Intimate massage how to avoid breaks. What is the purpose of perineal massage before childbirth? Self perineal massage

During the birth of a child, various ruptures of the internal and external female genital organs often occur, and all expectant mothers really want to avoid these injuries. One way to prevent tears is to massage the perineum.

A bit of anatomy

If you look in an anatomy textbook, you can read that the perineum is the place between the pubis and the coccyx. The perineum is also called the pelvic floor, it consists of several layers of muscles and supports our internal organs from below. The perineum is located at the bottom of the body, there are also external female genital organs (clitoris, small and large labia) and the vagina, urethra and anus.

In obstetrics, the term "perineum" means only a small distance between the vagina and the anus. It is this place that obstetrician-gynecologists mean when they talk about a rupture or incision of the perineum.

During childbirth, the baby's head moves through the birth canal and reaches the pelvic floor, stretching the muscles and skin of the perineum. The maximum load on the perineal tissue is experienced during the second stage of labor, when the baby's head erupts. It is at this point that the perineum may rupture. In order to remain unharmed, the perineum must be elastic and pliable.

Massage: when and why?

What are the benefits of perineum massage?

Massage stimulates blood circulation and improves metabolism in the tissues of the perineum, thanks to which they become more elastic.
Massage prepares the muscles of the perineum for proper relaxation.
Massage reduces the likelihood of surgical intervention - episiotomy (perineal incision).
With, if there was an episiotomy before, the place in the area of \u200b\u200bthe old seam may not stretch well, and perineal massage will help restore its elasticity.

Massage begins to be done in the second half, approximately 1.5 months before the expected date of birth. For example, according to this scheme:

c - 1 time in 3 days;
c - every other day;
s - daily.

But even if you remember about the massage right before, it’s not scary, it’s never too late to start doing it.

Any natural oil is suitable for massage. It is better not to use synthetic or mineral oils, as well as creams and lotions containing alcohol.

The main rule of massage is that it should not cause discomfort, and ideally even be pleasant.

Not all women are positive about perineal massage, so do not try to perform this procedure if it is unpleasant for some reason. If you have any doubts about perineal massage, check with your OB/GYN.

Massage technique

It is good to massage in the evening, after a warm shower, when the body is as relaxed as possible. Hands and perineum must be clean.

Take a comfortable position - you can put one foot on the edge of the tub or on a chair.

Lubricate the outside of the perineum and labia with oil, then insert the oiled finger (or two fingers) shallowly into the vagina, about 2-3 centimeters.

Relax your vaginal muscles and, moving gently down (towards the anus), move your finger inside the vagina. Perform movements with a different rhythm, then speeding up, then slowing them down.

Then, with rocking movements, press on the back wall of the vagina (closest to the intestines) until a feeling of tension appears. Hold this position for a minute, then release and repeat the movements after a few seconds.

After that, for about one minute, massage the moistened skin of the perineum with your thumb and forefinger (the thumb is inside the vagina, the index finger is outside on the perineum).

Repeat all movements again. Massage is usually performed within 5-7 minutes.

Perineal massage is contraindicated:

if there is a threat;
if there are any infectious, fungal and other diseases of the genital tract: in such situations, massage should be started only after the treatment, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of the disease.

During pregnancy, a woman's body is exposed to serious stress, the risk of complications increases. To avoid ruptures and episiotomy, perineal massage before childbirth will help. Manipulation will improve the condition of internal organs, speed up blood flow.

Benefit

The perineum consists of soft tissues that close the exit from the pelvic cavity. During childbirth, the baby's head drops to the entrance and, moving forward, stretches the muscles. To push the fetus, the woman strains, so the perineum is injured. Careless movements lead to breaks. The purpose of vaginal massage before childbirth is to reduce the risk of such manifestations.

Factors that affect the likelihood of ruptures:

heredity;
type of woman
body mass;
the position of the fetus;
tissue elasticity.

During the first birth, the tissues are stubborn, so they need to be prepared. If you constantly carry out intimate massage, you can make the muscles elastic, minimize the risk of damage. At this time, pain decreases, blood vessels and nerves are released.

Regular carrying out of the procedure allows you to improve the elasticity of the tissue, prepare for the exit of the head of the newborn. Massage will become protection during childbirth, and the woman will easily relax, which will speed up the passage of the fetus through the birth canal.

How to properly massage the perineum before childbirth:

regularly;
with empty bowels and bladder;
using oil;
in sterile gloves.

You can ask your husband to do the procedure, because in the last stages the stomach interferes. Some prepare the perineum on their own, seek help from a specialist. A professional massage therapist knows all the subtleties of the technique.

Harm

Despite the proven benefits of vaginal massage before childbirth, manipulation is prohibited for some categories of women. The procedure for future women in labor is contraindicated in case of vaginitis, herpes, genital infections. Adhere to the rules of hygiene in order to avoid getting bacteria into the vagina and further spread.

