Perineal massage

Jesc

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I'm 34 weeks pregnant with my first and was wondering if this actually works? Did it help you not tear or not tear as bad? Or is it just a waste of time?
 
I'm supposed to be doing it as part of hypno birthing but I've only done it once for about a minute! I've not had a baby yet so no idea if I'll regret not doing it but at least my response will bump your post! :o)
 
i was supposed to start doing it yesterday...im so reluctant!! Im so small down there so im going to have to buck my ideas up and start doing it! I can imagine it only helping! I have long nails so i dont think its a good idea to do it to myself :/ owch.
 
i was supposed to start doing it yesterday...im so reluctant!! Im so small down there so im going to have to buck my ideas up and start doing it! I can imagine it only helping! I have long nails so i dont think its a good idea to do it to myself :/ owch.

I now have short thumbnails! Lol!
 
I did it a bit with my first and she was a smallish baby with a small head circumference so I DO believe she could have come out without tearing me. However she started as she meant to continue and was an awkward independent nosy thing who decided that she had to be centre of attention and that she wasn't ready to see the world quite yet so clung onto the sides! I needed to be cut which was a pain in the backside (quite literally) as she could have so easily not damaged me at all on the way out!!
 
I did a little perineal massage with DS1 but probably not as much as they say you should and I only had a very small tear which healed with no problems.

With DS2 I got my hubby to do the perineal massage for me and did a lot more of it and had no tears what so ever....so I would recommend doing it to anyone as it must help. With DS2 I also took and inserted vaginally EPO capsules which I think really helped as it softens everything up which can only help. :thumbup:

I will be doing the same again this time round! :haha:
 
Thank you everyone for your replies . I think I'm going to start doing it and if I can't I'll get my OH too. Really hope it works! Haha
 
I think I would have a hard time doing it and not having it lead to sex... but that may just be another benefit!

What are EPO capsules??
 
I've started doing it every night after a bath. It really isn't pleasant, I find it borders on painful actually. Even though I haven't found I'm any stretchier yet, I am more relaxed when I do it and can practice my breathing techniques. I figure that if i can at least maintain my relaxation whilst feeling that stretch is a good thing and good practice for labour!
X
 
I think I would have a hard time doing it and not having it lead to sex... but that may just be another benefit!

What are EPO capsules??

EPO capsules are Evening Primrose Oil and I took them orally from around 34/35 weeks and then from 36ish weeks I inserted 1/2 capsules at night before bed as it helps to soften the cervix but also just great for softening the whole area up hence why its supposed to reduce tearing (I had none when I used it) :thumbup:

Hope that helps :winkwink:
 
I have done perineal massage and used EPO with two previous pregnancies and found it worked for me. I did not tear with either. I did have a small split but it was because baby decided to elbow me in the urethra after she came out....ooouuuccchhh! I also have posterior babies which is not the easiest to push out and had a nice stretchy passage for them to go through without a scratch.
 
I did it with my first, he was 8lb8 born with a large head and I only had a graze. It's hard to say if it helped since he was my first so nothing to compare to. Second babies its pretty pointless imo so I didn't bother with dd, she was heavier than ds by 2oz but had a much smaller head and overall appearance. Time will tell with this one but I suspect I'm pretty supple down there lol
 
I was wondering the same, when did you ladies start taking the EPO?
 
I was wondering the same, when did you ladies start taking the EPO?

I started taking it orally from 34ish weeks and then started inserting it at around 36ish weeks, think I took 1 x 1000mg capsule 3 times a day and then inserted 1 or 2 a night (use a pad in your knickers as it can be a bit messy):haha:
 
Just a lil question about epo do you insert the tablet that you take or are they different types? X
 
Just a lil question about epo do you insert the tablet that you take or are they different types? X

They are generally capsules with an outer that dissolves and the oil inside I got mine from a health food shop and I used the same for taking orally and inserting! :thumbup:
 
This is my first and I plan on doing it religiously. Actually, my husband will be doing it. He's pretty eager to help wherever he can :) He's even reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth lol.
 
I did it with my first and had a very minor tear that didn't need stitching and healed very easily. I'll do it again this time but bot sure if it helped or I'm just stretchy! I didn't have stretch marks with my first so maybe it's about how elastic your skin is? I know a girl whos a yoga teacher. She did it religiously and still tore badly.

Good luck x
 
Our NCT teacher recommended it and said there is research backing it up. I think like a pp said part of the benefit is it helps you learn to relax with the sensation which helps the muscles in turn relax and open.
 

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