Perineal massage... worth bothering?

Badswan · Jan 14th, 2013, 09:29 AM

My hypnobirth literature says I should be doing perineal massage... tbh I really can't be bothered!

I've already got no time (22 month old and work full time) and need to fit in listening to my hypno birth CD, doing prenatal yoga and doing excercises (rebozo sifting etc) to try and ensure best baby positioning (as advised by my IM as my previous was an emergency c-section due to position - trying for an HBAC this time).

It's just yet another thing to add to my schedule - does anyone think this is really super important or maybe you did it religiously and still tore?

Feronia · Jan 14th, 2013, 10:35 AM

I don't think it's worth too much bother. I tried it a few times around 34 weeks (by no means religiously) and I didn't tear or even scrape. I definitely didn't do it enough or for the length of time suggested in the hypnobirthing book! I think position helped more than anything -- I had a water birth and delivered her in a crouching position.

lynnikins · Jan 14th, 2013, 16:57 PM

i did it with all mine and tore every time, i didnt get stiched after the last one so theres not much there to massage really this time which im kinda thankful about it seems my babies just have large heads

lemongrass · Jan 14th, 2013, 18:10 PM

I've been doing it (well, my husband) every night before bed for the last week and a half. I've noticed a big difference in how hard my husband can stretch and we've only been doing it for 5-10 mins a night. If anything though I've really gotten used to the sensation. The first few times I was really tense because it was a new and uncomfortable feeling but now it doesn't bother me and for that I'm glad I'm doing it. Obviously as a FTM I can't comment on whether I will tear or not but I do think being less tense when I feel that sensation will help me.

NaturalMomma · Jan 14th, 2013, 22:23 PM

I did it with ds2 and had no tearing (tore with ds1). But I doubt I'll do it again this time, mainly because I'll likely forget.

LockandKey · Jan 20th, 2013, 21:24 PM

dang woman, I wish I was half the activist you are

I'm barely able to keep up with my prenatal yoga and weekly jogs, but like you, I am just seriously busy most of the time. I was actually considering doing perineal massage as I am a very petite woman who's body likes to grow large babies for someone my size. I'm 5'2 and 120 pre pregnancy weight, and DD was born at 8lbs 6oz and 23 inches long. I had a very awful birth with DD that resulted in a 2nd degree episiotomy and forceps birth, something I'd like to avoid this time around, so I will be doing anything to try and avoid that. My cousin recommended using coconut oil. I just hope I find the time.

BTW, can I ask where you got your hypobirthing CD from? As that is something else I was interested in as well

EmmaRea · Jan 21st, 2013, 00:32 AM

We started it last night. I am NOT enjoying it so far, but am going to keep doing it. They say it increases the chance of keeping the perineum intact by about 10% (15% of women naturally give birth with an intact perineum without doing perineal massage, as opposed to 25% who give birth with an intact perineum after perineal massage.) To me, that 10% better chance is worth it.

Doing the (poorly named!) perineal massage gives me BHxs. Does anybody else get that? Or am I doing it wrong??

Badswan · Jan 21st, 2013, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockandKey

dang woman, I wish I was half the activist you are

BTW, can I ask where you got your hypobirthing CD from? As that is something else I was interested in as well

Ha ha - I hardly get ANYTHING done at all!!!! At the moment I'm not sleeping well so I just creep off to bed really early every night!!!

I got my HypnoBirth CD from the lady who I took the Hypno Birth course with last time - I did "Hypno Birth - The Mongan Method" and highly recommend it. This time the instructor just sent me a special VBAC CD as a favour.

ljo1984 · Jan 23rd, 2013, 02:38 AM

I've done it both times, had episiotomy first time for forceps

but tore second time after doing it too! I'll probably still do it again in a hope for a mirical but I'm thinking it'll do nothing!! I love your avatar pic by the way, cute. X

MrsAmk · Jan 24th, 2013, 14:30 PM

Dare I ask HOW you do it?

Jan 14th, 2013, 09:29 AM	#1
Badswan Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 107	Perineal massage... worth bothering? My hypnobirth literature says I should be doing perineal massage... tbh I really can't be bothered! I've already got no time (22 month old and work full time) and need to fit in listening to my hypno birth CD, doing prenatal yoga and doing excercises (rebozo sifting etc) to try and ensure best baby positioning (as advised by my IM as my previous was an emergency c-section due to position - trying for an HBAC this time). It's just yet another thing to add to my schedule - does anyone think this is really super important or maybe you did it religiously and still tore?

Status: Offline

Jan 14th, 2013, 10:35 AM	#2
Feronia Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 949	I don't think it's worth too much bother. I tried it a few times around 34 weeks (by no means religiously) and I didn't tear or even scrape. I definitely didn't do it enough or for the length of time suggested in the hypnobirthing book! I think position helped more than anything -- I had a water birth and delivered her in a crouching position.

Status: Online

Jan 14th, 2013, 16:57 PM	#3
lynnikins Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Midlands Posts: 15,432	i did it with all mine and tore every time, i didnt get stiched after the last one so theres not much there to massage really this time which im kinda thankful about it seems my babies just have large heads

Status: Offline

Jan 14th, 2013, 18:10 PM	#4
lemongrass Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,629	I've been doing it (well, my husband) every night before bed for the last week and a half. I've noticed a big difference in how hard my husband can stretch and we've only been doing it for 5-10 mins a night. If anything though I've really gotten used to the sensation. The first few times I was really tense because it was a new and uncomfortable feeling but now it doesn't bother me and for that I'm glad I'm doing it. Obviously as a FTM I can't comment on whether I will tear or not but I do think being less tense when I feel that sensation will help me.

Status: Online

Jan 14th, 2013, 22:23 PM	#5
NaturalMomma Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,592	I did it with ds2 and had no tearing (tore with ds1). But I doubt I'll do it again this time, mainly because I'll likely forget.

Status: Offline

Jan 20th, 2013, 21:24 PM	#6
LockandKey Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2011 Location: West Virginia Posts: 3,731	dang woman, I wish I was half the activist you are I'm barely able to keep up with my prenatal yoga and weekly jogs, but like you, I am just seriously busy most of the time. I was actually considering doing perineal massage as I am a very petite woman who's body likes to grow large babies for someone my size. I'm 5'2 and 120 pre pregnancy weight, and DD was born at 8lbs 6oz and 23 inches long. I had a very awful birth with DD that resulted in a 2nd degree episiotomy and forceps birth, something I'd like to avoid this time around, so I will be doing anything to try and avoid that. My cousin recommended using coconut oil. I just hope I find the time. BTW, can I ask where you got your hypobirthing CD from? As that is something else I was interested in as well

Status: Online

Jan 21st, 2013, 00:32 AM	#7
EmmaRea Other Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 541	We started it last night. I am NOT enjoying it so far, but am going to keep doing it. They say it increases the chance of keeping the perineum intact by about 10% (15% of women naturally give birth with an intact perineum without doing perineal massage, as opposed to 25% who give birth with an intact perineum after perineal massage.) To me, that 10% better chance is worth it. Doing the (poorly named!) perineal massage gives me BHxs. Does anybody else get that? Or am I doing it wrong??

Status: Offline

Jan 23rd, 2013, 02:38 AM	#9
ljo1984 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: leeds Posts: 5,986	I've done it both times, had episiotomy first time for forceps but tore second time after doing it too! I'll probably still do it again in a hope for a mirical but I'm thinking it'll do nothing!! I love your avatar pic by the way, cute. X

Status: Offline

Jan 24th, 2013, 14:30 PM	#10
MrsAmk Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 275	Dare I ask HOW you do it?

Status: Offline

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