Practical guidance for pregnancy, birth preparation, and perineal massage, helping you feel informed, prepared, and confident for birth.
Of the women who experience pregnancy and childbirth in their lives, most will suffer some sort of trauma to their perineum. Perineal tears can range from a small superficial tear to deep lacerations affecting pelvic floor muscles.
An episiotomy is a surgical incision that is made in the perineal area and the posterior wall of the vagina. It is primarily performed to enlarge the opening to enable the baby to pass and to prevent more significant soft tissue injuries, such as tearing in the birth canal (including the anal sphincter and rectum) during labor. The use of episiotomies is being reduced in many parts of the world unless they are clinically needed.
You can do perineal massage on yourself, or you can have your partner do the massage for you. Whichever way you prefer, perineal massage is performed by using the thumbs and fingers to massage and stretch the perineum.
The NHS offers woman in the United Kingdom information about pregnancy and labour. Some NHS Trusts have created short guides to educate woman about preparing for childbirth and perineal massage. Below is a list of such resources that were prepared by various NHS Trusts. The guides include information about preparing for childbirth, perineal care, and a mostly positive perspective about the use of perineal massage as a tool to reduce the chances of perineal trauma.
Exercising, in particular, strengthening the perineal muscles or pelvic floor, has become increasingly important. It ensures not only a comfortable pregnancy for the mother but less stress during the birthing process for the child.
4th degree perineal tears are the most severe form of tear a woman can experience during the end stages of labor. There are in fact different degrees of perineal tears: Minimal tearing such as 1st or 2nd degree tears are common and expected. 3rd or 4th degree perineal tears occur more rarely.
