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?
Any recos?
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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?
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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!!
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I think evening primrose oil helped! Do a google search and you'll find some info on it.
I do think genetics plays a part though, including size of the baby's head and shoulders.
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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.
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I wish I had known of one!
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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.
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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!!
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Pernineal massage with any kind of oil will help you prepare, but there's no cream alone that will do anything, AFAIK.
I did it religously from 34 weeks on and I had only a small tear upwards that required 2 stitches.
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My midwife did a massage with olive oil while I was pushing and I didn't tear at all.
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I had no tears. I massaged with olive oil starting at 35 weeks & my midwife also used olive oil while I was pushing.
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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.
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.
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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.
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@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.
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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.
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
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.
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