perineal massage

[Anonymous]

Hi,
my birthing class instructor highly recommended the perineal massage, and my husband and I started doing it. Has anybody else tried it with your past pregnancies, and do you believe it was helpful?
THe massage feels a bit uncomfortable to say the least...My sheet with directions says you have to comfortably fit 7 fingers into the vag. opening and then you're ready. I think we can hardly fit 3 fingers at this point,and I am 10 days away from the due date. This is quite frustrating...
Any suggestions? Should I just stop worrying about it, or try to be more aggressive with this?
THANKS!

[Anonymous]

I asked my midwives about it and they said they don't recommend the massage. According to the midwives there haven't been any studies that have proven it really works and with their patients they haven't noticed a difference between those that have done the massage and those that haven't. They said the big factor is perinial support during actual L&D.

I found that interesting, because almost everything else I've read (information from my doula, my birthing class, and online) suggests to do the massage.

[Anonymous]

Only have my personal experience to offer: we didn't do it, and I didn't tear at all. My midwives took great care of my perineum during labor/delivery, and worked with me to deliver my son really sssssslllloooooowwwwwllllyyyyy to allow the tissue to stretch.

[Anonymous]

My midwife instructed us to do it with two fingers moving down and then opening to the sides. 7 sounds horrifiying - yes, I know, it's not as bad as a head but....we're not there yet. We haven't even gotten brave enough to work on the 2 at home. Will do it in these last few weeks though. Good times.