One of the greatest fears for most women must be vaginal tearing when they think about labor and childbirth. Apart from labor pain, tearing is one of the biggest discomforts that a woman might have to deal with for several weeks, even after the birth of the child. Although tearing is a natural process, but it is a painful experience indeed. Pregnant women are often found to discuss how to prevent tearing during childbirth.
While discussing about labor pain and delivery, ways to prevent tearing during childbirth is also a very critical aspect to consider.
The following steps can be taken to help relax your vagina and keep it away from tearing during childbirth.
8 Ways to Prevent Tearing During Childbirth:
Vaginal tearing is also known as tears or perineal lacerations. The tearing is more likely to take place in case if it is a first-time delivery. If the baby’s head is too heavy or too big for the vagina at the time of delivery, the tissue between the anus and the vulva may rupture, leading to serious tearing.
Tearing can also occur when a woman becomes to push in the early stages of pregnancy. This can also lead to rupture of the tissues in and around the vagina. Tearing is also common for the suction cup or forceps delivery.
Although nothing can guarantee prevention of vaginal tearing, the following steps can help minimize the risk of vaginal rupture.
1. Kegel’s Exercise:
Do you know Kegel’s exercise can help in tightening and relaxing the vaginal muscles? You may consider practicing Kegel’s to strengthen the vaginal muscles. If you are not sure of how to go about Kegel’s, ask your doctor to show you the exercise. Once you learn it, practice Kegel’s according to the doctor’s recommendation.
2. Correct Push During Childbirth:
As you prepare yourself for the delivery day, consult your midwife to learn about the correct pushing techniques. As instructed by the midwife, follow the pushing technique that usually starts with slow pushes so that the muscles surrounding the vagina get adequate time to stretch and accommodate the size of the baby. So, during the pushing stage, you should prepare yourself for more controlled pushing. Pushing too early or forcibly may lead to serious tears.
3. Perineal Massage:
Women often talk about the benefits of perineal massage. Does perineal massage help prevent tearing? Talk to your health-care provider about perineal massage and learn how it helps prevent tearing during childbirth. Researches show that perineal massage is helpful in preventing vaginal ruptures. Perineal massages are to be done at home at around 34th weeks of pregnancy. As you enter the third trimester, you may use coconut oil, olive oil or sunflower oil to rub the genital areas, particularly the area between the vulva and the anus. You may do this exercise once or twice a day to get the best results. You may do this with the help of your partner or all by yourself.
4. Birthing Pool:
You may try soaking yourself in the warm waters in a birthing pool during the entire labor. On the one hand, soaking helps to relieve pain naturally while on the other hand, the warm water is good for the vaginal areas as it provides relaxation. Check with your hospital if it has the birthing pool facility.
5. The Right Delivery Position:
Gone are the days when women were made to deliver on their backs while their legs floated in the air. This type of delivery increased the risks of perineal rupture as a lot of pressure was placed on the perineum. There are different types of delivery positions that are helpful in reducing vaginal tears during the childbirth. The best birthing position to prevent tearing is delivering in an upright and non-flat position. Consider having a discussion with your healthcare provider regarding the best position to prevent tearing. The doctor will help you find a comfortable and safe delivery position.
6. Supporting the Perineum:
A common method to prevent tears is to support the perineum. A special handgrip is provided by the midwife. She protects the area between the vagina and the anus with one hand while she uses the other hand to support the head of the baby.
7. Use Of Warm Compresses:
Warm Compresses are found to be useful to prevent tearing during childbirth. The method of using warm compresses is very simple. You would need warm water and washcloths to use warm compresses. All you need to do is you have to take the cloth and immerse it in warm water. That done, wring it out and place it on the perineum to provide support to the mother while the baby crowns. Warm compresses are also done at the hospital to provide extra support to the mother.
8. Keeping Calm and Relaxed:
A good support system is all you need for a stress-free childbirth. However, for women who do not have their families around themselves, keeping calm is the mantra.
Conclusion:
Vaginal tearing is a natural process. There are different techniques that can minimize the possibilities of vaginal rupture. How to prevent tearing during labor and delivery? Follow these techniques to ensure a smooth childbirth without causing tearing to the vaginal muscles.
