Perineal stretching????

Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:59 pm

This is graphic and tmi, fair warning . . . . .

My doc has a low episiotomy rate, which is awesome as I heard those are no fun. At my appointment she gave me a handout about perineal stretching. She said to have DH take his two thumbs and pull the bottom of my vagina until it starts burning. Once it goes numb then he would massage the perineum for three minutes. She said to do it once a day starting at 34 weeks.

I'm trying to be a mature adult about this but all I can think is WTF??? I can't wrap my mind around this. Has anyone heard about this or have you done it?

Mommy to twins
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Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:38 pm

I have heard of it... all it does is preps for delivery so you don't tear or have to have the dreaded Episiotomy.

 

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:29 am

Yes I have heard of it. I believe there is a website as well about it.

Angela
angelpilot@telus.net
December 2012 BDC Board Leader

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:36 am

I've heard of it and one of my best friends is a L&D nurse and has told me about it. Said that they really recommend doing it to prepare the skin for the big stretch.

Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:44 am

I have asked about it and have been told not to do it, as it can cause more damage. My doc said my body will know what to do. Doing the stretching won't prevent any tearing. I have heard others say what your doc said, so I did some research. Based on everything I've read, I'm not going to bother.

My first doc (who was a complete quack) told me to toughen up my nipples and gave me examples of how to do it. Various breastfeeding groups and the What to Expect book says not to do that, because it can cause more damage than good (they do recommend working with your body if you have inverted nipples).

Anyway... my point is, for every person, even doctor, that says something is necessary, there is another that says it isn't--from my experience. I've made it my mission to hear what they say and then research it and decide on my own.

I have heard a good way to avoid tearing is to not push like crazy. Let the baby come down and go back and down again with the contractions. I'm a FTM, so I'm not speaking from experience here

Fri Nov 09, 2012 6:04 am

Lol! It's okay. I hear about it a lot as well. It sounds strange but it works!

Cori
December '12 BDC Board Leader Corikins@gmail.com

Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:34 am

I learned at our birthing class the OBs and midwives at our hospital prefer this technique as episiotomies are not preferred unless in an emergency. As a side note this is why we are forgoing an epidural because by using your body and gravity, it can help stretch that area.

Sarah

Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:22 am

My preg book (the Mayo Clinic one) have a paragraph on it in "how to prepare for labor (they describe that and Kegels. They say you can also do it yourself. But of course if you are uncomfortable, not to do it.

I haven't done it yet, nor did i do Kegels (I m lazy like that). But i might try.

As for my Doc when i asked her about episiotomy she told me she has a low rate of it, she just listen to the person body and don't let them push like crazy, make it more progressive.

Ludivine

Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:23 am

Yes, I have heard of this before. With DD, my midwife recommended we do it. We never did. The reason being that I guess if you're not doing it right, it causes more damage and doesn't do you any good. I know my midwife was massaging me while I was pushing and that helped. Honestly, I tore when her body (not head) came out because it was a big push and she "slid" out and that's what tore me. If I had gone slower with the push, it would give my muscles enough time to adjust without causing damage.

Wow, tmi answer - lol. Good luck with what you decide!

Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:37 am

I have heard of this too. My feeling is this...a vaginal birth is natural. Your body does what it does. And in all seriousness if I asked my Dh to do this he would either start laughing or get alittle too excited. Either way I am not doing it.

Me 36
Mike 32
A handful of chemicals/ early m/c since 12/2010
1 little Bean said goodbye 10/2011 @ 9 week

Emilie Grace born on 1/1/2013 beautiful and healthy:)

Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:05 pm

At our prenatal class they said that a good time for pushing is around 1.5-2 hours as it helps to stretch and not tear. Even with all this.... One of my mothers group, she pushed for 2 hours and still ended up tearing.

Angela
angelpilot@telus.net
December 2012 BDC Board Leader

Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:36 pm

I had such a dense epidural with my first that I couldn't feel the urge to push or the pressure. I pushed for 3+ hours, slowly stretching things out, and didn't tear! Although I'm sure that wouldn't be a typical result for everyone.

Cori
December '12 BDC Board Leader Corikins@gmail.com