Staci Bishop

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Reading Roundup 9/8 (Perineum & Vaginal Exams)

Here are a few articles I've come across as it relates to vaginal exams before or during labor as well as perineal care before and during delivery.

Is Peri Massage Necessary in Pregnancy? - Gives an excellent step-by-step guide for perenium massage. Note: You can also use olive oil or coconut oil (my favorite!)

STUDY: Perineal Massage - Conclusion: "Perineal massage is an effective approach to increasing the chance of delivery with an intact perineum for women with a first vaginal delivery but not for women with a previous vaginal birth."

Stop Doing Kegels: Real Pelvic Floor Advice for Women (and Men) - This is one of my top recommendations for pregnant women. Squatting is very beneficial in pregnancy and labor & delivery!

Episiotomy, 'A Little Snip' Childbirth Routine, Curbed by New Guidelines - "Clinical trials conducted in the '80s and '90s found that episiotomy cuts can, in fact, turn into even deeper lacerations during delivery, damaging the area around the rectum. " <---- Then why is this still happening routinely?!

How to Know When Vaginal Exams in Pregnancy and Labour are Useful and When They are Harmful - "While this can be a very useful procedure to find out very useful information, women also need to understand the full picture." I am not a fan of vaginal exams for curiosity sake. This article covers why.

The Myth of a Vaginal Exam - Even vaginal exams have risks (mainly infection) and they do not have to be a part of routine prenatal care.

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