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February 2012 Moms
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perineal massage?

sparks2987sparks2987 member
in February 2012 Moms

This is the email I received this morning on how to prepare for birth. Are you ladies doing this or any other methods to prevent tearing?

Some practitioners recommend massaging the perineum (the area between your vulva and your anus) to help you avoid having an episiotomy or tearing during childbirth. Not everyone is comfortable doing this but if you'd like to give it a try, now's the time to start. Here's one method:

? Wash your hands and then sit in a warm, comfortable area, spreading your legs apart in a semi-reclined position. Put vitamin E oil (from vitamin E capsules) or pure vegetable oil on your fingers and thumbs and around your perineum.

? Place your thumbs about 1 to 1 1/2 inches (up to or just past your first knuckle) inside your vagina. Press down toward your rectum and then out toward the sides. Gently and firmly continue stretching until you feel a slight burn or tingling. Hold this stretch for about 2 minutes ? until the tingling starts to subside.

? Slowly and gently massage the lower part of the vaginal canal back and forth, hooking your thumbs onto the sides of the vaginal canal and gently pulling these tissues forward, as your baby's head will do during delivery. Keep this up for 3 to 4 minutes.

? Be gentle, as a vigorous touch could cause bruising or swelling in these sensitive tissues. During the massage avoid pressure on the urethra (urinary opening). This can cause irritation or infection

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Re: perineal massage?

  • emmasue18emmasue18 member
    I didn't believe in this until I was in labor. My OB swears by it and actually did it for about 15 minutes before I had DS. I only pushed for 10 minutes and had two 1st degree tears, no stitches. Maybe it does work?
    Our angel is in heaven 12/12/08
    BFP 2/25/09
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    1st Ultrasound 3/18 FHR=103
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  • AndieMAndieM member

    I was just thinking about this, this morning on my way into work, as I had read that we should start at 35 weeks-ish if we're going to go it. 

    Thanks for the reminder!

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  • emmasue18emmasue18 member
    imageAndieM:

    I was just thinking about this, this morning on my way into work, as I had read that we should start at 35 weeks-ish if we're going to go it. 

    Thanks for the reminder!

    Do you know how often? I may give this a go. Why not?

    Our angel is in heaven 12/12/08
    BFP 2/25/09
    HCG 3/6=518 3/8=1230
    1st Ultrasound 3/18 FHR=103
    2nd U/S 3/20 FHR=118!!
    3rd U/S 4/1 FHR=169 :)
    BIG U/S 5/22=IT'S A BOY! FHR-148
    DS Born October 30, 2009
    BFP 5/27/11 Stick baby, stick!
    HCG 5/31=140 P=9 HCG 6/2=292 P=11
    1ST Ultrasound 6/15 FHR=109!!
    U/S 8/18=IT'S A BOY! FHR-141 :)
    DS Born January 20, 2012
    BFP 5/27/13 EDD 2-5-14
    U/S 8/17 FRH-141 It's a boy!!


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  • avalovesartavalovesart member
    MY MW recommended I do this in preparation for delivery. She said do it for 2 minutes each night. DH was at the appointment too, she she showed both of us how to do it so he can help, because honestly it's not so easy for me to reach down there as it used to be!
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  • Shmogan09Shmogan09 member
    We were told that doing it too much before delivery can irritate the skin and make it inflamed which can actually cause more tearing.  I requested that my MW do it with mineral oil and hot towels as I was pushing.  My DS came out with is fist next to his head and I still only had a very small first degree tear.
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  • btartaroindbtartaroind member
    I read about this in my pregnancy book. I am going to do it a couple times a week in the shower from here on out. It is really uncomfortable, but I'm sure a tear would be a lot worse!

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  • soralettesoralette member

    We're definitely planning on starting to do this every night soon; hopefully tonight, but we'll see. DH is going to help; there's no way I can reach well enough!

    Frankly, though, rather than Vit E or oil, we're just going to use lube. :P

    ---
    ♥ Married since June 2009 ♥
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  • FirstSchatzFirstSchatz
    I decided to give it a go, and I must say that I actually found it quite...  arousing!  Hubby had to help me out, though, since like a previous post, I can't really reach down there very well to do it myself!  He wasn't as comfortable with it as I was, but he is willing to help me out a few times a week.  I did notice that the second time around it felt easier - but still just as good!  It's a very enjoyable 2-3 minutes for me, and hubby gets a "thank you" afterwards, so we all win!
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  • sparks2987sparks2987 member

    imageFirstSchatz:
    I decided to give it a go, and I must say that I actually found it quite...  arousing!  Hubby had to help me out, though, since like a previous post, I can't really reach down there very well to do it myself!  He wasn't as comfortable with it as I was, but he is willing to help me out a few times a week.  I did notice that the second time around it felt easier - but still just as good!  It's a very enjoyable 2-3 minutes for me, and hubby gets a "thank you" afterwards, so we all win!

    well if it can prevent tearing and possibly be arousing, I might give it a go! My only concern is infection. might try it after my relaxing bath later.

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  • btartaroindbtartaroind member

    imageFirstSchatz:
    I decided to give it a go, and I must say that I actually found it quite...  arousing!  Hubby had to help me out, though, since like a previous post, I can't really reach down there very well to do it myself!  He wasn't as comfortable with it as I was, but he is willing to help me out a few times a week.  I did notice that the second time around it felt easier - but still just as good!  It's a very enjoyable 2-3 minutes for me, and hubby gets a "thank you" afterwards, so we all win!

    That's crazy to me because it was NOT enjoyable at all for me! It stings and is not comfortable, but lucky you, tell DH to keep doing what he's doing LOL.

    <a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lb2f.lilypie.com/Bbotm4.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Second Birthday tickers" /></a>

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    <a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lb1f.lilypie.com/dt6Dm4.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie First Birthday tickers" /></a>

     

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  • kyethrakyethra member
    I read about this in my Mayo book recently.  I figure it won't hurt to try it and if it is really uncomfortable, I don't have to do it. 
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  • soralettesoralette member

    imagesparks2987:

    imageFirstSchatz:
    I decided to give it a go, and I must say that I actually found it quite...  arousing!  Hubby had to help me out, though, since like a previous post, I can't really reach down there very well to do it myself!  He wasn't as comfortable with it as I was, but he is willing to help me out a few times a week.  I did notice that the second time around it felt easier - but still just as good!  It's a very enjoyable 2-3 minutes for me, and hubby gets a "thank you" afterwards, so we all win!

    well if it can prevent tearing and possibly be arousing, I might give it a go! My only concern is infection. might try it after my relaxing bath later.


     

    As long as you (and/or DH) are washing your hands with soap and warm water ahead of time (and you don't try it after your water breaks!), you should be fine... :)

    I have to give a side-eye at the source's suggestion of vegetable oil, though; seems like that'd be a breeding ground for bacteria! Regular ol' lube is meant to go down there and should be fine, though. :)

    ---
    ♥ Married since June 2009 ♥
    TW: Living children & Losses:
    Mom of sons "Alpha" (Feb 2012) & "Beta" (May 2016)
    Pregnant after 4 losses via IVF/FET with daughter "Gamma" (EDD Oct 2, 2019)
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
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