When I became pregnant, one of my concerns was avoiding a C-section. (I knew you couldn't predict everything that happened in the delivery room and knew that if our life depended on it, I’d have no problem getting one.) But while I was hoping for a problem-free delivery, the last thing on my mind was vaginal tearing and an episiotomy. As it turned out, I had one of each.
Vaginal tears are pretty common during the delivery process. It happens when the vagina opening isn’t big enough for the baby’s head to come through. These types of tears may take a few weeks to heal, and extensive tears could take longer to heal and could lead to infection.
2. Maintain healthy nutrition
Following a healthy diet throughout your pregnancy can also prevent tearing. Doctors recommend staying hydrated and eating lots of protein protein, vitamin E, fatty acids and flavonoids found in fruits like oranges and blueberries. This will promote tissue health and elasticity, allowing for an easier delivery.
3. Massage the perineum
According to medical experts, you can begin massaging your perineum with edible oils (like vitamin E oil or olive oil) or lubricants like K-Y Jelly in preparation for childbirth at 34 weeks of pregnancy. While it’s unclear how many times you should do it, I've heard that women who massaged their perineum the most had the best outcomes. However, another study revealed that a perineal massage of “1.5 times per week (on average) provided a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of episiotomy, unlike the women who massaged more frequently.”
Whatever you decide, it’s important to do what makes you happy.
But most importantly, do your research. In retrospect, I wish I would have done more to prepare for delivery. The idea of being at home or at a birthing center sounds relaxing; I like being able to push while in a position I feel most comfortable. But at the same time, I like being at a hospital in case of a medical emergency. If my husband and I do decide to have another baby, I’d also definitely be more conscious of my diet and give perineal massage a try. I'd do just about anything to save myself the pain and cut my recovery time big time
