Perineal massage
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Perineal massage is the practice of massaging the perineum to make it more flexible in preparation for childbirth. The intention is to attempt to prevent tearing of the perineum during birth, and the need for an episiotomy.
Randomized clinical trials of perineal massage have cast doubt on its effectiveness.
External links
- http://www.umich.edu/~umperl/massage.htm (note: contains explicit illustration)
- http://www.childbirth.org/articles/massage.html
- Georgina Stamp, Gillian Kruzins, Caroline Crowther. Perineal massage in labour and prevention of perineal trauma: randomised controlled trial. (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=31922&rendertype=abstract) BMJ. 2001 May 26; 322 (7297): 1277–1280
- Labrecque M, Eason E, Marcoux S. Randomized trial of perineal massage during pregnancy: perineal symptoms three months after delivery. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10649159) Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000 Jan;182(1 Pt 1):76-80.Template:Treatment-stub