How to Do Perineal Massage YONI

How to Do Perineal Massage

(and Why Youll Want To)
This wikiHow teaches you how to do perineal massage, which helps to relax and
soften the perineum, the area between the vagina and the rectum. Perineal massage
is often done late in pregnancy to help prevent tearing of the perineum during
childbirth.

10 Second Summary
1. Clip your fingernails and wash your hands.
2. Get in a comfortable position and apply some natural oil.
3. Place your thumbs 1 inch (3 cm) inside your vagina. Rest your fingers on your
buttocks.
4. Press down towards the anus and the sides of the vaginal wall. Hold this position
for 1 minute.
5. Gently massage the lower half of your vagina using a U shaped movement for 2
to 3 minutes.
6. Repeat the massage for about 10 minutes on the massage.

Method 1
Performing a Perineal Massage on Yourself
1.

1
Check with your healthcare provider before you begin. Perineal massages can
be harmful is you use too much force, not enough lubricant, or perform them
incorrectly. To be safe, speak with your doctor about your plans. [1]

2.

2
 Sit in a warm bath for ten minutes. This may help you relax before the massage,
and loosen up the muscles that surround your perineum. Try adding bath oils to
soften your skin and calm your mind.

3.

3
Cut your fingernails short so that they can't scratch you. The tissues in your
vagina and perineum are very delicate. Cutting your nails short will prevent tearing
the skin or discomfort of the body.
4.

4
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. You dont want to introduce
germs into the birth canal, so be sure to properly wash you hands before you begin.

5.
 5
Get in a comfortable position. The best place to perform this massage is in bed.
Prop yourself up with pillows to support your back, and bend your knees. You need
to be relaxed during the massage, so it is important that you find a place that allows
you to get comfortable.[2]
The massage can also be done sitting on the toilet with your legs elevated. [3]

6.

6
Use a lubricant. You will need to lubricate your thumbs and the perineum tissues
with a water-soluble lubricant. The best lubricants to use are vitamin E oil, almond oil
or olive oil.
7.

7
 Place your thumbs about 1 inch (3 cm) inside your vagina. Rest your fingers on
your buttocks. Press down towards the anus and to the sides of the vaginal wall. Hold
your thumbs in this position for about one minute. You will begin to feel a slight
burning or stretching sensation.[4]
Remember to keep breathing deeply throughout the massage.
Consciously relax your muscles if you feel a tense muscle.[5]

8.

8
Gently massage the lower half of your vagina. Use a U shaped movement by
going back and forth, and up and down. Try to relax your muscles while you are
performing the massage. Perform this motion for two to three minutes.
9.

9
Repeat the massage. By the end, you should spend about 10 minutes on the
massage. It may take up to several weeks of this daily massage before you notice
that your perineal area has more elasticity.[6]
10.

10
Wash up. After the massage, you may way to take a shower, or bath, to wash off the
lubricant.

Method 2
Having a Partner Perform a Perineal Massage
1.

1
Choose a trusted partner. An ideal partner choice for this intimate situation should
be someone you can relax with such as a significant other or medical professional.
You need to feel comfortable communicating during this massage, so keep that in
mind.
2.

2
Be prepared for emotional reactions. Even if your trusted intimate partner is doing
the massage, you may have feelings of awkwardness and modesty. This is perfectly
natural. Try to keep in mind that a perineal massage has the same goal as any other
type of massage: to release tension, and in the case of childbirth, to alleviate
discomfort for the mother.
3.

3
Communicate with your partner. Let your partner know if you experience any
discomfort. It is normal to feel slight pressure and discomfort, but if there is too much,
ask your partner to take a break, or ease up on the pressure.
4.

4
Get comfortable in a relaxed posture. You need to be able to relax your muscles,
and be in a position where your legs can be open. Try laying on the bed with your
knees bent, and use pillows to support your back. Your partner will be able to better
perform the massage in this position.
5.

5
Have your partner prepare for the massage. Finger nails need to be trimmed, and
hands needs to be washed before starting. If desired, your partner could put on latex
gloves to wear during the massage to keep the area sanitized.
6.

