Let's talk about perineal massage...did you do it during your pregnancy? Not the most pleasant of topics, and I know women can be a bit shy about it, but the research is profoundly positive.

I'd strongly urge you to research this topic and focus on it from 34 weeks pregnant. The research shows that practicing perineal massage as little as once or twice a week reduced the likelihood of episiotomies and ongoing perineal pain after birth...

"Antenatal perineal massage helps red ... uce both perineal trauma during birth and pain afterwards.

Perineal massage during the last month of pregnancy has been suggested as a possible way of enabling the perineal tissue to expand more easily during birth. The review of four trials (2497 women) showed that perineal massage, undertaken by the woman or her partner (for as little as once or twice a week from 35 weeks), reduced the likelihood of perineal trauma (mainly episiotomies) and ongoing perineal pain. prom garments in white color

The impact was clear for women who had not given birth vaginally before, but was less clear for women who had.
Women should be informed about the benefits of digital antenatal perineal massage."