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Home › Expert Q&A › Labor and Birth › Labor-related Injuries › Does massaging the perineum with sweet almond oil help avoid tearing?

Expert Q&A

 

By Kelly Camden
Certified Doula

I've heard massaging the perineum with sweet almond oil twice a day a few weeks before birth will help keep it supple and allow it to stretch for labor, and subsequently avoid tearing. Is this correct?

Many women who have prepared for birth with perineal massage will swear by it. I have worked with some care providers who encourage perineal massage and others who seem indifferent about it. Anne Frye, midwife and author of Holistic Midwifery (Labrys Pub., 1998), states, "In my experience, the biggest factor in preventing tears has been a daily five minute session of perineal stretching, starting six weeks before the due date."

If you choose to practice perineal massage, five to 15 minutes a day during the last five or six weeks of pregnancy is recommended. Almond oil may be used, as well as other edible oils that are free of perfumes, dyes and chemicals. Pure oils will suit your needs better than petroleum products, which dry the skin and pull vitamins from with the body. If a woman is prone to yeast infections, she should choose a water-based lubricant.

Doing this massage gives them a chance to practice breathing for labor. Additional benefits include visualizing the vagina opening and perineum softening on a daily basis, as well as becoming accustomed to the sensation of stretching.

There are several factors that may contribute to tearing, such as the position of the mother during pushing, the position of the baby or pushing quickly without allowing time for the perineal tissues to stretch. Basically, there is no guarantee.

I highly recommend warm compresses during labor as a comfort measure. This is simply a warm, wet washcloth that is held gently against the perineum during pushing. The moist heat penetrates and softens the tissue. The best part is the fabulous relief that mothers feel from the warm compresses as the baby's head is crowning. If a mother is holding the muscles of the perineum, due to burning or due to fear, warmth helps her to let go. She usually sighs with relief and says, "Oh, that's so much better!"

It seems that covering all the bases would include:

  • Drinking plenty of water (at least 3 liters per day).
  • Maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy.
  • Using perineal massage before and during labor.
  • Gentle pushing during crowning.
  • Using warm compresses.

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