Your vagina is designed to stretch and accommodate your baby during childbirth. However, your perineum, the tissues between your vagina and rectum is slightly less elastic and can tear as you give birth.
Perineal tears and episiotomies are more common among women having their first baby.
You might be wondering if there’s any thing you can do to prepare yourself down there for childbirth.
Research suggests that massaging the perineum starting at 34-36 weeks of pregnancy can make the muscles more flexible, allowing them to stretch safely during the final stages of labour.
Benefits of perineal massage:
✅Reduce the risk of perineal tearing and damage
✅Reduce the risk of episiotomy
✅Prevent scarring
✅Reduce postpartum pain associated with tears and trauma
✅Reduce the risk of postpartum urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence
Massaging once or twice a week for about four weeks seems to be enough. The effect seems greatest for a first delivery.
Talk to your practitioner before attempting perineal massage!
This material is not intended to diagnose or treat any illnesses or injuries. It is for educational purposes only‼️