When infected, a pregnant woman develops allergic reactions, body temperature rises, and there are skin rashes. Actions are carried out only after the complete elimination of all ailments, the inflammatory process. It is necessary to treat the disease so that infection of the cervix and amniotic fluid does not occur. This will negatively affect the health of the child.

If during gestation there was a risk of miscarriage, massage from ruptures during childbirth is prohibited. Any stimulation during the birth of a child causes premature detachment of the placenta, internal ruptures during early delivery, and trauma to the baby.

Do not massage the perineum in preparation for childbirth with low placentation, multiple pregnancy, up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The first three months are vulnerable. Early start of procedures leads to the fact that a woman does not want to do the preparation, and this must be done daily in order to achieve the maximum effect.

Rules

The main purpose of perineal massage to prepare for childbirth is the subsequent achievement of tissue elasticity. You can do the procedure at any time. The main thing is systematic.

Rules for perineal massage.

regularity;
warm bath or shower;
clean hands;
short nails;
sterile oil;
medical gloves.

The number of sessions varies depending on the duration of pregnancy. In the early days, if there are no contraindications, prenatal massage should be carried out no more than once a week. The frequency increases only after the seventh month. During this period, the manipulation takes place once every five days. At the 8th month of pregnancy, once every three days. At 36-37 weeks, the procedure is carried out every other day, and from 38 - every day.

If you constantly massage before childbirth, this will prevent ruptures and surgical intervention. The recommendations of the doctor will help make the exit of the baby easy. Performing the procedure with her husband brings together, the woman relaxes better.

Technique

At first, prenatal massage takes place in front of a mirror in order to better see how actions are performed. Movement is carried out with the help of the thumb or middle finger. You need to reach the crotch from behind. The woman independently chooses a position standing, sitting or lying down, putting her foot on a stool.

It is required to take oil to massage the perineum, and pour over the fingers. Do not dip them in a container to reduce the risk of infection. The substance is treated with the upper part of the vagina and the skin. The process is easy if you follow the simple steps.

Technique:

insert the thumbs of both hands into the perineum 2-3 cm deep;
make light pressure down and to the sides;
perform stretching movements for one minute to feel a slight tension.

The duration of the exercises increases from 2 to 5 minutes. If a woman feels discomfort, pain, it is necessary to reduce pressure or stop manipulation. Massage with oils to prevent tears should be gentle and pleasant. As soon as the procedure is over, apply a heating pad with warm water. This will increase the effect, help to relax the muscles and soft tissues.

Funds

The uterus is massaged before childbirth using oil, which is purchased at the pharmacy. A large assortment and low price make the product accessible to everyone. If an allergic reaction occurs, it is recommended to stop the procedure. An allergy test is required before use. The agent is applied to the elbow part, if there is no negative reaction, the composition can be used.

For oil massage before childbirth, it is forbidden to use a castor product, as it stimulates the activity of the uterus. The pharmacy offers special intimate oils. It is allowed to use a composition that will make the fabric elastic. It includes rose, sage, almond, tocopherol. The oil will relax, prevent tears and surgery.

What kind of oil to massage the perineum before childbirth:

pink;
almond;
marigold flowers;
chamomile;
from germinated wheat;
calendula;
apricot;
rose petals;
olive;
from grape seeds;
boiled vegetable.

You can prepare the composition at home. To do this, you need ordinary vegetable oil and St. John's wort. The grass is placed in a liter jar, poured with oil so that it covers the plant. Place in a water bath and heat for 20 minutes. Then the jar is closed with a lid and left in a dark place for a week.

Uncommon occurrences during childbirth. Damage to the external genital organs of a woman receives due to the large load that the muscles and tissues experience when the child passes through the birth canal.

To avoid injuries and incisions of the perineum during delivery, it is recommended to do a special massage using oils throughout pregnancy and especially in the last trimester.

Causes of perineal rupture during childbirth

The appearance of ruptures of the external and internal female genital organs at the birth of a child occurs when the assistance provided to the woman in labor is incorrect, the movements of the woman giving birth are incorrect (incorrect or early attempts).

Also, the frequency of the use of episiotomy and the appearance of perineal injuries is affected by heredity, the constitutional features of the structure of a woman, the size and weight of the fetus, its presentation, tissue elasticity.

It has been proven that primiparas have a much higher percentage of ruptures. Perineal massage is an excellent prevention. It can be performed at any time, taking into account the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy and contraindications.

Benefits of perineum massage

Perineum massage for pregnant women is very useful. It improves blood circulation in the tissues, making them more supple and elastic, prepares them for proper relaxation during childbirth, and reduces the likelihood of a woman in labor undergoing a procedure such as an episiotomy (perineal incision). Repeatedly giving birth, perineal massage will help to avoid rupture of scars and sutures obtained in the first birth.

