https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:53:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1116021 Fri, 27 Sep 2013 08:18:47 +0000 blackbird 1116021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My docs also recommended peri massage with oil....it's uncomfortable but i did it every time i showered from weeks 32 on and I had a very minor tear. </p> <p>I think what's really key is if your doctor helps you labor down, massage the area, lots of warm water, stretching you out, etc. The nurses all said my dr is fantastic at this, and I'm sure it contributed to me only having two stitches </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115906 Fri, 27 Sep 2013 07:17:44 +0000 looch 1115906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: That's true, it does hurt the first couple of times, but if you continue and slowly increase the time that you do the massage, it does eventually feel almost painless. Another helpful tip is to do the massage after a shower or warm bath, when your skin is a bit more open and soft. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115891 Fri, 27 Sep 2013 07:00:27 +0000 tlcbaby 1115891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not a cream/oil rec. and this may be easier said than done :) but I was also really scared of tearing so when I was pushing I tried to be really conscious of not pushing to hard or too fast. I kind of tried to hold back to give my body time to stretch as I was pushing him out. I barely tore at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115889 Fri, 27 Sep 2013 06:59:17 +0000 Ree723 1115889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried the massage with olive oil and it freaking hurt! Not to mention it was just plain weird and I couldn't figure out what the heck I was doing. </p> <p>My midwives said the best preventative for tearing is to be given time to labour down (let the baby move down the birth canal on its own after you reach full dilation, before you start pushing). Of course that's not always possible if baby's in distress, but she said it really does help. I laboured down for two hours but then once I started pushing, LO came super fast so I ended up with a second degree tear. Honestly, it was no big deal. I'd been petrified of tearing before childbirth but I didn't feel it, felt nothing when the stitches went in, and the recovery was a breeze. You hear so many tearing horror stories, but seriously, it was no big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115851 Fri, 27 Sep 2013 06:35:38 +0000 emg86 1115851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no tears. I massaged with olive oil starting at 35 weeks &amp; my midwife also used olive oil while I was pushing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115848 Fri, 27 Sep 2013 06:27:49 +0000 Beyond2 1115848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My midwife did a massage with olive oil while I was pushing and I didn't tear at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115843 Fri, 27 Sep 2013 06:25:07 +0000 looch 1115843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pernineal massage with any kind of oil will help you prepare, but there's no cream alone that will do anything, AFAIK.</p> <p>I did it religously from 34 weeks on and I had only a small tear upwards that required 2 stitches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115557 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 22:06:13 +0000 mrs. wagon 1115557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tore only upwards with my first (much easier to heal) and only a tiny tear with my second, and I religiously did kegels with both in the 9th month. Since both my kids were born vaginally with 99th percentile heads, I really feel like the kegels helped!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115522 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 21:45:14 +0000 Foodnerd81 1115522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard of massaging with olive oil, but I asked my midwife and she pretty much said go ahead and do it if I want but it wouldn't make a big difference. I was also really afraid of tearing or needing an episiotomy. I tore a little but it was really no big deal for me, luckily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115517 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 21:41:17 +0000 maybebaby 1115517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I had known of one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115391 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 20:53:26 +0000 erinpye 1115391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think there's a lot you really can do to prevent it fully. I was afraid of it before it happened, but it's really not a huge deal if it does. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115388 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 20:52:39 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1115388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think evening primrose oil helped! Do a google search and you'll find some info on it.</p> <p>I do think genetics plays a part though, including size of the baby's head and shoulders. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115373 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 20:50:46 +0000 LazyLightning 1115373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kind of think it's all genetics. Like creams to prevent stretch marks, ya know? Honestly you won't care if you tear. It hurts a while but it heals and the baby is out!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115299 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 20:32:57 +0000 anonysquire 1115299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard of people massaging the area for weeks up to birth with olive oil. I would ask your doctor, but I think it could be helpful to loosen up and flexibalate the area? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-creams-to-prevent-tearing#post-1115283 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 20:29:54 +0000 Honeydew 1115283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been a little scared about episiotomies/tearing during childbirth. Has anyone used any types of creams/lotions that helped them through childbirth with little to no tearing?</p> <p>Any recos? </p>