Are any of you ladies doing this? I attempted for the first time last night and it hurt like hell! I'm assuming it's because my lady bits are so sore from all the pelvic pressure. But it scared the crap out of me b/c if I can't handle THAT, how in the world am I going to handle a baby coming through there?! Any words of encouragement?
I was planning on doing it, but asked my midwife about it, and she said don't bother. She said she doesn't notice a difference with tearing between people who do it and people who don't. She told me to just have sex if it made me feel better to do some stretching down there. (I'm sure other practitioners have other views) Sooo, I've opted out. It's not an easy place for me to reach, and I don't really want DH doing it. I kinda feel like...our parts are made to stretch when we are in labor, and some massage and support of the area during labor is what will be more helpful.
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
I've been doing it...I figure its worth a shot. My husband does it for me and each day it hurts less and less for me. We are also continuing with sex to help stretch me out as well :-)
I didn't do it before hand but my doctors do it during delivery.
I actually prefer that they do it because I had an epidural. I was still quite numb down there and I pushed more effectively with her hand there because I could feel where to push. There were a few times she sat on the end of my bed while I was pushing and she didn't have her hand there and I asked her to put it back so I knew where to push.... so they kept massaging.
I have had three kids and never had a tear or stitch with each one... I attribute it to the massage helping.
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Re: Perineum Massage?
I didn't do it before hand but my doctors do it during delivery.
I actually prefer that they do it because I had an epidural. I was still quite numb down there and I pushed more effectively with her hand there because I could feel where to push. There were a few times she sat on the end of my bed while I was pushing and she didn't have her hand there and I asked her to put it back so I knew where to push.... so they kept massaging.
I have had three kids and never had a tear or stitch with each one... I attribute it to the massage helping.