6
Use a lubricant. Your partner will need to lubricate his or her hands and your
perineum with a water-soluble lubricant. The best lubricants to use are vitamin E oil,
almond oil or olive oil.
7.

7
Begin by having your partner massage the area gently. Your partner should rub
the outside area using his or her thumbs. Slow, back and forth motions on the outside
area will help you both ease into the massage.[7]
Do this for one to two minutes.
8.

8
Insert the index fingers. Your partner should use the index fingers instead of the
thumbs to do the massage. Once inside, a U shaped, side-to-side motion is used
along with downward pressure.[8]
Continue with this for about two to three minutes.
9.

9
Repeat the massage. For best results, this massage should be performed twice in
one sitting. Try to perform the massage daily in the final six weeks leading up to your
delivery.[9]
10.

10
Wash up. After the massage, you may way to take a shower or bath to wash off the
lubricant.

Community Q&A
Can I do this even if I'm not pregnant?
wikiHow Contributor

Yes. If you feel your vagina is too tight for intercourse, then this is a good exercise to
gain elasticity.
Not Helpful 6 Helpful 32

How can I do it without getting naked?

 wikiHow Contributor

You have to be naked, unless your vagina is on the outside if your clothing.
Not Helpful 27 Helpful 70

Is a perineal massage good for you?

wikiHow Contributor

Perineal massage can be beneficial for pregnant women from 34 weeks gestation
onward who have never given birth vaginally before. Perineal massage helps to
encourage elasticity of the perineum to allow for the baby's head to fit through during
labor. Performing perineal massage once a week for 10 minutes may help make the
mother more confident in her body's ability to stretch to fit the baby.
Not Helpful 7 Helpful 21

How do I massage my perineal if I cannot reach it?

wikiHow Contributor

If this is the case, then it is probably better to ask a trusted person to help you do it.
Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7

Will this cause my vagina to stretch too much and not be able to go back to
normal afterwards or after birth?
wikiHow Contributor

Before you decide to do this massage, make sure you start your pelvic floor
exercises (Kegel exercise) first. Doing this exercise will ensure that your vagina
muscles will be able to heal in a better condition after birth.

One of the many mysteries around childbirth is: How will I push
something the size of a small watermelon out of my body without
breaking into two?

The short answer is, your body can do miraculous things. One way or
another, you will deliver that beautiful baby of yours.

But sometimes this comes at a cost. During my first childbirth, I got a

second-degree tear. Tearing is fairly common, especially among first-
time moms. Less common these days though (thankfully) is
episiotomy, a surgical cut between the vagina and anus to aid in
delivery.
Is it possible to avoid tearing or episiotomy? Is there a way to prepare
your body for that great biiiiig stretch during childbirth?

Yes.

Probably.

Okay, maybe.

Read on for everything you need to know about perineal massage.

What is the perineum?

The perineum is the soft skin between the anus and the vagina.
Because of its proximity to where the baby exits the vaginal canal, as
well as the pressure put on it while pushing, this delicate area is
prone to tearingespecially for women having their first vaginal
birth.

But not all tears are the same. Some are tiny, heal quickly, and require
no special treatment. While others may end up on the other end of the
spectrum, with deep lacerations requiring stitches and weeks of
healing and discomfort.

If only there was something we could do to help prep this area for the
flexibility and stretching required for baby to enter the world
with your perineum intact Enter, perineal massage.

What is perineal massage?

Perineal massage is exactly what it sounds like: massaging the
perineum. Some women do it for themselves, and others will ask their
partners to help. Often, it is done throughout pregnancy.

What for? Perineal massage is done to stretch and increase flexibility

in the perineum in preparation for birth, in hopes of keeping the
area intactor at least minimizing perineal trauma during delivery.

Perineal massage video

Okay, its an animated gif, but same difference.

Youll find more detailed instructions on how to do perineal massage

below.

Benefits of prenatal perineal massage

Though there dont seem to be any benefits to perineal massage done
during the pushing stages of labor (and it may even cause trouble),
perineal massage done throughout pregnancy has many potential
benefits.

