In the courses on preparation for childbirth, which I have been teaching for many years, one of the pregnant women always asks the question: “Is it possible to somehow prepare the perineum in a special way in order to completely avoid or at least reduce the degree of tearing during childbirth? How to give birth without tearing? By such preparation, women usually mean perineal massage, the technique of which is found in some books for pregnant women. As a rule, the following question arises: “If you do not massage the perineum, will there necessarily be ruptures during childbirth?”
Group classes
Already at the initial stage of pregnancy, it is worth signing up for classes to prepare for the upcoming birth. In large cities, both paid and free courses are provided. You can get all the necessary information without extra financial costs at the antenatal clinic, where you need to register with a gynecologist. A qualified specialist will tell you how to give birth without pain and tearing. Also, during specialized classes they will inform you about possible problems that may arise during contractions. Here you can also learn how to behave in the first days after the baby is born. It is very important to learn how to properly attach your baby to the breast.
You can come to group classes with your spouse. This is especially true for a couple who is going to go through the entire birth process together. A professional instructor will tell you how your spouse should behave during labor. The couple should know how to easily give birth without tearing. Experts note that a calm woman copes much faster with the difficulties that arise during labor. Support from a loved one is very important.
Reviews
Olga
I gave birth to a fairly large baby weighing 4,150, and without a single stitch or tear. It all depends on the professionalism of the midwife and the individual abilities of the body.
Catherine
I gave birth to a healthy baby weighing 3,950 and 53 cm tall quite easily and without any tears. It is very important to listen to the doctor’s recommendations when pushing, and not to strain your stomach too much. In addition, I was taught how to push correctly at special preparatory courses.
Water aerobics for pregnant women
Swimming is very beneficial for expectant mothers. Professional swimmers know how easy it is to give birth without tearing. After all, water not only strengthens the pelvic floor muscles. But they also make the skin more elastic. Thanks to this, the baby easily passes through the birth canal, and the woman enjoys a flat tummy after pregnancy. Girls who went swimming during pregnancy have virtually no stretch marks.
Lack of movement negatively affects the process of bearing a baby. How to give birth without pain and ruptures if the woman spent most of the time in a lying position? You definitely need to move! And in order not to get overtired, you can choose classes in the pool. After water procedures, every expectant mother feels rested and her mood rises.
How to reduce the risk of ruptures during childbirth?
Based on the above, you need to do everything to give birth to the baby on time, prepare the perineum with physical exercises and be positive about the final outcome. And now more about preparing the perineum.
Today, there are various techniques for preventing ruptures during childbirth, and physical exercises to increase the elasticity of the tissues of this area.
Expectant mothers should also know about special oil for perineal massage. Experienced doctors usually recommend it to their patients. And although the perineum itself becomes more elastic closer to childbirth, you can hardly spoil the porridge with oil. Therefore, using oil will only reduce the risk of ruptures. If you don’t buy special oil, you can use other types. Olive, almond and sesame are perfect for this. These oils can be flavored with a couple of drops of aromatic oils: orange, eucalyptus, lemon of your choice.
More on the topic
How to avoid perineal tears during childbirth?
About the causes of ruptures during childbirth and ways to avoid them
Why and how to massage the perineum during pregnancy?
Perineal massage before childbirth: technique and contraindications
Kegel exercises for women after childbirth
The procedure for oiling the perineum is best done in the bathroom. You rub the selected oil onto a clean intimate area, lightly massaging it, and wait 15-20 minutes. The oil should then be removed. To do this, it is recommended to first lubricate the perineal area with gruel made from oatmeal or corn flour, and then rinse everything off with warm water. You should not use scrubs or gels to wash off. By the way, Indian women do this procedure every day during pregnancy. If you oil your perineum at least once a week, this will also have an effect.
To prevent ruptures, you can also apply oil to the vagina. However, this procedure should begin closer to childbirth, about a month in advance. For this purpose, melted butter is used. Before going to bed, you need to take a piece of ghee, the size of a nut, and insert it deep into the vagina at night. During this time it will saturate the walls. But such manipulation is not recommended for inflammatory processes with discharge and itching.