Perineal massage rules

To achieve good results and make the tissues of the perineum elastic and pliable, you need to follow a number of simple rules:

perineal massage should be carried out regularly without gaps;
before the procedure, it is desirable to empty the bladder and intestines;
it is also recommended to take a warm bath or shower before perineal massage to soften the tissues of the penis;
do not forget to cut your nails and wash your hands thoroughly before the session;
only sterile or fire-calcined oil can be used;

What kind of oil can be used to massage the perineum

For perineal massage, you can use various oils purchased at a pharmacy (sterile). To date, their range is quite wide, and at a cost they are available to everyone. You can use:

rose oil;
chamomile oil;
calendula oil;
olive oil;
germinated wheat oil;
pre-boiled sunflower oil.

The use of castor oil is not allowed, as it stimulates the contractile activity of the uterus. Oil for perineal massage before childbirth can be prepared independently. To do this, take St. John's wort and ordinary vegetable oil.

Put St. John's wort in a one-liter glass jar with a lid, pour in oil so that the herb is under it, and heat in a water bath for 20 minutes. When the oil warms up, remove it from the stove, cover with a lid and put it away for 7 days in a dark place. After a week, the oil can be used for massage.

Contraindications for perineal massage

Despite the obvious benefits, perineal massage to prepare for childbirth, there are certain contraindications. The first is infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genital organs (colpitis caused by bacvaginosis or opportunistic microflora).

First you need to cure the inflammation and only then, with a good analysis, start a massage course. Otherwise, more harm than good will result, because massage will contribute to the spread of infection into the uterus, which is fraught with pregnancy complications.

It is impossible to massage the perineum with the threat of termination of pregnancy,. It is also not recommended to massage the perineum at high temperatures and skin diseases that have spread to the vagina.

How long can you do perineal massage

In principle, you can start massage from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, the main thing is to observe the regularity of its implementation. For a short period, it is recommended to massage the perineum once a week, from 28 weeks - once every 5-7 days, from 32 weeks - once every 3-5 days, starting from 36 weeks, perineal massage is done every other day.

By the end of pregnancy, from the 38th week, you can massage the perineum every day. The main thing is that the perineal massage does not cause you discomfort and discomfort. If you have any questions or doubts about this procedure, please consult your gynecologist.

Perineum massage technique

It is better to carry out the perineal massage procedure before going to bed, after a warm shower, when you are as relaxed as possible. You can do it yourself, you can ask your husband for help, especially in the later stages, when a big belly interferes with self-massage and does not allow you to relax properly.

The best position for perineal massage is lying on your back with a small pillow under your buttocks or half-sitting with your foot on the edge of a chair. At first, you may find it easier to use a mirror so that you can see your vagina in front of you.

Before massage, pour oil from the container on your fingers. It is not recommended to dip them every time, so as not to contaminate the oil and avoid infection in the future. Let's get to the massage.

Anoint the skin of the perineum and vagina with oil, then stick your index finger inward a few centimeters and make pressure on the back wall of the vagina and to the sides of the movement, as if you were stretching it.

Continue this movement for five to seven minutes until you feel a stretch and a slight tingle. Hold your finger like this for a minute and then release. Repeat after a while.

After that, begin rhythmic movements in the vagina, alternately accelerating and then slowing them down. After a while, move to the beginning of the perineum (towards the anus and back), continuing the same movements for three minutes.

Your movements should be gentle, but with a little pressure. For women who are actively involved in sports, manipulations may be slightly more intense.

Exercises to prevent tears during childbirth

In addition to massaging the perineum to prevent tears during childbirth, it is recommended to exercise the muscles of the vagina to make them more elastic. We are offering to you some exercises to help you with this:

1. Compression

Tighten your perineal muscles as much as possible, slowly counting to three, then relax. While exercising, gradually increase the time of muscle contraction to 15-20 or more seconds at a time. Repeat the exercise three times a day for ten compressions.

2. Abbreviations

Tighten and relax the muscles of the vagina as intensely as possible. The sooner you do this, the better. Do the exercise at least three times a day.

3. Ejection

Push lightly, as if you are trying to go to the toilet "in a big way." Repeat several times throughout the day for a couple of sets.

Oh, I already feel like a "professional" in this area. :)))

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You have most likely already heard of perineal massage. It is done to prevent perineal tears during childbirth. The tissues of the perineum experience the maximum load during the eruption of the head. When the baby's head stands on a large perimeter (the size of the baby's head), the mother's perineum is most at risk of rupture. For multiparous women who underwent an episiotomy during their first birth, such a massage is most relevant - the old seam may crack, because the tissues have lost their elasticity.

