Perineal massage, as the name suggests, is a technique of massaging your perineum. In case you haven’t heard the word before; the perineum is the stretchable part between vagina and anus. It is one of those miraculous parts of a woman’s body that helps her bring in a new life on earth.

The perineum can naturally stretch to make room for the baby when it’s ready to come out into the world from the mother’s womb. But this beautiful moment in a woman’s life comes with a lot of pain and complications.

Over the years, doctors have been trying to ease the pain of childbirth. There are several medications, but all of them come with specific side-effects to the mother, as well as the baby. After much research and development in the field of medicine and surgeries, natural birth is still considered the best.

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Perineal massage is one of the few natural techniques devised to ease the process of childbirth and prevent physical trauma. The massage focuses on loosening the perineum a few weeks before the delivery. It is like giving the body a slight idea of what is going to happen in a few weeks.

Read on to learn the benefits of the perineal massage for normal delivery.

Easing the pain during crowning

Let’s accept the fact that despite being excited about childbirth, every would-be-mother is worried about the pain she may have to bear. Labour pain is the most common discussion when it comes to delivering a baby. But the pain during the crowning phase is worse. Crowning is when the baby’s head comes down, and perineum starts stretching. The pain and burn during this stage are so intense that it is called ‘rings of fire’ . A perineal massage gives the body a slow practice, thus easing the intensity of the rings of fire during actual childbirth naturally.

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Avoiding tears and other perineal trauma

More than 90% of women suffer from vaginal tear during childbirth. For some, it is a minor graze that results in a burning sensation for a week or two while peeing. For others, the tear can go so severe that it needs multiple stitches and takes months to heal. Pregnancy massage eases the delivery process thereby reducing the risk of vaginal and perineal trauma. Researchers believe that perineal massage can lessen the injury to the perineum and vagina by 10% even in for first time pregnant women.

Reducing the risk of episiotomy or assisted delivery

The perineal massage loosens the skin and muscles around the vagina, ensuring that the stiffness of the area would not hinder in childbirth. Lots of women require assisted delivery with a vacuum extractor or forceps because the rigidity of their perineum doesn’t allow the baby a comfortable evacuation. This situation is not only terrible for the baby but also painful for the mother. Regular stretching and massage of the perineum make it flexible, letting the mother avoid an episiotomy or any other kind of assisted delivery.

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Easing the baby’s struggle

Childbirth is not only painful for the mother, but it is equally challenging for the baby. While the womb contracts, the baby’s head pushes the perineum to make a way out. If the perineum is not flexible enough, it may put too much strain on the baby’s head. Massaging the perineum makes it less rigid, which helps the baby as well as the mother.

The perineal massage can benefit you in many ways, but you should always avoid overdoing it. Start the massage at around 34 weeks of pregnancy, and limit the frequency to twice a week. You not only need to loosen your perineum; but also bring it back to normal after delivery.

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