This is reproduced from the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
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The massage oil to use is sweet Almond oil in a one to one solution of Wheat Germ oil.
The massage should be done three to four times a week I advise daily, for 4 minutes to ten minutes, beginning at six weeks before your baby is due around week thirty-three till delivery.
1. Lubricate your fingers well with the Almond/Wheat Germ oil. You need enough to allow your fingers to move smoothly over the perineum and lower vaginal wall the wall closest to your anus.
If you are doing the massage yourself, it is probably easiest to use your thumb. Your partner can use both index fingers I recommend involving your partner after you become comfortable with your body and have explored the vagina in this manner using this technique since it is a new sensation for most women to do these massages, there maybe some discomfort/pain.
2. Place the fingers or thumb about 2 inches (5cm) into the vagina (up to the 2nd knuckle).
3. Use a sweeping motion with downward pressure, move in a rhythmic movement from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock and back again. This movement will stretch the vaginal tissue and the muscles surrounding the vagina.
Or
You can also massage the skin of the perineum between the thumb and forefinger.
4. As you or your partner perform the massage, apply steady pressure downwards toward the back passage, until you feel a tingling sensation. This will help you to recognize the sensation that you will experience when your baby's head begins to crown.
Remember
Use more oil if required to reduce friction.
Concentrate on relaxing your pelvic floor muscles as you massage.
In the beginning you will feel tight, but with time and practice the tissues will relax and stretch. The massage should not be painful.In my opinoin this is not the case, it is PAINFUL.
Items that appear in this font. or this type of writing, for those who are not computer literate are my words and not the original author it is for this rationale and legalities that I would like to expand upon this article at this time. The sensation is a burning type of pain (sensation). In the birthing room the stretching of the cervix causes this sensation and vaginal walls to form the birth canal-think of it as a round/circular tunnel from the uterus to the vagina and ending at the vulva (outside perineum area). In actuality it is painful to the extreme but nature has provided natural occurring opiates to reduce the pain and with skilled assistants to utilize methods and techniques. These methods distract the mother from most of the pain till the final moments of the second stage. This massage technique is preparing your body for the stretching required to allow the largest baby body part (the head) through the birth canal hopefully without any complications (shoulder dysplasia or Breach presentation) or vaginal tears !!! Do not fret that if these occur your designed for the process of Birthing! You may not have them again with the next baby, since delivery times lesson and the birth canal becomes more adapt to birthing for next delivery. One other point to remember sensations are such that only you know what you can endure and what pain is for you and where your threshold is. It is a very subjective subject and your right to limit it's effect upon your labor.
Copyright Women's Health,
UK Author: D.E. Tucker MRCOG
www.womens-health.co.uk
Last update: March 1999