You can start doing massage at any time. If the gestational age is not yet long, the frequency of massage once every 7-10 days is sufficient. Closer to childbirth - more often. From 28 weeks once every 5-7 days. From 32 weeks once every 3-5 days. From 36 weeks every other day, and from 38 weeks it is desirable to massage every day. If the pregnancy is already coming to an end - start doing massage every third day for a week, then every second day for a week, and then every day until delivery.

It is best to massage in the evening, after a warm shower or bath. You can do it yourself, but it is better to involve your husband. At least for the simple reason that a big belly gets in the way.

For massage you will need natural oil. Which? Rose, chamomile, calendula, castor, olive, almond, wheat. Plain sunflower oil is not recommended. I myself have used Weleda Calendula Oil with Vitamin E.

How to do the massage itself? Be sure to wash your hands with a brush. Lubricate the outside of the perineum and lips generously with oil. Then, shallowly insert a well-oiled finger or two into the vagina. 2-3 centimeters - no more. And begin to make pressing swaying movements on the back wall of the vagina (closest to the intestines) until you feel a feeling of tension and tingling. Hold a minute - let go. Repeat after a few seconds. And so for 5-7 minutes. Of course, it is much better if the massage is done by the husband. This is still good, because at this moment it is better for you to completely relax in response to the feeling of tension. Try to let go and ignore. Such relaxation training will bring relaxation to automaticity, and it will be very useful and helpful for childbirth as a reaction to contractions.

Then, from the outside, lubricate the crotch area with oil from the center to the thighs again. Just as important, lubricate the small lips with oil and gently pull and massage them. This is a common situation when small lips burst during childbirth, and it is better to try to give them elasticity in advance than to experience various kinds of difficulties later.
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Traditionally, the body of a pregnant woman must independently prepare for the most important event - childbirth. But it often happens that by the time the baby is born, the muscles of the mother's perineum are stiff, inelastic and completely unprepared for expansion. Such a situation can lead to terrible consequences: episiotomy (surgical dissection of the back wall of the vagina), rupture of the inguinal zone in a woman, or damage to the baby's head.

To avoid complications during childbirth, a woman, first of all, needs to breathe properly. However, the problem can be prevented if the muscles and tissues of the perineum are prepared in advance for labor activity (in other words, make them elastic, flexible, soft and able to open on their own). It is for this purpose that a special perineal massage was developed.

What is a perineum?

The perineum is the part of the body located between the genitals and the anus. During labor activity, the baby's head passes through the pelvic floor, while stretching the muscles of the perineum. In addition, during attempts, a woman helps herself to push the baby out using the same muscles. Such processes create a large load on the tissues of the perineum, and any negligence on the part of the woman giving birth or the mistake of the medical staff can result in mechanical damage and ruptures.

Rules for intimate massage

Massage prepares the tissues of the vagina for proper relaxation, making the muscles more elastic and elastic, and therefore eliminates the risk of surgical incision or rupture. In addition, the correct execution of the perineum guarantees a painless childbirth. Also, massaging the groin area has an important role: it minimizes any damage to the perineum of the mother, as well as her child at the time of childbirth.

Perineum massage rules:

You can massage the inguinal zone only on the recommendation of the attending gynecologist.
The process of conducting a massage should not cause discomfort or pain in a pregnant woman.
The perineal massage procedure must be carried out in completely sterile conditions, since the vaginal mucosa is very sensitive.
During the massage procedure, it is necessary to use antibacterial natural oils.
The bladder and intestines of the future mother should be empty during the session.
The schedule of massage procedures should be regular.
Before the massage, it is recommended to take relaxing baths with the addition of herbs: chamomile, mint, lemon balm.

Contraindications for perineal massage

Perineal massage during pregnancy is prohibited for women who have infectious diseases, inflammation in the intimate area, as well as a tendency to skin diseases. In addition, massage procedures should not be performed by pregnant women who are at risk of premature birth or termination of pregnancy.

Perineum massage technique

Intimate massage can be performed at any stage of pregnancy. The main thing is that it is carried out on a regular basis.

Before starting the massage, a pregnant woman should take a comfortable position (lying on her back, half-sitting, legs apart). Then it is necessary to carefully treat the intimate area and hands of the massage therapist with special oil.

After that, you need to insert a finger (two can be) into the vagina by 2-3 centimeters, placing it on the pelvic floor. With gentle movements, the back wall of the vagina is first massaged. Then, smooth stretching of the perineum in different directions is performed, until a feeling of tingling and stretching occurs. Hold this position for 60 seconds, then relax.

After that, start the process of rhythmic pressure on the walls of the vagina, then accelerating, then slowing down the massage movements, followed by the transition to the anus (you need to perform the exercise for 3 minutes). In no case should sensations during massage carry with it pain and discomfort. The procedure should be pleasant and relaxing. On average, an intimate massage lasts 5-7 minutes.

Specially for Elena TOLOCHIK