Hi girls,
Is anyone planning to do the perineal stretch exercises? I read on websites that if you stretch the perineum area with your fingers it helps to keep it elastic and may prevent stitches/tears. Asked my doc abt it in the last appt and she said that it is not really required, since women have been giving birth for a long time and not everyone gets a tear or stitches. But she said that there is no harm in doing it.

What are your thoughts on this?

-M Vindhya replied. Hi M,

It's been a long time since I saw your messages. How is your pregnancy going?

Whenever I think about exercises, I think about you. You seem like an active person.

Do update your due date when you have time.

Regarding perineal stretching, there's no harm in doing it. Who knows, it might really help in preventing the tears. Even if we get some tears, atleast we'll have the satisfaction of trying and not regret it later. Do you have more information on how often we have to do it, etc.,

Vindhya Avi replied. Hi M, long time no see... :) Hope you are doing alright..

My childbirth prep instructor did go over the topic.. and looks like there are advantages and disadvantages involved with it...
LIke you said, it does help in stretching the perineum and reduces the risk of tearing ....

But, firstly your partner or you will have to be careful cause doing it with bare fingers can result in small cuts and it can lead to infection (gloves will work in this case).. Also, we need to make sure we dont overdo it ie-we cant stretch it too much (and I wont know what overdoing means)..
MOreover, the nurses will/might do it themselvs during labor if they see fit..
So I've decided against it..