RaMa Mama Doula Share: Perineal Massage: Preparing For Birth & Delivery...

Labor and delivery occurs in phases. Mama starts labor, labor builds, she enters the active phase, there is a pause, she pushes the baby out, she delivers the placenta, and she gets sown up if she has tears from the birth. In the pushing phase, there is a point where mama has to break through the "Ring of Fire". This is the greatest stretch that the vagina has to go through when delivering the head and shoulders of the baby before the rest of the body comes out. It is part of the final pushes in delivery, and it can take time and lots of stretching to get to the point of pushing through it. The "Ring of Fire" can be intimidating to a lot of first-time mothers when they haven't taken the time to prepare for it. So how do new mothers prepare to pass through the sacred "Ring of Fire"?

Perineal massage is vital in stretching the vaginal lining in order for the baby to come out with more ease and grace. From around 34-35 weeks of pregnancy, it is recommended to stretch the vaginal opening and surrounding tissues to prepare the body for birth. Not only does it help to reduce tearing, but it can also begin to support the body in being comfortable with the sensation of stretching open. Along with warm compresses, slow and controlled pushes, and the right birthing posture for the moment, Perineal Massage is available for couples to explore together in order to help the body begin to open naturally. So, how do you perform perineal massage?

1. Wash Hands and Trim Nails

2. Choose and all-natural lubricant

3. Get comfortable enough to relax

4. Gently insert both thumbs about 1-2 inches into the vagina

5. Put the thumbs down toward the rectum and slightly out to the sides to begin

6. Press thumbs downward and outward until there is a tingling sensation

7. Hold here for 1-2 minutes while taking long, deep breaths and relaxing the pelvic floor

8. Continue by sweeping the thumbs along the lower vaginal wall and perineum in a "U-shaped" motion

9. Focus attention on the area of the vagina that is feeling the stretch the most

10. Don't force anything, but breathe through the sensations and relax the pelvic floor, jaw, shoulders, and abdomen

11. Continue for 5 minutes, several times per week, from 34-35 weeks until labor and delivery

12. Stop if there is pain, bleeding, or any discomfort beyond the normal stretching

When practicing this massage, it is totally normal to feel the stretch as a warm, burning, or tingling sensation, much like the pressure that is similar to crowning during birth. What is not normal is if there is sharp pain, discomfort, bleeding, or any sensations that feel concerning. The entire purpose of the perineal massage is to help the tissues to learn how to stretch with pressure. It is more about elasticity and relaxation and less about stretching the vagina open. Use the breath, move slowly, and choose positions that allow for gradual opening. This practice can help to save the mother from having to tear or have an episiotomy during childbirth, which will ultimately lead to a shorter recovery time.