Avoiding a tear "down there"...

As a doula and childbirth educator, I have found that one of the biggest concerns of birth-givers is perineal tearing.

So, to help you avoid unnecessary perineal trauma, here are some techniques AND the research on their effectiveness.

But first: one of the most important things you can do is choose a medical birth professional who knows how to support your perineum! There is a wide range of expertise, and variety in approach, among medical professionals. So ask the medical members of your birth team about their practices. [For more about choosing the medical professionals for your birth support team, read my blog post: Who's Responsible? (1)]

You might pose questions like:

• What techniques will you use to support my perineum when my baby's head is emerging?
• What is your episiotomy rate for first time birth-givers (or second, or third...)?
• Are you skilled in supporting people giving birth in a variety of pushing positions?
  
  

The answers to these questions will give you some idea of what to expect. Still, YOU are going to have to be prepared to speak up for what you want in the moment. That can be hard to do, because you're likely to be pretty busy pushing. So read on.

[WARNING: There are pictures below of actual perinea, perineal massage and a baby emerging. Stop here if you're not interested.]

Read More