Perineal massage. The perineal massage, which is the massaging of your perineum is a very beneficial type of massage. Your perineum is that surrounding of flesh at the opening of the vagina to the anus. The area links up with muscles which provide the seating support of all your organs around the reproductive area. These include the bowels and your bladder. It is sometimes referred to as the Pelvic Floor.
The massage involves using 1 or 2 fingers to massage the portion described. The end goal of this massage is to ensure that the tissues there are ready and able to expand so they can accommodate your baby’s entire body during delivery. This is something you can do or let your partner do for you.
Now that you know about Perineal Massage, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
According to the online library, a significant amount of women, 40 and 80 percent will have experience some amount of “a torn” tissue during delivery. And majority of these will need the torn spot to be stitched after delivery.
If the damage to the place during delivery is not properly managed, you could have issues after birth, some of these issues could be a feeling of uncomfortable during sex, or uterine issues. In some cases, some women even develop urinary problems.
The massage therefore prepares the spot with the following benefits:
- Makes the tissues ready. What the massage does is that, it causes enough blood flow to the spot, this enables the skin and flesh around the area to more easily stretch out during delivery, preventing a lot of problems.
- Probability of tearing is reduced. According to statistics 1 out of 15 women who have this kind of massage effectively do not have the need for a tear during delivery to require stitches afterwards.
- Eliminates stitches. A study has confirmed that massage will reduce the need for stitches by 10 percent. The implication of this is that perineal massage will eventually reduce the severity of a tear.
- You are made ready. Since this is the area that receives a lot of pressure during delivery and stretches the most, massaging the area puts you in a mood of preparation both in the physical and mentally.