Perineal Massage - BirthLore

<strong>Perineal</strong> <strong>Massage</strong><br />

What is perineal massage?<br />

<strong>Perineal</strong> massage is a technique used to increase the possibility of delivering a baby without<br />

an episiotomy or tear. It stretches the perineal tissues, resulting in less resistance in the birth<br />

of the baby, and less need to cut into the tissue to make room for delivery. If the muscles of<br />

the pelvic floor are relaxed there will be less resistance. Doing perineal massage helps a<br />

woman identify those muscles and learn to relax them in response to pressure.<br />

What are the benefits?<br />

• Stretches the vaginal tissues, muscles surrounding the vagina, and the skin of the<br />

perineum.<br />

• Research shows a decreased chance of an episiotomy or tear.<br />

• Familiarizes the woman with stretching sensations; which helps her relax and release<br />

as baby is crowning.<br />

• Lessens anxiety and increases confidence as baby is crowning.<br />

Do not perform perineal massage if…<br />

• You have a urinary tract infection.<br />

• You have active genital herpes, or other sexually transmitted disease.<br />

• If your caregiver advices against it because of health concerns.<br />

When do I start?<br />

Begin about six weeks before your due date.<br />

How is it done?<br />

By the mother to be:<br />

1. Wash your hands.<br />

2. Either stand with one foot on a step stool or lie in a semi-sitting position.<br />

3. Dip your thumbs in vitamin E oil, vegetable oil, or K-Y Jelly.<br />

4. Use a mirror the first few times to see what<br />

you are doing.<br />

5. Put thumbs as deep as you comfortably<br />

can inside vagina toward perineum.<br />

6. Rub in a downward U shape back and<br />

forth, increasing the pressure slowly,<br />

massaging the side of the vaginal walls<br />

and down toward the perineum. Do not<br />

rub upward toward the urethra. <strong>Massage</strong><br />

for 5-10 minutes.<br />

7. Concentrate on relaxing the muscles as<br />

you massage.<br />

8. As you become more comfortable with the massage, increase the pressure until the<br />

perineum just begins to sting from the tension you apply. You will later recognize this<br />

stinging sensation as the baby’s head is being born and your perineum will stretch<br />

around it.<br />

At first you will feel tight but in time and with practice the tissue will begin to relax. Remember<br />

to be gentle, do not press hard enough to cause bruising or swelling. If you have any<br />

questions after trying the massage, please contact your caregiver or childbirth instructor.

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By the partner:<br />

1. Partner washes hands.<br />

2. Mother to be lays comfortably back in a semi-sitting position.<br />

3. Partner dips index fingers into vitamin E oil, vegetable oil or K-Y Jelly.<br />

4. Partner inserts fingers up to their second knuckle into the vagina toward the perineum.<br />

5. Partner rubs in a downward U shape back and forth, increasing the pressure slowly,<br />

massaging the side of the vaginal walls and down toward the perineum. Do not rub<br />

upward toward the urethra. <strong>Massage</strong> for 5-10 minutes.<br />

6. Mother to be concentrates on relaxing the muscles as she receives the massage.<br />

7. As the mother to be becomes more comfortable with the massage, increase the<br />

pressure until the perineum just begins to sting from the tension you apply.<br />

At first she will feel tight but in time and with practice her tissues will begin to relax. Remember<br />

to be gentle, do not press hard enough to cause bruising or swelling. If you have any<br />

questions after trying the massage, please contact your caregiver or childbirth instructor.