Perennial Massage during pregnancy?

I was contemplating doing this as well (I am currently 36 weeks)...however it is VERY hard to do correctly on yourself at this point (belly size, bending/twisting to reach the area, etc.). It is suggested that you have your partner perform the massage on you, with you controlling how far he stretches you and hold you at.

I decided NOT to do this massage, because although it is not supposed to be painful, it isnt the greatest feeling in the world, and it hasnt been proven to have any benefits unless it is performed DURING labor/delivery. If your doc or midwife does not massage the area dn help the baby out using this technique, there is basically no benefit to doing it now.

You will get the same results if you choose to apply a warm/hot compress (washcloth, etc) to the perinium area during pushing when the baby is crowning. (MOst hospitals do this for you already)....

It will save you time and comfort to pass on doign this massage. If your midwife is delivering your baby, she will more than likely be doing this massage for you during labor/delivery and therefore you do not need to be doing it now. If your midwife isnt going to do this for you or will nto be delivering your baby, if your OBGYN doesnt do the massage on you during delivery, you are not going to benefit from doing it now!

Just my input from research and talkign to different doctors.

Good luck and congrats!

This past Wednesday I had a prenatal massage at 38 wks and 1 day, and I'm telling you it was wonderful, but my massage therapist did an actual prenatal massage, which is somewhat lighter than the swedish or deep tissue massage. She wasn't able to do anything but light massage on my legs due to the risk of dislodging any possible blood clots in my legs since you are at higher risk for those during pregnancy, but it really did help with the swelling that I've been having in my hands. My midwife referred me to this particular person, and it was definitely relaxing and enjoyable!!!! She told me that for 6 wks after the birth of my child, if I decide to come back she would continue to do the prenatal massage until my body has started to recover from the pregnancy, and then I could have a swedish or deep tissue massage after the 6 weeks. Good luck!!!!!!

Im 36 weeks and here of doing this to reduce the need for a epistomey (if i spelled that right) or reduce the risk of tearing I much rather tear then put my finger there the idea of messaging the skin between the anus and birth canel grosses me out a tad bit. Not only that I agree it seems really weird thought my ob never told me about this I have just heard about it on babycenter website.

Well I just read about it too...but I feel the same way

It is too awkward, and to try to see that area over your belly.

Then at the end of the instructions it says it may or may not help your birthing. So I will just pass. Then I wonder wont having sex benifit in some of the same ways?

I do my kegals and hope thats enough.

I did this with my first baby. I had a small tear that required one stitch with my birth. I gave birth squatting, using a squat bar. I had no trouble doing it because I am very flexible. Of course it wasn't weird at all.

do you mean perineal. meaning around the crotch area or are you asking perennial meaning continous?