Gymnastics
A set of special exercises has long been developed that will allow you to train the pelvic floor muscles. You can start gymnastics even before conception. The essence of the exercises is the consistent contraction and relaxation of the genital muscles. You can do exercises in any convenient place. Even public transport is suitable for this. After all, no one can guess that a woman is engaged in specific gymnastics.
Classical gymnastics will also benefit a pregnant woman. But when performing exercises, you should be extremely careful. There is a special complex for women who are expecting the birth of a child. You need to consult a gynecologist in advance. Excessive physical activity is contraindicated for women at risk of premature birth. If bleeding occurs during exercise, you should immediately seek medical help.
Spending time outdoors
A pregnant woman should spend more time outdoors. Almost every representative of the fair sex who lives in the village knows how to give birth without gaps. City smog is not good for anyone. If possible, you should go into the forest more often. Even an open field without a single tree is much more suitable for walking than a city park.
Girls whose last months of pregnancy occur in the summer should plan a trip to the sea. Here you will be able to recharge not only with health, but also with positive emotions. In addition, you will be able to swim a little. It is not advisable to plan a trip to distant countries. It is impossible to predict how climate change will affect a pregnant woman. Flying can also be dangerous. But the nearest resort in the Krasnodar Territory is perfect for a vacation. And in order to know how to give birth correctly without ruptures, you can take a book recommended by your obstetrician with you on your trip.
Bonding with your baby
Psychologists recommend talking to your unborn child from the first month of pregnancy. You need to learn to feel and understand it. It is worth remembering that the baby experiences much more pain during childbirth than the mother. The woman must help the baby to be born. If contractions have already begun, the expectant mother should reassure the child and tell him about the upcoming meeting with relatives. It is foolish to think that the fetus does not hear anything and does not understand intonations.
During pregnancy you need to read aloud more. The baby enjoys the mother's voice. There is no need to read fairy tales. An educational article on how to give birth without tears and incisions will be quite enough. The main thing is to pronounce the words softly and measuredly. Many expectant mothers notice that babies become more active while reading aloud. The movements of the fetus indicate that he likes what is happening.
Prevention during childbirth
The most important rule for you to give birth without ruptures is to obey the doctor who delivers the baby and the obstetrician. Don't try to give birth as quickly as possible. After all, for example, if you push when you shouldn’t, then you definitely won’t be able to do without tears. It is also worth taking only the position in which it will be most comfortable for you to endure contractions and give birth. And also don’t forget about your psychological and emotional well-being. After all, it plays no less important role than physical training.
Choosing a maternity hospital
It is worth deciding in advance in which maternity hospital the baby will be born. It is much better if the process is led by a gynecologist with whom the pregnant woman was registered. This specialist knows how to give birth without tears or incisions. The contact details of the maternity hospital should be provided to the next of kin.
If a woman has any pathologies, she should come to the maternity hospital in advance. A normal birth is considered after 38 weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, contractions begin much earlier. If labor has already begun, and the expectant mother is far from the chosen maternity hospital, you should contact the nearest medical facility. You must have an exchange card with you. This is the main document that can tell the obstetrician about how the pregnancy went.
If you managed to get to the desired maternity hospital, it is worth asking whether it is possible for the woman in labor to stay with her relatives. This is especially important if a woman plans to become a mother for the first time. If the expectant mother knows that she can count on the support of her loved ones, the birth will be much easier.
Pregnancy and bad habits
Every woman knows that smoking and alcohol negatively affect the development of the fetus. However, many still neglect the advice of experienced doctors, believing that one glass of wine a day cannot harm. In fact, even a minimal dose of alcohol leads to the fact that cells begin to become significantly less saturated with oxygen. Smoking has even worse consequences for the child and the expectant mother. How to give birth quickly without tearing? First of all, get rid of bad habits once and for all.
According to statistics, more than 50 percent of babies with developmental defects were born from parents who abused alcohol. Smoking contributes to the development of allergies in the baby. Children often suffer from bronchial asthma and all kinds of skin rashes. If you don’t have the willpower to give up cigarettes completely, you need to forget about them at least for the period of bearing and feeding the child.
