avoiding tearing?

[Minxy]

Some one told me that taking linseed/flaxseed oil as a supplement can help elasticity.

She had a ten-pounder and didn't rip at all.

I've already started on the perineum massage but am anxious to do all I can as I'm only a little 'un and fear I'm expecting a baby elephant!

Has anyone got any extra tips??

 

[budge]

i reckon if you're going to tear you'll tear. No matter what you do or what size the baby is.

 

[hayley]

pant and pant more... probably easier said than done but they do say listen to your MW and when she says stop and pant - just do it! i'm going to listen to them (if i can) and hopefully i wont tear...

x

 

[budge]

yes hayley thats a rewally good tip. My mother did tell me that - she said 'rachael just be guided by the midwife' i did pant and listened so well and did everything. But i still tore. Its not the end of the world though - most women do and if its a controlled tear and not a great third degree one it heals really quick and you don't even notice it as you have so many orther things like feeds and nappy changes to take your mind off it!

 

[Dee1985]

i have never teared with my 2 the best advise i give is listen to the midwife no matter what when she says push, push when she says pant, pant whaen she says stop pushing stop. its hard as once babies on its way out all you ant to do is push

 

[ToriElla]

your pelvic floor muscles are important. i didnt do my exercises as much as i should have during pregnancy but i think i had/have good control of them. i think it def helps when you are holding the babys head there and then use them for the final push. xx

 

[hayley]

do you have control over the pushing? or is the urge just too strong? is it like really needing to go the loo and not being able to hold it in? also when you have to push - does it hurt like hell? I mean do you have to push through pain? does the pain stop when you stop pushing? i'm trying to imagne the pain but i know i can't... is it the worst pain you've ever felt? i know they say it all goes away as soon as the baby is born (or is this people trying to make me feel better?)

x

 

[Tan]

I just kept thinking what a gorgeous special thing i'd have at the end of it and kept going! Your body forces you to keep going too and you do have some sort of control over the strength of the push you give although maybe not the urge to push.

I think it is impossible to imagine the pain but its also impossible to really describe it to anyone. And it really does go away afterwards for some people straight away and for others after a while. If it didn't, people wouldn't keep having babies!

I was lucky, I didn't tear although I had a graze which was an internal tear I think and then I wore some maternity pads which I had an allergic reaction too so I was on agony and nearly passed out everytime my underwear brushed against me. But, at the end of the day, there's always someone who's had to go through worse and i'm doing it all again too!

Tan x

 

[pips]

dionne's right, listen carefully to the midwife and my tip is ask for a mirror! that way you see what you are doing, plus you get to see the birth! excellent

 

[Lindsay]

I listened to my m/w and did all that she said to do and still tore in 2 places - I think if you are going to tear you will. If it's any consilation you aren't aware that you are tearing, you are too busy thinking about getting your LO out lol!!!!!

Xxx