Easing pain during crowning

Its said that perineal massage can ease the ring of fire so often
experienced while babys head is crowning. The idea is that gently
stretching the perineum regularly will allow it to stretch more easily
when baby is crowning, causing less pain.
Helping the babys head come out easier and/or
quicker
Again, if the perineum stretches more easily, babys head may come
out more easily or quickly. It may also mentally prepare you for the
feeling of pressure and stretching, and may help you become more
comfortable with it. If you know what to expect, you may be less
tense and more able to stretch.

Avoid tearing
A pair of researchers pooled 4 studies on the benefits of perineal
massage and found that it reduced the risk of perineal trauma by 10%
for first-time moms. It didnt show any reduction in perineal trauma
for experienced moms, but did show a 32% decrease in the risk of
ongoing perineal pain at 3 months post-partum.

Avoiding an episiotomy
The same researchers found that perineal massage throughout
pregnancy also helped reduced episiotomies by 16% for first-time
mothers, though it didnt reduce the risk of episiotomy for
experienced moms.

Is perineal massage worth a try?

Absolutely! Provided that youre comfortable trying it, that is.

While there does seem to be some benefit to perineal massage, the

difference hasnt proven to be huge. So if youre not comfortable with
it, dont stress.

If you are comfortable with giving it a try, perineal massage can only
help!

How to do prenatal perineal massage

Here are the step-by-step instructions for getting started with perineal
massage at home. As always, check with your healthcare provider
 about whether perineal massage or any vaginal massage is safe for
you.

When to start perineal massage, and how often?

Its best to start the prenatal perineal massage around 34 weeks. Any
earlier, and you may just be wasting your time.

As far as how often you should do the perineal massage, the evidence
is not clear. In the Beckmann and Garret review mentioned earlier, the
data surprisingly suggests that less-often perineum massage (12
times a week) resulted in fewer perineal traumas. However, the largest
study in their review showed that the more often women did perineum
massage (34 times per week), the more likely they were to have an
intact perineum.

The simple answer would be to do this vaginal massage at least once a

weekand up to as often as you like.

What youll need to get started

Clean hands (yours or your partners) with neatly trimmed nails
Safe, non-toxic and non-irritating massage oil like almond oil, vitamin e
oil, or coconut oil
A clean towel
A mirror (optional)
How to do the perineal massage yourself
First, get your body prepared.

Take a warm bath or use a warm washcloth compress to soften the area
(10 minutes).
Lay in a comfortable position on a clean towel. Try propping your back
up with pillows. Position mirror if needed. Keep yourself relaxed and
calm so that your bottom can be relaxed and calm too.
Apply massage oil to the perineum.
Next, follow these three steps.
1. Insert your one or two thumbs about an inch into your vagina (about
to your thumbs knuckle), and put firm but gentle pressure straight
down on the perineum. Allow the perineum to stretch for a minute or
two. After it stretches for a few minutes, you may be able to get the
second thumb in more easily. Slight burning or stretching is OK, but if
you experience pain, use more gentle pressure, or stop the massage.

2. Once the perineum has been stretched for a couple of minutes,

gently move your thumb up along the sides of the vagina, stretching it
from side to side. Think about it like running your thumb on the inside
of a bowl from one side to the other.
3.If you are using two thumbs, you can run them from the bottom up
to each side, like youre starting with your thumbs at the bottom of the
bowl and running them up opposite sides.
 Continue for 35 minutes, or as long as is comfortable.

Tip: If youre having trouble reaching but still want to do the massage
yourself, you can prop one foot up onto a chair or toilet seat (so that
youre in a lunge position) and perform the massage as described
above.

How to have your partner do the perineal

massage
Make sure youre asking a trusted person to help you with this. It
doesnt work as well if you are feeling uncomfortable or tense.
 Follow the directions above, except have your partner use their index
fingers instead of thumbs. They will insert their fingers about an inch
into your vagina, about to the knuckle.
SaveMama NaturalPerineal massage may help you avoid pain and tears to your perineum during25Mama

NaturalMama Natural Blog Posts

Perineal massage bottom line

There isnt a ton of research to support prenatal perineal massage just
yet
But the info we do have shows that it can be moderately beneficial
If youre comfortable with the idea, then go for it. It can only help!

