Here’s what you need to know to lessen your chance of tearing in labor & pushing 👇🏻
👑 Slow crowning – You’ve heard about the ring of fire and it is tough to breathe through crowning instead of pushing but it will save your perineum. Slow crowning and breath work gives you time to stretch slowly as baby crowns instead of baby flying out with a push and your perineum tearing as a result.
🧽 Warm compress – Helps soften the skin while the warmth gives the skin a bit more elasticity for stretching instead of tearing. The warmth also relieves pain associated with crowning.
🧍♀️Pushing position – Giving birth on your hands and knees or side lying is a more favorable position for physiological birth and can reduce the tearing risk.
🙌🏻 Counter pressure – Your healthcare provider can apply counter pressure to the perineum to encourage slower crowning and minimize possible tearing.
🛁 Bath/shower – The warm water lessens the sensitivity of the perineum and makes the skin more supple for stretching.
🧠 Intuitive pushing – Pushing when your body instinctively pushes lessens the possibility of tearing. This way you can follow your body’s lead and breathe through crowning.
This post is by: Miranda Yogan of Informed Birth
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