• 
• Featured Videos
• Infertility
• Getting Pregnant
• Pregnancy
• Teen Pregnancy
• Fetal Development
• Pregnancy Complications
• Pregnancy Exercise
• Health and Beauty
• Baby Showers
• Labor and Birth
• Breastfeeding
• Parenting
• Baby Care
• Baby Development
• Toddler Care
• Child Nutrition
• Celebrity Babies
• From Mom2Mom
• 

A perineal massage can help prepare your vaginal muscles for the stretching during labor and can work to reduce vaginal tears and the need for an episiotomy.

It’s recommended that you do this massage about six weeks before the due date. You can get your partner to help you with the perineal massage or you can do it on your own.

The perineal massage requires you to place a lubricant or vegetable oil on your fingers and thumbs and as well as around your perineum, the area between your vagina and anus. Remember to clean your hands and cut your nails before you start!

After lubricating your fingers, spread your legs, and insert your thumbs (up to your knuckles) into your vagina. Then push gently down on your perineal area, for a couple minutes, and then massage the area afterwards. Also, make sure to speak to your midwife or obstetrician about whether this massage is suited for you because not all doctors support this massage.

	Homebirth Delivery Considering natural childbirth? Prefer to be at home? In ...		Water Birth Video Water births are an increasingly common birthing option that ...
	A Surrogate Mom Story Hear the story of a surrogate mother and her birth ...		The Miracle of Surrogacy See this touching video montage that recounts the surrogate ...
	Paternal Instinct Follow the journey of a gay couple who realize their dreams ...		Communication and Trust: A Surrogate Mom Story Learn about how to create a balance between communication ...
	A Surrogate Pregnancy: Twins! Listen to a surrogate mom talk about her experiences as a ...		A Surrogate Mom Story: Fertility and IVF Treatment A video in which a surrogate mother discusses the process of ...
	Gay Parenting Through Surrogacy Learn about the process of gay parenting through surrogacy, ...		Finding Intended Parents Find out about how a surrogacy agency matches surrogate ...