[rainbowmoon]

I had a c/s with ds so am wondering about this. I've also heard about differing opinions on it.

did anyone do perineum massage before their previous births? do you think it really helped you not tear?

did you do it and tear anyway?

also what about compresses during labor? I like the thought of it during labor, so think I will give it a go..but at what point in labor do you start doing that? what's better to use almond or olive oil? I have also heard of mamas pouring the oil on the baby's head as it crown's and putting a cup of it or so in the inside of the vagina as well, has anyone done that?

 

[lovnbnhome]

: thanks for posting this!

I never did perineum massage but tore both times. I'll try that this time. I have heard that the MW or your coach could massage w/oil as the baby is crowning...never did that either. I don't know if I can help you with oils (heard of using both)

Tearing is a frightening thing before birth but you actually don't feel it happening. The key is to go slowly and take your time as the baby is coming out. Not to push (as I did) b/c if you do you hurry the process and tear fast and it could be pretty big.

 

[rainbowmoon]

just cross posting this to birth and beyond to see if I get more responses!

 

[WriterMama]

I've heard mixed reviews of perineal massage. I would say that if you haven't been doing the massage yourself throughout pregnancy, then just having your mw try to "massage" (stretch) your perineum during labor isn't going to do any good, and could possibly lead to tearing. I never did the massage, before or during labor.

However, I have used compresses. My mw poured olive oil on my perineum and kind of massaged it inside and out as my baby was coming out. Also, she held a hot, wet cloth to my perineum and encouraged me to push slowly to ease the baby's head out with little trauma. I didn't have any tears with that birth and I really credit those measures.

With my first birth, I didn't have compresses. I labored and delivered in water, so I thought I wouldn't need them. I did end up tearing though--a small 2nd degree--but of course, I couldn't feel it while it was happening. I did have a large baby and he was my first, so I think those factored in.

I would say that pushing gently and not lying on your back are the biggest factors in not tearing. Other than that, compresses are a great intervention, imo. But sometimes, your body just needs to give a little to get that baby out and tearing is okay.

 

[kel]

It also seems like it is just an individual thing - some women tear, some don't, regardless of doing perineal massage during pregnancy. I did it a few times during my first pregnancy, but it was such a pain. I hated doing it so I stopped. I never tore with any of my births - three times, all vaginal, 8 1/2 to 10 lb. babies. At least two of my midwives did do some compress and massage during the birth, but I couldn't see exactly what it was at the time!

 

[nancy926]

Hi rainbowmoon!

I did perineal massage while pregnant w/DD1, and still tore (she was 6 lb 12 oz). I don't remember anyone applying compresses, oil, etc while I was in labor, though.

We're not doing the massage this time, but I am planning on asking the mw to use compresses, etc. during labor. We'll see what happens!

 

[pamamidwife]

I posted in Birth & Beyond, but I think there are alot of women who never venture out of this forum.....

I wonder why we view tearing as something that is inherently bad and to be avoided. I mean, sure, nobody wants deep tears, and I would advise anyone but the mother to keep their fingers and hands off the vulva for the most comfortable and natural birth of the baby.

BUT, the small tears that our bodies do to help birth the baby without deeper tears or trauma seem to be beneficial in two ways: the first, of course, to "give"; the second, to remind the mom to stay relaxed and in her own environment postpartum (not running out to Target three days after birth, thereby insuring that she bonds with her baby and creates a beneficial milk supply for the baby).

I think that so much focus has been paid to "avoid" tears that many providers interfere in such a critical time period as pushing thinking that they can help women avoid tears. In my opinion, this is not true at all. In fact, if more providers would just keep their hands off, encourage women to push in any position but on their tailbone, and allow time for babies to be born, we'd see fewer deep tears.

Here's an article I wrote for midwives on the idea about preventing tears...