Is prenatal perineal massage helpful?

There are different perspectives on the use and benefits perinatal massage... No other mammals do this, so why should we? Well... No other mammals contend with what we as modernized humans do: poor posture, abuse histories, pelvic and menstrual pain, pap smears and other intrusive medical procedures, and with general cultural-patriarchal suppression of natural feminine wisdom. Few women have a healthy relationship with their yoni that reflects awareness, respect, care, not to mention adoration! In America especially, women tend to be disassociated from and ignorant about their pelvic floor.

Prenatal perineal massage offers an opportunity for a woman to become more familiar with her own geography, by experiencing nurturing touch without expectation of delivering sexually to a mate or being intruded on by a speculum. It offers the opportunity to relieve tension and muscular imbalance that she did not even know was there but which may be affecting the alignment of her uterus, or affecting back or hip pain, sciatica, or other discomforts. If  both partners can practice simple presence while exploring sensation, her tense muscles can relax, blood flow and renewed energy will be enhanced in the region, and she may find herself more awake in her pelvic base supporting her spine and abdomen through the changes of pregnancy.This can all help her tissues to stretch more easily at the time of birth.


Studies have also shown that first time moms do benefit from doing perineal massage with a reduced rate of lacerations at birth. A review of 3 trials with 2434 women found that those who did prenatal perineal massage for at least 4 weeks before delivery had an overall reduction of trauma that required stitches. They were less likely to have an episiotomy. Women who had had children previous to this birth reported a statistically significant reduction in incidence of pain at 3 months postpartum.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):Antenatal perineal massage for reducing perineal trauma.Beckmann MM, Garrett AJ.