Perineal Massage - Sensitive topic
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Topic: Perineal Massage - Sensitive topic
Posted By: Deez
Subject: Perineal Massage - Sensitive topic
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 8:38am
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Last night at our antenatal class we went over a few massage techniques one of them being perineal massage. For those who don't know what this is it's a gental massage of the perineum (skin between the anus and vagina) during the last few weeks of pregnancy. It reduces the incidence of episiotomy and perineal tears during childbirth.
Anyway the MW taking the class really recommends this and my question is has anyone tried it and did it really help????? Sorry if you find this offensive or to much of a personal question to be asking. -------------  
Lycan and Peyton = Moon and back!! |
Replies:
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 8:43am
I would be interested to try anything to avoid getting cut or tearing  . I've managed to convince myself that that would be the worst bit of childbirth (naive I know! lol)------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: Kelpa
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 8:46am
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Not offensive!!
I remember my midwife talking about it the first time around. But I didnt actually do anything about it. I dreaded having to be cut down there more then the birth itself!!! Fortunately I didnt have to. I am sure it would help in some ways by making the skin more supple and better able to stretch??? I suppose if you look at this way...Anything thats is going help and ease the birth and after care must surely be something to try? -------------  
 
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Posted By: Kelpa
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 8:47am
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Toni!!
Funny how thats what we talk ourselves into!! -------------
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Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 8:55am
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*blushes*
Yep Kelpa, we downloaded (oops I mean "borrowed"  ) a birthing vid off the net and we saw the cut , it was the most horrific thing I've ever seen! I now have it in my birth plan that I want a local before being cut and certainly not left to tear! That's probably the only thing in my plan that I have insisted on.------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: robyn
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 9:09am
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I never worried about being cut or tearing and thanks to the epidural I didnt even notice but I had very minor tearing. I personally would feel more uncomfortable with having someone massage me there than I did with the tearing! I wouldnt even consider it but thats just me ------------- KOBE born 19 March 2004 http://www.TickerFactory.com/"> 
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 9:14am
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I didn't know about that sort of thing before having Kiya, and I didn't tear there but I did have surface tears (labia tissue rather than muscle tissue).
Nat and I tried it a few times a week for the three or four weeks before Josiah was born... I don't know if it specifically helped, but I did not tear at all... and only had one small graze! ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: deharn
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 9:30am
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I had heard about it but didn't ever try the massaging and have not torn with either babies and one of them was a 9lb11oz!
However I was petrified about tearing or being cut and then stitched so I am not sure why I didn't perpare for it just in case. So I am not sure how effective it is but possibly worth a try as you have nothing to loose. |
Posted By: MILF
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 10:35am
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at least if you do do it ahead of time, you can feel like you are doing something proactive - rather than worrying about what may or may not happen. I did it for the last few months ( i am a massage therapist so i was really interested in that side of it all) i got a friend to make up an aromatherapy blend for me that would help in the oil too. I had one stich in the end, because xanthe had her hand up over her ear - blimmin elbow! other wise all was good, (was more of a graze than tear)
try it, it isnt that hard, you just moisterize "there" same as other parts of your body. ------------- Lyla - mum to Xanthe -  my big 4 year old 
and Jordis - 1 year old 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 10:41am
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I heard about it at antenatal classes, but it kinda grossed me out. So I didn't do it, and pushed out my 9lb monster with only a tiny graze.
IMHO unless bubs was coming out sideways I would much rather be left to tear than have a cut. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 11:40am
Just another question about tearing i have read if u sit in a birthing pool for awhile it softens it all and makes stuff stretch better?? Did anyone find this true? Coz ill be sitting in the pool for quite awhile 
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Posted By: Deez
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 12:24pm
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Same Jezsika i was thinking of sitting in the pool during labour and then get out to birth baby on the bed.....but my sister wants me to birth in the pool not quite sold on that idea yet. I read that in shortens labour and decrease's the need for stitches and the use of drugs. -------------
Lycan and Peyton = Moon and back!! |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 12:44pm
| Yer im gonna squat to have Ella let gravity help me out hehe |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 12:45pm
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you can actually buy creams specifically designed for perineal massage! i was completely unaware of the possibility of tearing during labour and assumed if i needed to be cut they would inform me before doing so (how unprepared was i???). i ended up with a second degree tear and a really painful labial graze. i'm definitely going to get hubby on massage duty before this little dude arrives! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 12:53pm
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i never did it - and i would never let any one else do it for me either - my poor hubby had to go thru enuf let alone massaging that for me...