Did you do perineal massage?

Do you think it was helpful? Share with us in the comments!

References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3590696/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=16437520

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13 Comments
ADD A COMMENT
1.
Erin Jul 30 at 10:34 am
I performed perineal massage with my first starting at 36 weeks, about 3
times a week and had no tearing whatsoever! I feel it also helped that I took
my time pushing (a little over an hour) and my daughters head was on the
smaller side. I assume it was a combo of all those factors that kept me from
tearing bur I am certainly going to do the massage again this time!
REPLY

2.
Ugyen Dorji Jun 16 at 11:03 pm
Hi there,
Giving birth to a child is beautiful and painful at the same time.
Perineal massage may be uncomfortable for most of the mothers but it has
a lot of benefits. It relaxes and eases the pain at the time of delivery.
Not only that, it also helps in post delivery as well, to reduce the tension of
the muscles after delivery
A great piece of information.
Great Day Ahead!
REPLY

3.
Vronique Mar 29 at 12:43 am
I did the massage during the last month of my first pregnancy . Did it every
3 to 4 days (not 3-4 days a weekmore like 1-2 times a week). I did tear
but not as much as I thought. I think this time around I will start earlier and
keep at it everyday to prepare myself for it.
 REPLY

4.
Jess W Nov 10 at 9:08 pm
With my first I was given an episiotomy but my son also came out with his
elbow out, tearing me even further, so that I ended up with not only a cut
but 3rd degree lacerations. I was healed after a week but I still get phantom
pains from that every time my period shows up. Im about to have my 5th in
a few months and I dont care if there isnt any proof that this helps women
who have already had children. My hubby is gonna rub the daylights out of
my perineal for the next few months if it gives me peace of mind lol!
REPLY

5.
Jessica Nov 7 at 5:49 am
I had a fourth degree tear with my first born as well as tearing into my rectal
muscle. I healed up perfectly and have zero problems with fistulas and do
not suffer from incontinence.
However, with my second birth they highly suggested a cesarean birth in
preventing a possible tear again. I didnt want to have a cesarean but felt at
the time that that was probably the right decision for me. I hated every
minute of the delivery process except the part of hearing my baby cry and
seeing him for the first time. My recovery was an easier and quicker heaing
process than my first birth. Im pregnant with my third and want to have a
natural VBAC birth. Im not fully confident in my decision though. I really
want to do what is best for ne and baby. Im sure the perennial massage
would help from tearing but Im a tad nervous about other complications
that can go along with VBACs as well.
REPLY
o
Jessica Nov 7 at 5:51 am

Perineal* you got to love spell check lol

REPLY

Fister Jul 13 at 11:20 am

well, lets not be TOO hard on hershe may have meant that she had a
massage that lasted throughout the yearnow THATS the kind of
massage ID like to havea perennial massageanyone?
REPLY

6.
Amy s Oct 13 at 4:16 pm
With my first baby, I had a 4th degree laceration. I healed really well and
despite being offered a c section for this next baby (Im 20 weeks), I
declined and want to have another natural birth. Im guessing this will be
beneficial for me to do leading up to my next birth to help prevent another
bad tear?
REPLY
7.
Cherese smith Sep 19 at 5:15 pm
I started to do this about 6mo into my pregnancy. My boyfriend thought I
was crazy. But he eventually helped too. I was TERRIFIED that I was going
to rip and tear. I did this about 3-4x a week. It was my first time giving birth
and when the time came, I didnt tear enough to to need any stitches at all. I
got some small lesions that they said would heal on their own. I did feel the
ring of fire but I know if I hadnt of done this it would have been far worse.
So glad I found this info when I did. Everyone should know about this.
REPLY

8.
Elizabeth Hanson Sep 13 at 11:11 pm
Great info. I am sure this is not a well-discussed topic even though it is so
important. Not tearing sounds like a great plan to me.
REPLY