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March 2016 Moms
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Perineum stretching

jenniferamcooperjenniferamcooper member
edited January 2016 in March 2016 Moms

Alright so this might be out there for some people but perineum stretching was reccomended as a way to prep for baby in the prenatal classes I took with our first. We didn't bother and I ended up with an emergency section before labour so... it worked out.

I'll be trying for a vbac with this baby and have this idea in my head "uhh what if I tear really bad after having none of that the first time"... sooo ladies. Anyone doing perineum stretching. If so when did you start.. uhh is hubby helping you? Mine laughed at the class and said he's game but holy awkward, I mean we've been together over a decade it's nothing he hasn't seen before but it's just so clinical.
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Re: Perineum stretching

  • CecilB93CecilB93 member
    Just got info about this at my appointment yesterday. My midwife suggested starting around 6 weeks before my due date. Probably not gonna have DH help, that's just weird to me...but at the same time not sure how I'm going to reach down there comfortably myself. We'll see. FTM here so I don't have anything to offer as far as previous experience goes.
    DS1 born 2/28/16
    DS2 due 12/12/18

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  • yodapupyodapup member
    I never did it with DD and I didn't tear. Most likely not doing this time either.
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  • kfarr26kfarr26 member
    edited January 2016
    Really? This is a thing? I know I can google, but how exactly is this done? I'm fascinated in a weird way.

    And wtf on all the craziness nobody tells you about before you get pregnant?! I've heard a thousand terrible labor/delivery stories which are not at all helpful, but these little nuggets? Nada!
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  • smount2011smount2011 member
    skruhmin said:
    Why does fisting come to mind?  Didn't with either boy even though both were pushed out fairly quickly.  DS1 I tore pretty bad but DS2 no tearing.  That's one of those I'm kind of like "meh" with.


    Hahaha that's all I could think about too!  Dirty minds....

    I tore for DD and she was only 3 pounds.  But I have yet to hear of this from my doc. 

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  • jenniferamcooperjenniferamcooper member
    edited January 2016
    Hahahaha omg this isn't fisting! I mean if that's you're thing I'm not one to judge (as long as you don't tell me to my face!) but it's more of a way to keep the perineum muscles supple, not stretching out all your whole who-ha.

    There's a specific method, we were given an info sheet, which I'm sure we recycled. We'll have to google it we decide to do it again lol

    Just didn't know if anyone did this and if it worked... did your hubby help you and if he did, how effin awkward was it.
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  • alligreer88alligreer88 member
    Even if this was A proven method I probably couldn't do it. I've read that stimulating the area, or whatever you want to call it, could actually work against you by building up the tissues or making it more dense or something, basically working to tighten the area, the opposite of what u want. I'm sure there's tons of reading available on the topic but I don't think I'm even going to look into it anymore. Two sides to everything, I guess do what feels right to you... Haha, that makes me laugh.
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  • lindscnn1lindscnn1 member
    My husband and doctor did the perineum massage but only once I was in labor. It doesn't take long for the skin there to stretch. I personally wouldn't start weeks before, I would feel like a loosy goosy. I didn't need an episiotomy or stitches with my last 2 so I'd say just do it when labor gets going.
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  • LuckyCookie80LuckyCookie80 member
    FTM. I actually JUST read about perineum massaging on TheBump (https://www.thebump.com/a/tearing-during-delivery).   Someone recommended evening primrose oil to me so I've been checking that out online.  I will probably try the massaging, myself, starting a couple weeks before my due date....doesn't hurt to try if it might help reduce chances or severity of tearing.  I don't think I'm going to be open to a massage in the delivery room..... I'm doing my kegles too!!

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  • eileenmcgooeileenmcgoo member
    My doc says it's pointless to start ahead of time. She's done it for me during labor, and it seemed to help.
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  • kitteh81kitteh81 member
    I never did it with my 2 previous pregnancies and I never tore. I think my first midwife might have done it during the pushing stage, using some sort of oil. Second baby was over 9 lbs with a big ol head, but I think the waterbirth helped things stay stretchy and I didn't tear again.
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  • jenniferamcooperjenniferamcooper member
    Good to know that some professionals just wait until labour! We might just play it by ear then. I figure between my OB and my GP delivering my LO (if I'm lucky enough to have a vbac) then they've got me covered.
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  • nicolepineapplenicolepineapple member
    edited January 2016
    Hi, visiting from April 2016... I actually discussed this with my doula yesterday.  She said the benefit is that you get familiar with the 'sensation' that might happen on delivery day.  Practicing can actually burn quite a bit.  She didn't advise it since there's no medical evidence that suggests it is helpful on birth day.  Just wanted to pass along.
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