How to
help protect your perineum during childbirth
by Samantha Thurlby-Brooks
 The
main benefits of the perineal massage are psychological.
It's great to get your mind understanding that
your body is changing. It's not the same as it
was nine months ago. To birth a baby nine months
ago wouldn't be nice, but now, at the end of your
pregnancy, your body has changed and adapted to
open up easily for your baby to be born.
What will protect your perieum
while giving birth is the position you birth in.
Sitting on your bottom or lying on your back will
make your baby's head push against the perineum
rather than sliding infront of it. Being on all
fours or in a high squat (so your knees are lower
than your waist) will allow baby to slide out
without putting pressure on the perineal muscles.
Strenuous pushing and holding your breath is a
sure way to damage yourself. Babies come out because
they extend their neck, lifting their chin and
also by the power of your uterus. Once your baby
has turned and their shoulders are your pelvic
rim, then they can come out. No amount of pushing
will make this turning happen and will only exhaust
you both. Straining and pushing your baby out
will not do the same safe job as your uterus and
baby can, so keep breathing and let your body
do the work for you.
Procedure
[To be carried out by the pregnant woman or partner]
1. Wash your
hands thoroughly and apply a non-irritating lubricant
to your finger. I recommend an oil such as olive
oil, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil or jojoba
oil as these will nourish the muscles as well
as help you massage.
2. Place your fingers gently
inside your vagina about 1- 1½ inches.
Press down towards your anus until you feel a
stretching sensation.
3. After about 2 minutes of sustained
pressure, slowly, but gently begin pressing your
fingers from the midline towards the sides of
the vagina in a sweeping motion, while pulling
back towards your anus. Continue for two minutes
giving these muscles a good stretch.
Use this technique daily from
weeks 36 onwards. Before 36 weeks you need your
perineum to be tightening and strengthening, so
carrying out this procedure before 36 weeks will
create the wrong situation as it’s designed
to soften and relax the muscles of the pelvis.
Start with one finger and build up to two or more.
NB Please make
sure that you do not massage the top of the vaginal
opening as you may cause an infection in the urethra
and bladder. Also do not perform if you have active
herpes or other vaginal lesions, if the amniotic
sac has ruptured/ your waters have broken or if
vulvar haemorrhoids are present.
Helpful hint: Place your finger inside your vagina from behind...
you'll never reach around your belly if you go
the front way!
You might be interested
in the Joyful Childbirth 3
hour Antenatal Class for Natural Pain Relief |
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