Labour Prep Appointment
Labour Prep Appointment
What to expect
What is involved?
Labour preparation is a one-on-one appointment with your physiotherapist. This session will take around 40 minutes. We encourage your partner to come along with you as they are a vital part of your birth team. It can be a great opportunity for them to learn how to assist you with perineal massage.
Why is it helpful?
Perineal massage/stretching can be performed by yourself or with your partner’s assistance.
Perineal massage can help to prepare the tissues for birth and allows you to practice relaxing the pelvic floor muscles when pressure and stretch is applied. This can help you to become more familiar & comfortable with this part of your body and the sensations you may encounter during birth.
Labour Advice
We will provide you with advice on positioning throughout your labour and delivery.
We will also discuss breathwork and the use of vocalisations.
When Do I need an Appointment?
We recommend an appointment at 34-36 weeks
Why might I need this appointment?
There is Level 1A evidence that perineal and pelvic floor stretching performed twice a week from 35 weeks onwards can help to reduce the severity of perineal tearing with vaginal delivery.
A systematic review of more than 3000 women showed that those who performed perineal massage have:
· Reduced risk of episiotomy
· Reduced severity of tearing
· Improved wound healing
· Shorter second stage of labour
· Reduced risk of incontinence postnatally
Who shouldn’t do perineal massage?
· Before 34 weeks of pregnancy
· If you have been told you have a shortened cervix or placenta praevia
· If you have had severe blood pressure problems during pregnancy
· If you have vaginal herpes, yeast infection (thrush) or any other vaginal infections
Check out our YouTube video below to hear Jacinta talk about a Labour Prep Appointment in more detail!
