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perineal massage and tearing question  

post #1 of 11
6/5/08 at 4:42pm
Thread Starter 
My midwife was just talking to me about perineal massage to help prevent tearing and I started wondering... I had bad tearing with my first birth, but it was only on my side and upper labia...so would perineal massage even do anything for me? I mean it seems like if I were to tear again it would probably be in the same places right? Or is that not the case. Should I be massaging those places to soften the scar tissue? Or will perineal massage still be beneficial overall? Anyone with insight or experience here?
post #2 of 11
6/5/08 at 4:59pm
I would definitely recommend it. If nothing else, it helps you learn to relax those muscles. I started perineal massage three weeks before my son was born and i still tore because he came out like superman with one arm up by his head. BUT it wasn't that big of tear, just three stitches. And i do think it really helped me get used to the feeling of something pushing on those muscles. But yeah in your case i'd definitely work on relaxing the area in which you have the scar from last time.
post #3 of 11
6/5/08 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SheepNumber97245 View Post
I would definitely recommend it. If nothing else, it helps you learn to relax those muscles. I started perineal massage three weeks before my son was born and i still tore because he came out like superman with one arm up by his head. BUT it wasn't that big of tear, just three stitches. And i do think it really helped me get used to the feeling of something pushing on those muscles. But yeah in your case i'd definitely work on relaxing the area in which you have the scar from last time.
Now I'm starting to worry about it! I chose not to get stiched up so I just have this big split in my labia...eek I hope it doesn't tear even more right there that will really suck!
post #4 of 11
6/5/08 at 7:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ooey View Post
Now I'm starting to worry about it! I chose not to get stiched up so I just have this big split in my labia...eek I hope it doesn't tear even more right there that will really suck!

Don't worry about it. lol You'll be fine! Did your midwife give you any literature on the correct way to do it? Or did she show you how to do it?
post #5 of 11
6/5/08 at 9:20pm
I don't think it will help. I did perineal massage with my first before I knew any better and I tore up and to the side into my labia. The best way to prevent tearing - http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/honoring.asp
post #6 of 11
6/5/08 at 10:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SheepNumber97245 View Post
Don't worry about it. lol You'll be fine! Did your midwife give you any literature on the correct way to do it? Or did she show you how to do it?
No she just talked to us about it, but I found a great tutorial online, it sounds pretty straightforward.
post #7 of 11
6/5/08 at 10:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by erin_brycesmom View Post
I don't think it will help. I did perineal massage with my first before I knew any better and I tore up and to the side into my labia. The best way to prevent tearing - http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/honoring.asp
A very good article- thank you! That makes me want to birth in hands and knees position even more.
post #8 of 11
6/6/08 at 12:11am
Yeah the position i think has a lot to do with it as well. If i had been on my knees, or maybe squatting i don't think i would have tore.
post #9 of 11
6/6/08 at 3:21am
I agree that positioning is very important. Sure, I labored drug-free in a birthing tub, snacking on crackers and juice but somehow I ended up delivering on my back : I had a severe tear that required lots of stitches and months of healing. I also remember arguing with my MEDwife about little things here and there. I have concluded that a tense atmosphere, pushing excessively and on my back (and possibly failure to do perineal massage) is what made me tear like that. You better believe next time it will all be different
post #10 of 11
6/6/08 at 9:59am
I don't believe in perineal massage myself. I think moms tear because they're coached, interfered with, "encouraged." IMO perineums would be far better off if everyone would keep hands off, except the mom, and she would do whatever felt right, not in a hospital bed but wherever felt right. Perineal massage (prenatal or during birth) is just one more unnatural thing thrown on the pile IMO.
post #11 of 11
6/8/08 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
Well that was weird! *TMI alert*

I gave it a go and found out something very interesting that I didn't know about myself Apparently I did have a perineal tear from my last birth...only it wasn't all the way through it just left this big hole...? Has anyone ever heard of something like that? There is a hole down there, as if I had a piercing, but it's big enough to fit my finger through. I'm a little embarrassed that it's been 2 years and I never noticed this! I asked DH if he had and he told me he did but he didn't want to make me feel self conscious by saying anything about it. I'm definitely not going to mess with it by stretching/massage. I'd say there is a pretty good chance of it ripping all the way through with this birth but since there is nothing I can do about it I'm not going to stress over it.
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