Perineal massage is thought to help prevent or minimize tearing of the perineum during childbirth. Perineum, the area between the vagina and anus needs to stretch significantly during delivery to allow the baby to pass. If it fails to stretch enough, it can tear or require episiotomy (surgical incision). There are no guarantees that perineal massage will prevent tearing or the need for episiotomy, however, some health care providers think that it is worth to try. Even if it will not prevent tearing, it can help you prepare on sensations of birth.
The massage of the perineal area has attracted a lot of interest among pregnant women, especially those in the last trimester of pregnancy because even the thought of tearing or cutting of the area between the vagina and anus gives most women the creeps. However, perineal massage is not particularly pleasant either. Here is how it should be done:
- Wash your hands carefully and clip your thumbnails cut short.
- Take a mirror and get yourself familiar with the perineal area.
- Apply an unscented vegetable oil such as olive oil on your thumbs and the outside of the perineum.
- Widen your legs and place your thumb inside your vagina about one inch (2 to 3 centimeters) deep.
- Apply pressure to the perineum with your thumb pressing downwards and to the sides.
- Continue applying pressure until you start to feel a stinging or tinging sensation.
- Stop pressing further when you begin to feel stinging or tingling sensation and hold it right there for about a minute or two.
- Massage back and forward the bottom area of the vagina about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Pull your thumb out slightly and push downwards to imitate the pressure of the baby’s head during birth.
- Wash your hands carefully and clip your thumbnails cut short.
- Take a mirror and get yourself familiar with the perineal area.
- Apply an unscented vegetable oil such as olive oil on your thumbs and the outside of the perineum.
- Widen your legs and place your thumb inside your vagina about one inch (2 to 3 centimeters) deep.
- Apply pressure to the perineum with your thumb pressing downwards and to the sides.
- Continue applying pressure until you start to feel a stinging or tinging sensation.
- Stop pressing further when you begin to feel stinging or tingling sensation and hold it right there for about a minute or two.
- Massage back and forward the bottom area of the vagina about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Pull your thumb out slightly and push downwards to imitate the pressure of the baby’s head during birth.
If you would like to try with massage of the perineum, you should start about 6 weeks before your due date and perform it every day about 10 minutes at a time until you go into labor. It is safe for both yourself and your baby, however, you are highly recommended to ask your doctor for approval and advice before you start massaging your perineal area. Never massage your perineum if having a vaginal infection such as herpes to avoid spreading the infection to other areas.
When massaging your perineal area, be sure to avoid the urinary opening to avoid urinary tract infection. Try to keep the oil outside your vaginal area because it can disrupt the balance between the microorganisms that normally live inside the vagina and cause vaginal yeast infection. And remember that the massage of the perineal area should not involve too much force and pressure.
Massage of the perineum can be performed by your partner if you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself but make sure that he knows how it should be done. If you are scared of perineal tearing or episiotomy, you should perhaps also consider alternative birthing positions such as squatting, kneeling or lying on the side which have been shown to reduce the risk of tearing as well.
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