i tore and had stitches for my first, they said we are going to have to cut you and i said no way and kept pushing so they didnt have time.... a tear will heal better than a cut and is usually less deep. with my second i had a graze and no stitches, but when i had a feel later it felt like a canyon... it was easier to heal with no stitches and made sitting easier. oh and i laboured in a pool for that one too. massage prob wont hurt, just deciding what to massage with i suppose. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: k&jsmum
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 1:03pm
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I had the same the docs told me if i didnt get keegs out within the next few pushes they were going to cut me - and what do you know i had him in the very next push lol. Other than that i cant really offer any advice as i knew nothing about all that side of things ------------- Marlene Keegan ~ 14 October 2003 Jaidyn ~ 14 October 2003 |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 3:31pm
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I had heard about it first time round from my midwife and anitnatal etc, and had never really got round to doing it more than a couple of times.. I didn't tear too much downwards (after now reading my old notes i do realise though that i did tear a little bit downwards there) but had bad labial grazes and tore up and sideways. after that, my oldre sister (who has had 5 kids!!) said to me about perineal massage again, and second time round i made sure that i did it (still not religiously but more so than last time) and this time i did not have a prob - it may have been cos Paris made such a mess of me first time round maybe, but still i beleive it worked.
With the softening thing and the birthing pool - i didn't have the birthing pool, but somehow squatted in the bath at home while i was in there, with my arms over the side so i was supported and could also rest my head on my arms during contractions (2 hours 1st time, and only half an hour the second) and i firmly beleive that being upright and in water helped everything go very smoothly - for me both times, once i got in the water everything just progressed extremely quickly - and while it may be i'm just like that, it could be that it was from a combination of the water (which also helped the pain for a bit) and being upright, also squatting opens up the pelvis. so for those contemplating it, why not give it a go - if it doesn't work then you haven't wasted too much effort - but if it does work for you then it was worth it.  ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 3:38pm
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i also agree with Emma - would much rather tear than be cut - a tear goes along the bodies natural lines and is likely to heal more quickly, a cut can take longer toheal as it is jus that, a cut - the edge of things can be harder to match up and heal back together. Would much rather tear - sounds terribly painful but for 99% they do not feel it, it happens so quick! and until you have seen just how quickly and easily it happens it can be hard to think that. I have seen a 3rd degree tear and the woman did not feel it. I also think that it is usual for local to be administered before cutting anyway, unless the baby's head is too close to do so safely. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 6:50pm
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I read somewhere that massaging with almond or olive oil helps too. My thought is if it doesn't do any harm then may as well try it...it might just work!
------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 8:38pm
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one of my 2 biggest fears about the birth is a tear or worse, a cut (shudders!). I've read about perineal massage, but they said to use almond oil or olive oil... I'm not too keen on either product being down there, so does anyone know what else is recommended for it? ------------- Andie |
Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 05 May 2006 at 10:23pm
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I would have thought almond or olive oil was relatively 'natural' though as opposed to other creams or ointments? The thought of perineal massage doesn't bother me, and I'd be all for it to save my 'skin' so to speak LOL Just depends on who is going to get in there and do it for me ! ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater 
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 06 May 2006 at 9:09am
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i'd always intended to do the massage thing, but never got around to it, in the end i had a c-section so it didn't matter ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: 98765
Date Posted: 06 May 2006 at 2:06pm
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I did the massage thing a couple of times and was in a bath from 10pm til 2pm next day wen jack was born and i ripped needed 5 stiches but i think i ripped cos i pushed jack out quite fast. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
www.jackkeith.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Deez
Date Posted: 08 May 2006 at 9:08am
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Ah that sounds sore. Well i think im going to build up the courage and ask JK to get in there and give it a go. I have discussed it with friends over the weekend and they told me to say something like this, "if you do it for me we can get back doing it alot sooner than what we would if i need stitches". Do you think that would work???? -------------
Lycan and Peyton = Moon and back!! |
Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 08 May 2006 at 11:55am
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YES!!! Especially if JK knows that there is a good chance you might be too uncomfortable to want anything for the first 4-6 weeks otherwise! ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 08 May 2006 at 4:30pm
lolol - this sounds terrible - but maybe doing the massage might lead on to other things too - and if he thinks that theres even a possiblity of it.. he'll jump at the chance. and well, hey - if there's not a possiblity - well then any action from that region will be better than none by his standards anyway if he is anything like most men. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: Deez
Date Posted: 08 May 2006 at 4:43pm
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lol i know i'm bad and i shouldn't be bribing him like that....I know that if i manage to get him to do it, there will be some negotiating...lol...so i wont get off scott free not by a long shot......What is a girl to do????? -------------
Lycan and Peyton = Moon and back!! |