https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:32:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317769 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 14:21:28 +0000 Foodnerd81 1317769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Navy_Mommy: Same experience. My midwife had told me I could try it but pretty much said don't bother. They did massage before she crowned, I think, and I didn't realize this isn't normal, but I only pushed when I felt like I *had* to, no one ever coached me to do it when I didn't feel the need. </p> <p>I had a small tear but felt pretty much fine after only a couple of days. And they had to use the vacuum on the last push (concerns over her heart rate) so I think it's pretty good to only have a small tear even with that. No epidural, not sure if that had anything to do with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317749 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 14:17:13 +0000 looch 1317749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it religiously from 36 weeks on, beginning with just a few seconds and working up to 2 minutes.</p> <p>I had no tearing down, but I did tear up, requiring just 4 stitches. For me, I think it did make a difference, I wanted to avoid an episiotomy and I did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317542 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:11:48 +0000 FarmWifeGina 1317542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did it exactly ONCE with my first pregnancy and didn't tear. That midwife did massage during crowning though. No massage during pregnancy or labor with my second and I still didn't tear. No massage during this last pregnancy or labor either (midwife would have done massage but the olive oil was out of reach and she didn't have a chance to grab it) and I had a teeny, tiny superficial tear. But that could have been due to her 14 in. head and 14.5 in. chest. </p> <p>I agree with @Navy_Mommy: about mother-led pushing. Not that there's anything wrong with massage, it can't hurt. And if it helps you learn where and what and how to relax, definitely go for it. I remember consciously relaxing my pelvic floor with my last birth and that's the only reason I didn't tear more- I'm not sure I would have had the knowledge and "experience" to do that with my first, or even second, birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317540 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:09:38 +0000 yin 1317540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. Small tear that did not require stitches with DS1 and no tearing with DS2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317479 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:51:47 +0000 DigAPony 1317479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't do any ahead of time, but my midwife did a lot of massage with oil during labor. I didn't have any tears. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317426 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:36:35 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1317426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do them ahead of time, but the nurse did it while I was in labor (I assumed that's what she was doing, but I couldn't feel anything because I was numb from the epidural). I want to say it helped because I didn't tear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317420 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:34:00 +0000 Bao 1317420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it and ended up with 3rd degree tears, HOWEVER my LO's head was coming out more on the side, so I'm thinking that had something to do with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317415 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:32:23 +0000 Navy_Mommy 1317415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't do any leading up to labor, but my midwife did while I was in labor and I think that was a huge contributing factor to my lack of tearing. I did a tiny bit, but nothing horrible. I was pretty much back to normal "down there" within a few weeks.</p> <p>I think mother-led-pushing is a much more important factor than perineal massage, honestly. I didn't start pushing until my body DEMANDED that I push. I was never encouraged to do "purple pushing" (pushing for the sake of pushing for a set amount of time). They just kinda let me and my body do my own thing. There was one contraction in the middle of the half hour I pushed for where my body wasn't telling me to push, so they didn't have me push. I bet my vagina if they had "forced" me to the tear would have been much more significant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-perineal-massage-work-for-you#post-1317356 Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:11:35 +0000 Vegmama 1317356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My midwives suggested we start doing perineal massage at 36 weeks. So, we did. </p> <p>The first time, we were both giggling, because we had no idea what to do ... Now, I feel like we have the hang of it. It's definitely not comfortable, but I guess it's really important to learn how to relax those muscles. </p> <p>Also, the first time we did it, my husband smeared coconut oil alllll over my vagina before he started. I was mortified, ha. He quickly said something like, "Oh yeah, I guess you don't need it all over!" ... Just made me laugh.</p> <p>So, for those of you who did it, what do you think? Did it help you avoid a big tear? Avoid an episiotomy? Did nothing?</p> <p>**ETA: I realize I didn't have an option for "No. But still didn't tear!" ... Sorry about that. </p>