How to give birth without fear?
Unfortunately, giving birth to a child will not be completely painless. But in order to get rid of psychological discomfort , a woman needs good moral preparation. The first thing to remember is that childbirth is a natural process, and the female body is initially ready for it.
Psychologists recommend that women who are afraid of childbirth study in specialized groups . It is there that the expectant mother can ask advice from experienced doctors, as well as share her fears and doubts with other pregnant women.
If it is not possible to visit specialized centers, then the woman is recommended to spend more time in the fresh air and do her favorite things (hobbies). In order to distract yourself from bad thoughts, you need to read books (with the exception of medical literature and stories about unsuccessful births).
It should be remembered that during the birth process there will be qualified specialists nearby who are not delivering babies for the first time. And the most important thing is to go to the maternity hospital with a positive attitude.
Pain relief for childbirth
If a woman is sure that she will not be able to cope with the pain during childbirth, it is worth agreeing with the obstetrician in advance about epidural anesthesia. True, this technique has both its advantages and disadvantages. A big plus is the complete absence of pain during contractions and pushing. This allows the expectant mother to calm down and listen carefully to all the doctor’s instructions. On the other hand, a woman cannot feel the baby moving through the birth canal. It is difficult to determine when to start pushing and when it is better to rest.
An excellent alternative can be partial pain relief with antispasmodics. The specialist will tell you how to give birth to a child without ruptures, and if the pain subsides at least a little, then the woman will be able to feel the whole process and help her baby to be born.
Causes
Many women believe that cracks occur if you push incorrectly during childbirth, but this is only one of the reasons. Let's get acquainted with the factors influencing the appearance of gaps:
- Baby's head size. If the birth occurs at the scheduled time, that is, at 38–40 weeks, and the baby is not heavy, then the risk of ruptures is reduced. In addition, during this period, the perineal tissue is characterized by good elasticity. Childbirth occurs without breaks or even cracks. The birth of a large baby can be painful and more difficult. The weight of the fetus is determined by genetics and is practically impossible to influence. A sedentary lifestyle and extra pounds of the expectant mother affect the child's weight, but to a small extent.
- Elasticity of fabrics. Even a thin woman with a narrow pelvis has the opportunity to give birth to a large baby without pain and damage. This can be done by using various exercises and massage to increase tissue elasticity. Naturally, the lack of such preparation is not a guarantee of breaks. Gynecologists say that the elasticity of the tissues of the birth canal is determined genetically. You can also improve the plasticity of tissues with the help of nutrition. Take your diet seriously. Give preference to natural foods rich in vitamins, limit unhealthy and high-calorie foods to avoid gaining excess weight.
- A decrease in tissue elasticity is negatively affected by healed or newly aggravated inflammatory processes and infections of the genital organs (thrush, etc.).
- Anatomical features: “High perineum” is an obstetric term meaning a large distance (>7 cm) between the vaginal opening and the anus. Individual features of the structure of the pelvis.
- Erroneous actions of the obstetrician or failure of the woman in labor to comply with the required commands.
- Obstetrics using forceps. Breech presentation of the fetus. Swelling of the soft tissues that occurs with prolonged pushing.
- The rate of passage of the fetus through the birth canal. You need to monitor the baby's speed. Childbirth can occur calmly and slowly, but the last attempts (eventually the baby's head and shoulders appear) usually become very rapid. It is at this moment that it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor’s advice and instructions.
- Scars and stitches from previous births and other operations. There is almost always a chance that a rupture will occur in this exact location.
- Professional athletes often have problems during childbirth due to pumped-up pelvic muscles. Since the muscles cannot achieve the necessary stretch, resulting in perineal injuries.
- Late age. After 40 years, the possibility of ruptures increases due to decreased collagen production and decreased tissue elasticity.
Come to childbirth - in a good mood!
Before giving birth, every woman should set herself up correctly. If you come to a medical facility with positive thoughts, the birth will definitely go well. You should definitely enlist the support of your loved ones. It would be good if the spouse could be present in the prenatal ward, who would also be aware of how the wife could give birth without tearing. A man can always help with practical advice during labor.
