Antenatal Perineal Massage for Reducing Perineal Trauma

Antenatal digital perineal massage can decrease the incidence of perineal trauma at birth and paid afterwards, according to a Cochrane review. 

Most women are keen to give birth without perineal tears, cuts and stitches, as these often cause pain and discomfort afterwards, and this can impact negatively on sexual functioning.

Perineal massage during the last month of pregnancy has been suggested as a possible way of enabling the perineal tissue to expand more easily during birth. The review of four trials (2497 women) showed that perineal massage, undertaken by the woman or her partner (for as little as once or twice a week from 35 weeks), reduced the likelihood of perineal trauma (mainly episiotomies) and ongoing perineal pain. The massage was associated with an overall reduction in the incidence of trauma requiring suturing; the women practising perineal massage were less likely to have episotomy.

The impact was clear for women who had not given birth vaginally before, but was less clear for women who had. Women should be informed about the benefits of digital antenatal perineal

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References: Beckmann MM, Stock OM.Antenatal perinaeal massage for reducing perineal trauma. Cochrne Database Syst Rev.  2013 Apr 30;4      
  
Source: summaries.cochrane.org/CD005123/PREG_antenatal-perineal-massage-for-reducing-perineal-trauma & www.imgateway.net/page.jsp?p_name=News&action=display&newsID=19416, Wednesday 6 August 2014