Perineal massage is a type of massage that is performed in the intimate area of the woman that helps to stretch the vaginal muscles and genital canal, facilitating the baby’s departure during normal delivery. This massage can be performed at home and, ideally, should be guided by a gynecologist or obstetrician.
Massage the perineum is a good way to increase lubrication and stretch the tissues of this area, which helps dilate and therefore the baby’s passage to the genital canal. In this way, it is possible to have emotional and physical benefits of this massage.
- The perineum massage should be performed daily.
- From 30 weeks gestation.
- And should last about 10 minutes.
- The steps are:.
Perineal massage is also useful for postpartum, if you have had an episiotomy. It helps maintain tissue elasticity, re-widens the entrance to the vagina and dissolves the fibrosis points that can form along the scar, to allow for painless sexual contact. To make the massage less painful, you can use an anesthetic ointment about 40 minutes before starting the massage, a good example is the Emla ointment.
EPI-Not is a small device that works in the same way as the device that measures pressure. It simply consists of a silicone balloon that must be inserted into the vagina and must be manually inflated by the woman. Thus, the woman has full control over the amount of balloon that can fill within the vaginal canal, enlarging the tissues.
To use EPI-No, the lubricant must be placed at the entrance of the vagina and also on the INflatable silicone balloon EPI-No. Then it is necessary to inflate enough to enter the vagina and after being housed, the balloon must inflate again so that it can expand and move away from the sides of the vagina.
This equipment can be used once or twice a day, after 34 weeks of gestation, as it is completely safe and does not negatively affect the baby. Ideally, it should be used every day for a gradual stretching of the vaginal canal, which can greatly facilitate the birth of the baby. This small equipment can be purchased on the Internet but also can be rented some doulas.