It's called perineal massage, it's a pre-childbirth thing and it's as intense as it sounds.

I'm having a baby, and I'm petrified of vaginal tearing.

Especially if you're pregnant, people really delight in telling you the horror stories (why?!). From the "Just Wait Brigade" (i.e. 'just wait until the kid is born! You'll get no sleep etc') to the delivery room trauma recounts, it's pretty easy to become anxious about the impending, life-changing event in front of you.

It's not all bad, given some of those terrible delivery tales can help you become better prepared for childbirth and give you the knowledge to better advocate for yourself and the outcomes you want to avoid. But with that said, a lot of it is out of our control because it depends on your body and the baby, and how it decides to make its grand entrance from what Lord Krishna once referred to as the 'gateway to life' (i.e. your vagina).

There are ways to reduce the incidence of tearing during childbirth

There are plenty of positives for opting for a vaginal birth. The recovery is far quicker than a C-section (which in reality, is major abdominal surgery), the blood loss is generally a lot lower, there is a reduced risk of postpartum infection and the baby benefits from beneficial bacteria as it makes its way through the vaginal canal. Of course, there are times when a C-section can't be avoided, and you might have your reasons for choosing an elective C-section - your body, your choice at the end of the day!

But for those of us that prefer to send baby down the traditional route, one of the key concerns is tearing as the baby's head emerges from a pretty tiny space. Tearing isn't all bad - first and second degree tears heal extremely fast, with first degree tears not even requiring stitches most of the time. It's the third and particularly fourth degree tears that you want to avoid, with fourth degree being the particularly nasty tear all the way from your vagina to your rectum (in which case, an episiotomy is a better bet).

These tears are the risk that perineal massage aims to mitigate. And there's good research to back it up, too. Particularly for your first pregnancy, studies have shown perineal massage reduces the risk of tearing and the need for an episiotomy. It can also prepare you for the sensations of labour. So, I decided to give it a shot!

I tried Weleda's Perineum Massage Oil

Given 66% of Kanvas Beauty is currently pregnant (someone definitely put something in the water), it made sense for us to launch a Pregnancy + Baby Care section this year. One of our first products in that category was Weleda's extremely popular Perineum Massage Oil. 

Basically, it's an oil blend of organic sesame and jojoba oils, as well as sweet almond and vitamin E-rich wheatgerm oil to promote elasticity. I was a bit worried about trying it out, because it does contain essential oils (it smells fabulous) and I didn't want it to irritate my skin down there. But to my surprise, it's been perfectly fine. I guess the skin on my face is way more particular about what I put on it!

When I started and where it fit in my routine

After my OB recommended it, I started at around 35 weeks, every second or third day after showering in the evenings. It's best to do it when you're warm, relaxed and in your safe environment. For me, that's my bedroom in the evenings when I'm tired AF from just existing whilst heavily pregnant for the day. And speaking of which, I can barely touch my toes so this was definitely a partner activity for me. We both watched a few YouTube videos before we started (important) given we had no idea wtf we were meant to do.

Texture and application      

Weleda's Perineum Massage Oil comes out in small drops (give it a good shake), is a lightweight oil and smells lovely without being overpowering. The first time, my partner massaged the area around the vagina and perineum to "warm it up" as directed by YouTube, before inserting a thumb and slightly pulling down on the vagina from 3 o' clock to 9 'o clock, and back again for two minutes. And I did NOT like it. It felt weird, uncomfortable, and just no. I also couldn't stop clenching! We had to stop.

The second time, I'd propped myself up on pillows in front of the mirror so I could see exactly what was going on, warmed myself up with the oils before asking him to come in and do the 3 to 9 o'clock sweeps. This time, it went a lot better as I was monitoring it in the mirror and wasn't getting as surprised (and clenching). It was still uncomfortable, mind you, but it wasn't painful and nor should it be. Luckily, it only lasts a couple of minutes. Use a lot of oil to minimize friction and you should be okay. 

Results and final verdict

Well, I'm still pregnant (37 weeks) but I will update this section as soon as I can once the baby decides to join us. My mother had second degree tears with no perineal preparation and required a few stitches, so it will be interesting to see if this helps. Mind you, there are also other factors that will influence your risk of tears - such as how you push, how you breathe through contractions, the size of your baby etc. A great midwife / OB / doula directing you through the pushes seems to make a big difference to a lot of women, as does listening to their own bodies, exhaling through a contraction and taking their time). Good luck to all the pregnant ladies out there! Try not to get overwhelmed by all the information (it's hard, I know) and I will be back to tell you my own story and whether this massage made a difference for me. 

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Find the Perineum Massage Oil from Weleda online in Australia at Kanvas Beauty

You can shop the Perineum Massage Oil and other fabulous Pregnancy + Baby Care right here on Kanvas Beauty.

We ship Australia-wide, including all the major cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and Canberra). Enjoy free standard shipping with any purchase over $50, and free express shipping with any order over $99. If you’re new to Kanvas Beauty, take an additional $20 off your first order with us (use code WELCOME20 at checkout).

Happy shopping! If you have further questions on perineal massage or any of our other pregnancy care products, drop us a line on chat or on email: hello@kanvasbeauty.com.au.

Have you tried any of Weleda's Pregnancy and Postnatal products? What do you think? We'd love to know your experience!