From the Research
Prenatal perineal massage is recommended to reduce the risk of vaginal tears during childbirth, particularly for first-time mothers, as it has been shown to decrease the likelihood of tears requiring stitches and improve outcomes, as evidenced by the most recent and highest quality study 1. The benefits of prenatal perineal massage include:
- Decreasing the likelihood of tears requiring stitches
- Improving pelvic floor muscle extensibility
- Reducing the risk of severe perineal trauma and postpartum complications
- Improving wound healing and reducing perineal pain To perform perineal massage, use clean hands and a lubricant like vitamin E oil, almond oil, or water-soluble lubricant. Insert thumbs about 1-2 inches into the vagina and press downward and to the sides until you feel a slight burning sensation, holding for 1-2 minutes while breathing deeply. General prenatal stretching exercises alone haven't been conclusively proven to prevent vaginal tears specifically, though they offer other benefits during pregnancy. Perineal massage works by gradually stretching the perineal tissues, increasing their flexibility and ability to stretch during delivery, as supported by the findings of 2 and 1. While not guaranteed to prevent tears completely, perineal massage is a safe, simple technique that may improve outcomes, especially for women having their first vaginal birth, as suggested by the studies 3, 4, and 5. It is essential to note that the combination of perineal massage and instrument-assisted perineal stretching techniques with a short, repeated protocol may lead to better pelvic floor muscle extensibility results than the application of the techniques alone, as found in the study 1.