It is worth remembering that the process of childbirth takes very little time, and it ends with a meeting with such a long-awaited child. Pain and unpleasant sensations immediately fade into the background when the tiny eyes of a loved one peek out from under the diaper. Childbirth without pain and tearing is easy! You just need to be in a positive mood.
How to prepare for childbirth without pain
If the pregnancy proceeds without pathologies, then an easy birth is quite possible. With proper preparation, a healthy woman can give birth on her own without tears or incisions. Of course, this does not mean that you do not need to go to the maternity hospital, because home birth is an unjustified risk. The help of an obstetrician is necessary, even if the natural process of birth proceeds without complications. And in a critical situation, without the intervention of a doctor, a woman and her newborn may die.
Every expectant mother can prepare for childbirth without pain, and she needs to start literally from the first trimester.
Psychological preparation
Expert opinion
Bozhenko Nadezhda
Family doctor in private practice. More than 12 years of experience. Author of articles.
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Fears in pregnant women are a natural phenomenon, but they need to be controlled. It is fear for the health of the child, for herself, that forces pregnant women to change their lifestyle, give up bad habits, and regularly visit the doctor. So subconscious fear is not always a bad thing. You just need to learn to exist with her, turning her into an ally.
The hardest thing is to stop being afraid of childbirth. Positive affirmations can help with this.
Think about how many women have gone through this; for most, everything ended well. In the old days, you had to give birth without medical assistance, but now specialists will constantly monitor the woman in labor. Get ready for childbirth without pain and fear - such a psychological attitude, a positive attitude will help you look forward to meeting your son or daughter with joy, and not with horror.
A very important point is managing your fears:
- If you are afraid of pain, learn the technique of relaxation and proper breathing.
- If you are worried that you will be left alone at such a moment, insist on a partner birth.
- If you are afraid of the unknown, start preparing by studying the theory: read more, watch educational films.
A psychologist will help you make the right psychological adjustment for an easy, successful birth.
Competent activity
Moderate physical activity will help a lot when it comes to how to give birth easily. Physical inactivity is a real problem for expectant mothers, because low mobility creates conditions for problems during childbirth.
It is better to start preparing before pregnancy. Strong abdominal muscles will help you “push” the baby out faster during pushing. It doesn’t hurt to regularly do gymnastics for the intimate muscles (Kegel exercises) - this increases the elasticity of the tissues of the vagina and perineum, reducing the likelihood of ruptures.
The level of recommended physical activity depends on the stage of pregnancy and your health. If there are no contraindications, you can do exercises until the end of the third trimester.
Breathing practices and yoga for pregnant women are useful. A antenatal clinic or a school for expectant mothers will help you select a set of exercises and recommend the optimal frequency of training for each month of pregnancy.
Diet before childbirth
A pregnant woman's nutrition should be complete from the first weeks of pregnancy. But in the eighth to ninth month, a special diet is recommended. Her goal:
- to prevent “overfeeding” of the fetus - it is more difficult to give birth to a large child than a baby of normal weight, especially if the woman in labor has a narrow pelvis;
- increase the elasticity of muscle tissue.
In recent weeks, women are advised to reduce their consumption of meat and dairy products as much as possible. The diet should consist of vegetables and cereals.
Advice from those giving birth
Advice and reviews from women who have given birth will help you get ready for an easy birth without pain.
Julia:
My life hacks for easy childbirth:
- during contractions I lay in a bathtub in warm water, when I was 4 cm dilated I went to the maternity hospital;
- in the prenatal period, sitting on a fitball is actually easier than lying down;
- gave birth vertically, on her knees.
Nothing had to be stimulated, everything went naturally and quite easily.
Catherine:
I am already a mother three times, the first birth was terrible, but the second and third went without problems, and this despite the fact that I have a negative Rh factor. My secret is proper breathing and prayer. I breathed as I was taught, and prayers distracted me from the pain. And my advice to expectant mothers is to go to the birth with your husband or someone close; having a loved one nearby means a lot.