https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 18:08:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-856499 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:35:19 +0000 Foodnerd81 856499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: Don't stop bouncing if it's comfortable! I read that helps get the baby into a good position (plus it feels good). When I said anything about inducing labor I was referring to certain teas or whatever that I read could cause contractions or something. </p> <p>I'm really relieved to hear that the anxiety about a tear is worse than the actuality of it. So far that's my biggest fear about childbirth I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-856471 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:30:26 +0000 RubyCali 856471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did perineal massage religiously from 34 weeks on and ended up needing an episiotomy. So bummed that all that painful "massaging" was a waste! At least the recovery wasn't bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-856020 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:28:01 +0000 Smurfette 856020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do anything and had an easy labor, small 2nd degree tear. I wasn't even that sore recovery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-856019 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:27:46 +0000 emg86 856019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: I think you're fine :-) I started sitting on my ball regularly throughout the day in my 2nd trimester. My chiropractor and midwife suggested it so it would help keep baby in the right position and help with aches and pains,especially my hips. I think it also helped me sleep better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-856014 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:26:08 +0000 emg86 856014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: What?! In your butt?! LOL. I did perineal massage 6 nights a week with my husband starting at 35 weeks. The handout we were given explaining the massage did not talk about sticking fingers back there! I didn't have a single tear. </p> <p>I also did Borage Oil capsules orally starting at 35w and around 38w I started inserting them vaginally as well because there was scar tissue on my cervix that we wanted to soften. </p> <p>I bounced on my exercise ball regularly starting in my 2nd trimester and did lots of stretches on the ball the last few weeks. My midwife had me do a lot of pelvic rocking and deep squats too. I also walked a ton. </p> <p>I went into labor a day before my due date and it was 8.5hrs from start to finish, unmedicated. What I swear helped me a ton as well was regular prenatal massages. The last month I was getting them every single week. My body was very relaxed when I went into labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-856004 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:21:45 +0000 aprk 856004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: I hate to break it to you, but my midwife had her finger in my butt while I was pushing. It hurt like all get out, but it helped get him out! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855973 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:04:54 +0000 Ree723 855973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sat on my exercise ball all the time and I think that helped. It was so comfortable to sit on most evenings and I really enjoyed bouncing on it! I still got a second degree tear but it wasn't a big deal and recovery was a breeze.</p> <p>I agree with PP that the fear of tearing was a thousand times worse than the actual tear! I never felt the tear, nor the stitches and they caused minimal discomfort as they healed - never needed any pain meds, sitz baths, witch hazel, tucks pads, or anything like that. Not sure if I can attribute that to sitting on my exercise ball or not, but I'm sure it didn't hurt!</p> <p>@delight: I think you're fine. I sat on my ball through all of my third tri and never even had any BH. I did go into labour on my due date though, so maybe it helped? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855972 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:04:00 +0000 .twist. 855972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: haha I don't think there is one where you have to massage up your butt. I think I, embarrassingly so, misunderstood what the per massage was the first go round. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855951 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:54:16 +0000 shopaholic 855951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did the yoga ball and RRTL supplements! I had a very quick labor! Went from 1 cm to 8cm in 2 hrs before I got the epi! I tried the per massage but I never read one about sticking anything up your butt! Honestly it seed so weird I tried a minute or two and gave up on that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855902 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:36:00 +0000 delight 855902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Should I stop bouncing on my exercise ball now? I'm only 31 weeks! I don't want to induce! It is so comfy though to watch tv and bounce and to do hip circles, I think it's helping me not have pain when sleeping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855897 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:34:41 +0000 looch 855897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did vaginal perineal massage beginning at 34 weeks. I am convinced it helped with not having any tearing. Even the midwives commented that they were waiting for the skin to split and it didn't downwards. I did need 4 stitches but they were along the top. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855895 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:34:30 +0000 StbHisMrs 855895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first the nurse did a perineal massage, I didn't ask or know until it was done, I didn't tear.</p> <p>With my second I drank lots of raspberry leaf tea, and did a lot of bouncing on my ball. I'm not really sure if it helped! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855887 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:31:26 +0000 MrsStar 855887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do anything really, I was hoping for the best really. I ended up not tearing but got a labial graze which had 2 stiches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855885 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:30:20 +0000 photojane 855885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: hahaha... I was just telling someone (in regards to hemorrhoids) that one of my life goals is to never have to stick anything up my butt. I feel ya, girl. </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: I did deep squats &amp; bounced on my exercise ball most nights. Bouncing on my ball actually felt really nice - relieved a lot of pressure. I think it helped... when I went in for my induction at 40+2 I was 4-4.5cm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855880 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:28:50 +0000 .twist. 855880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: OH. Well, I clearly got the wrong description or misunderstood the last time it was explained to me! Hahaha... I'm totally at work too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855876 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:27:53 +0000 Foodnerd81 855876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Well, the email I got mentioned more about sticking your thumbs in from the front, not in your butt. BTW, I'm still at work and typing this on my work computer... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855869 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:26:42 +0000 .twist. 855869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: This really makes me laugh but I'm not totally sure which is worse, I've never stuck anything up my butt before.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855867 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:25:16 +0000 Foodnerd81 855867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: EXACTLY! Like, rubbing a little bit on the surface, yeah ok I guess I can... but then when the babycenter email said something about inserting your thumbs up to the knuckle I was like, what?! </p> <p>But again, doesn't that still sound better than a deep tear? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855865 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:24:39 +0000 sslm 855865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope to the perineal massage. That totally grossed me out. I had deep second degree tears but I didn't feel it when it happened and the recovery was fine. The thought of tearing was way worse than the reality. </p> <p>I did bounce on a ball in an effort to kick start labor but it didn't work. I did drink red raspberry leaf tea but who knows if that did anything! Really not sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855861 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:21:59 +0000 .twist. 855861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was really into the idea of the perineal massage until I found out you need to stick your finger up your butt. Then I was over it.</p> <p>I was all thinking it was just like... a little massaging of skin... down there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-for-labor-perineal-massage-etc#post-855857 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:20:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 855857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the weeks leading up to your due date, did you do anything to prepare your body for labor? For example, did you do perineal massage? Do you think it helped you not tear? Or things like bouncing on an exercise ball? Drinking raspberry leaf tea? </p> <p>I'm curious anything you think actually helped! The massage thing sort of grosses me out, but not as much as tearing freaks me out! </p> <p>I still have 7 weeks before my due date so of course I won't do anything that would induce labor, but curious about things that could prepare my body for it. </p>