[amazing_love]

I did this religiously last time and I do believe it was helpful. My doctor told me she doesn't think i would've torn at all had it not been for baby's hand up near his head when he came out. I had DH do it for me everyday. This time I haven't done it at all and am suddenly wondering if i should have but now being over 35 weeks i'm kinda late to be starting! Also i've heard its most beneficial for your first baby but not sure how true that is.

[RunningMommyTo3]

I asked my MW about this when I was pregnant with my first (no real need since I've had c-sections since), but she said that there is certainly no harm in doing it and it could help, so if we wanted to and are comfortable with it, then to go for it. But, she also added that it may or may not have a real benefit. She tries to have all her clients do the really slow, shorter pushes as they crown and the head is delivered to avoid tearing and to try to let it stretch instead, and she said that, in her experience, that the moms who've done the massage have had the same odds of tearing as the moms who didn't. Again, it's one of those things that *could* be beneficial, so go for it if you want to, but even when done religiously, it won't guarantee against tearing!

[MrsB1227]

I haven't and didn't do it with my first either, but my doc used mineral oil and perineal massage during labor as baby's head was coming out and I had no perineal tearing. Bless that woman! My recovery was non-existent, I felt 100% after giving birth, fingers crossed for the same experience this time around

[3Sapphires]

my midwife last time told me it is really only beneficial while pushing, I didn't do it last time though my m/w did while Nate was crowning, and I won't this time either. I did not tear

[curlygirl77]

I have heard that it is beneficial for the first baby, but you are already 'stretched out' for your second (third, fourth etc) and it really won't make any difference. I've never done it, but I've always torn a bit just because I have really short labours and the babies pop out really fast, lol.

[Blessed Mommy Of 5]

I tried it with my first pregnancy and I still tore. And that was along with having an episiotomy. I had several stitches afterwards and a painful recovery.

With the rest of my babies I didn't tear or have to get an episiotomy. Yay for that! I am hoping it stays that way!!

**edited** because I cannot spell today!! LOL

[amazing_love]

Well it sounds like it won't really make a difference for me either way this time so i'll skip it. Decision made. haha.

[alicenwonderland]

I didn't do it either time. Last time i had a large episiotomy... so not sure it would have helped me (vacuum assist)

didn't do it this time either.... but i have very little perineum left... its all scar tissue and hemorrhoids. :/

[Rinchan]

I do them every day with vitamin E oil and sometimes doing it feels a little too good... if you know what I mean

Hopefully it will eliminate or at least reduce tearing. That is what scares me most about delivery! I've been doing stretches and kegel exercises too. (Though sometimes I forget about kegels)