perineal massage for second time moms

Beth, I think listening to our bodies is the most important thing. So, I can't really answer whether or not you should do it. But, I can tell you that I plan on doing PM again for this pregnancy. I easily pushed out my 7# posterior compound presentation baby last time. I think staying relaxed and PM helped me. You never know if you're going to have a babe that isn't going to turn or a compound presentation.

That said, I really enjoyed PM. Here is how my husband and I made it relaxing, sexy and fun -- A couple times a week my husband would heat up warm olive oil while I relaxed on the floor or in bed on top of some thick old towels listening to relaxing music. He would do the massage in the kindest and gentlest of ways. When he was done with my perenium, he would use some of the extra warm oil to massage my legs or my belly or shoulders. It became our little hiatus from the stresses of the last weeks of pregnancy and a time to reconnect.

So, you can see-- planning on doing PM again for us, is a no brainer -- we liked it, we're good at it and we think it helped Jude's birth. but, I think your body/heart will steer you in the right direction.

Best wishes! I'm so looking forward to reading your great birth story in a few weeks! Peace!

I actually am not a believer in PM. THough I agree w/Sparklin's viewpoint--if you want to, do it. I didn't like it during birth in particular and felt it interfered w/my feelings of privacy, so therefore interfered w/my birth. I could go on and on but just wanted to add an opposing view. It doesn't appeal to me and actually goes against my sensibilities in birth. I feel like the body is meant to birth and the best way to prepare is NOT to do anything like this, KWIM?

Indigo -- ewww during birth. Oh, I would soooooooo not like that. (of course I only asked to be checked for dialation one time. I just not into poking around during labor) That does not sound like fun at all. Gosh, the midwife did that? Ok, see now, my husband doing PM is like a cool sexy thing for me. A midwife doing it would be like... a vaginal exam?!?! Ugh. That said our midwife did show my DH how to do it, but she never did it again after that. And, my husband had much more of a flair for it than she ever did!

hey, why didn't I get hot compresses?? That sounds soooo nice! The mw supported my perineum during pushing (which felt to me like she was inside, stretching me, for some reason--but I have the video and it's just support! ) Anyway, she supported with gauze that had special oil on it. OK, this time, I'm getting the hot towels, b/c I would just LOVE that!!! Actually, I hope to birth in the pool this time, so we'll see what happens.

And I'm interested in PM, but my dh isn't the best at massage and I think we'd probably just laugh the whole time! But I think we should give it a try sometime!!