7 Minute PERINEAL MASSAGE - Easy Guide for your Pelvic Floor Birth Prep

[@gillianwhite9068]

This is sooo helpful! Currently pregnant with my second and my husband helped do the massages with my first pregnancy, as we learned about them through our hypnobirthing class. He was super hands on and it was fantastic. It’s been so much harder this pregnancy with a toddler and a different work schedule and I’ve been struggling with doing this massage myself. This video was so helpful. Thank you!

[@movewithDrChris]

So happy to hear this tutorial was helpful for you! Pregnancy and birth prep efforts while already parenting a toddler is no small feat. You’re doing a great job!

[@eugeneconfidenceruth8282]

Hi dear, Can olive oil be used for the massage?

[@movewithDrChris]

@@eugeneconfidenceruth8282 typically if the oil is food-grade/safe to eat it’s usually fine, but I recommend testing a small amount on your skin beforehand

[@VeronicaStJohn-pm2pe]

Where can I find more information about hip flexibility for successful pelvic floor for birth?

[@movewithDrChris]

@@VeronicaStJohn-pm2pe I have some of examples in my reels you can explore, and in my online course I go into depth about specific hip mobility exercises for pelvic floor birth prep (link in description above to learn more)

[@aa-fw2pw]

Hi there! 35 weeks pregnant with my 3rd baby. I had a 3rd degree tear with my 2nd baby, so is it safe to practise this for my 3rd?

[@movewithDrChris]

Congrats on your growing family! Yes, it should be fine unless you've been told otherwise from your provider. If someone has perineal/pelvic floor scar tissue restrictions, it can make it difficult for the pelvic floor to stretch and lengthen most effectively during a subsequent vaginal birth. Assessing flexibility of previous scars is something I do often with my patients, and if the scar tissue is not moving well we work on improving that with manual work and I teach them self massage techniques at home. Perineal massage as described in the video is a way to assess and work on this.

[@ShimaZabih]

Is there any video for a proper beathing during labor?

[@movewithDrChris]

I don't have a video on youtube for that, but I do cover that in my online birth prep course (link in bio) if you want to learn more

[@preciouskanu7481]

Can this be done if one is 36 and 37 weeks ?

[@movewithDrChris]

Yes you can! The recommendation for earlier is to give people enough time to practice consistently (4-5wks is ideal) because babies can arrive at any time ;)

[@DigitalResurrection]

I’ve heard that many women that do the exercise tear more often than those that don’t. Could you share a personal percentage of success you’ve witnessed and of failure after doing these stretches?

[@movewithDrChris]

@@DigitalResurrection the research on perineal massage leading up to birth shows a decrease in tearing rates, and this is also what I see in my practice. I will also add that perineal massage is more effective when paired with breathing and hip mobility exercises throughout the latter weeks of pregnancy as these all play a significant role in improving body awareness and flexibility of the pelvic floor, which is what ultimately helps decrease perineal tears. For that reason it’s hard for me to give a percentage of success of perineal massage alone because I’m always pairing perineal massage with breathing and hip mobility work, but in general in see a significant decrease in tearing when my patients are consistent with these exercises.

[@lynne3989]

Can I do this same technique for my peranium? Not for delivery but it gets inflamed, tightens & swells up some. Feels real tender to the touch on the outside. I have multiple prolasps & tight, all around pelvic floor muscles.

[@movewithDrChris]

Perineal massage in this way is more specific for birth prep vs addressing pelvic floor muscle tightness/pain. I would recommend having a pelvic floor PT guide you specifically for your case as doing manual work to the pelvic floor muscles can sometimes further irritate tenderness and swelling symptoms

[@information4uvictorragnork617]

i do this massage to my patient

[@movewithDrChris]

@@information4uvictorragnork617 are you helping them with birth prep?

[@youcansoften]

Can I use a perineal massager? They say you can use primrose oil to massage it

[@movewithDrChris]

By perineal massager do you mean a vibrator that can use used intravaginally? If so, my answer is maybe…it depends on the length and width of the massager. Ideally you want something that can be comfortably inserted and able to apply pressure comfortably that's about the width and size of your thumb inside the vaginal canal. I personally recommend using your thumb, or a pelvic floor wand device from Intimate Rose or the perimom massager wand. As for primrose oil, the research is mixed on its safety and some believe it can ripen the cervix and induce labor. I don’t recommend using it for my patients for safety reasons until more research is available and on a similar note not wanting to have anyone possibly go into premature labor if this is a possible effect of the oil which is still unclear.

[@AlfiyaYasmin]

Hi mam,i have checked the google about grapeseed oil that make elasticity on skin.So, Can we use the GRAPESEED OIL on perineum?and there is no side effects about grapeseed oil in the google. And,one more question, Does it (Grapeseed oil) change the TH of skin? Please kindly reply mam

[@movewithDrChris]

@@AlfiyaYasmin from my understanding grapeseed oil is fine to use for perineal massage. For all natural oils I recommend getting an organic quality if possible to avoid other additives being mixed in. I don’t know what you mean by TH of the skin so unable to answer that part of your other question

[@shahid007drs]

Should I do this massage to get her rid of pain after 1st sex

[@movewithDrChris]

@@shahid007drs no this is to help someone prepare for birth. If someone is having pain during or after sex, I highly recommend they see a pelvic floor physical therapist to help them figure out what’s causing their pain and learn what exercises they need to do for their body

[@Therese100K]

New Mom here.. just wanted to ask, isn't it gonna hurt?

[@movewithDrChris]

@@Therese100K the intension behind this is to add a thoughtful amount of pressure to create a therapeutic stretch to the pelvic floor muscles, so when done correctly no it should not be painful

[@MyZozobra]

Idk why this whole time I thought a perineal massage was a belly massage 😂😂

[@movewithDrChris]

@@MyZozobra whoops hehe! Glad this video cleared that up for ya 😜

[@hoseahtz]

😂