did not work for me.  So, I'm sure they are used to doing it aggressively on women who can't feel a thing.  There should be a gentler version for women who have had no pain meds!

katsue0xo

I would just make sure he doesn't massage to the point of irritation- that will increase your odds of tearing. Kegel exercises before birth, and bringing the baby slowly along with listening to your body's cues to push is what you really need. Don't listen to nurses who still do the 10 second push thing- your body will take over and it is an awesome feeling- use it.

Red Raspberry Leaf tea will help tone the uterus so it is ready for labor. It won't put you into labor, and a general recommendation is  3 cups a day in your 3rd trimester. I never did that much- just 1 in the morning and maybe one at night.

BBhopes15

Thank you ladies. I think we will see how he does with the massage and I will try the RRL tea!

mrsodonnell12

I find it seriously comical that your OB doesnt like to do it on women who go natural.... doesnt he realize that crowing is going to hurt worse? My MW did it for me when I was having DS. I never noticed she was doing it.

I will be starting RRLT at 32 weeks, 1 cup/day. At 36 weeks I will up that to 3 cups per day. I did this with DS and my labor was amazing... about 6 hours from start to finish. I dont know if it was the RRLT, but it surely didnt hurt anything!