It is probably more comfortable to do the massage after a bath, as the warmth of the water can help soften the surrounding tissues.

Pro Tip: Be careful not to clench your pelvic floor during perineal massage. If your core is firing, so is your pelvic floor, so breathe and relax both. Take deep, 360-degree diaphragmatic breaths as you slowly massage. Once you find a sensation that feels good, keep going! You can just focus on your perineum or you can add in other forms of stimulation, like penis stroking or anal penetration with your fingers or a butt plug. If you can’t have an orgasm through the perineum or find you just aren’t that into this kind of stimulation, that’s perfectly OK, too. Every single body is different, and not everyone has orgasms in the same way. On vaginal inspection post birth, I had no tears and everything was intact 🙏🏻 Healing from birth has been incredibly easy without having to have any stitches and I really do account a lot of the success to Aniball, so many thanks!! adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of HealthdirectThe Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says 80% of women experience tearing during labour and first time mums are at risk of severe perineal tears. Aniball helps you learn how to work with your pelvic floor muscles to prevent these injuries and protect your body and baby. If you have trouble reaching with your hands, you can also use a pelvic wand (we love the one from Intimate Rose) or the Peri Mom perineal massager According to the Mayo Clinic, “Vaginal tears during childbirth, also called perineal lacerations or tears, occur when the baby’s head is coming through the vaginal opening and is either too large for the vagina to stretch around or the head is a normal size but the vagina doesn’t stretch easily.”

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers. Using your two thumbs press downwards in the direction of your anus so that you feel a stretch of the muscles surrounding the vagina and the vaginal tissues. Once you have this downward pressure, use your thumbs to sweep from side to side in a rhythmic U shape movement. Schreiner, L., Crivelatti, I., de Oliveira, J.M., Nygaard, C.C. and dos Santos, T.G. (2018), Systematic review of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy. Int J Gynecol Obstet, 143: 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.12513

Perineal massage is not advised if the placenta is low-lying or there is an active vaginal infection such as thrush or herpes.Don’t massage your perineum if you have an infection, including vaginal thrush, herpes, or any open cuts or infection on your hands or fingers. It’s easy to transmit microorganisms into the vagina and uterus, which is why it’s important to only massage your perineum if your hands are clean and the skin is intact. If you spend much time hanging out on pregnancy forums, you might see recommendations to use coconut oil, or even olive oil, vegetable oil, almond oil, or sexual lubricants. The claim most moms make is that there’s no reason to pay for a specific perineal massage product when you could use a household product that does the exact same thing. Apply the natural oil or personal lubricant to your clean hands. Begin by placing one or both of your thumbs about 1 to 1 1/2 inches inside your vagina. Consider using a mirror the first few times you try massage to make sure you’re getting the right spots. Seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist during pregnancy can help with pregnancy discomfort, birth preparations, preparing for postnatal recovery and much more....