Preparing your Perineum for Childbirth - avoid that Episiotomy!
By: Kiera Pedley
Preparing your Perineum for birth
Your perineum, is the area between your vagina and your anus. It’s the area that takes a fair bit of stretching in childbirth, to accommodate your baby.
It is said that the perineum is designed to stretch and accommodate a baby, however, certain situations can make it more prone to tearing or grazing. These include:
- Poor Birthing positions
- The use of Forceps or Ventous extraction in birth
- Pushing too hard, or too early
- Previous episiotomy scarring
Perineal massage has anecdotally been shown to reduce the instance of tearing in childbirth, and many women find it an empowering and reassuring activity to embark on prior to labour. It’s best performed daily in the last 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy. It’s meant to hurt a little, like a Chinese burn.
To massage your perineum, with clean hands, whilst lying on your back, strech your vagina, down and towards your anus. Hold for a few moments, then strech out to each side, and hold for a few moments.
Using two fingers, take the skin at the sides of your perineum, and gently stretch it out towards your leg on each side. Hold for a few moments.
A guide can be found here: www.womenofspirit.asn.au/Documents/PerinealMassage.pdf
Anecdotally, the following techniques may assist. At the least, it will mentally reassure you, you have done everything you can to prepare your body to birth your baby.
- Warm packs, and gentle massage with lubricating oil (preferably something natural and edible such as almond oil) may assist the perineum in stretching during crowning.
- Gentle support of the perineum may well be all that is needed to help it stretch to accommodate a baby, as that is what it’s designed to do.
- Giving birth in water will support the perineum, and improve the skin elasticity.
- Lubricating the area with vitamin E or Jojoba oil daily in the last few weeks of pregnancy may help improve elasticity.
And never underestimate the power of positive visualisation. Visualise your vagina stretching beautifully to accommodate your baby. Your body is very capable, and is designed to birth.
More information on Perineal Massage can be found here:
www.birthingbyheart.com/self-care/perineal-massage/
Kiera Pedley is passionate about all things birth, childhood and parenting. She runs www.homebirthmybirth.com a safe place for homebirthing families, www.naturalparentingtips.com to create an amazing childhood, and www.wahmnetwork.com.au the Australian Work at Home Mums support network.