05/26/2026
The idea of tearing during childbirth can be terrifying and for good reason! There are 4 degrees of tearing, 1 being the least severe, 4 being the most severe.
While we cannot completely reduce this risk and it is very common, we can help reduce the risk of severe tears (grade 3-4) by performing what’s called perineal massage starting between weeks 34-36 weeks of pregnancy.
Our goal is to help stretch the tissues that baby has to pass through during a vaginal birth and a pelvic wand can be a great tool to help achieve this! Sometimes baby bump still gets in the way of reaching, so using your partner if you’re comfortable with this can be helpful.
To do this, insert the pelvic wand or finger into the vaginal region, up to about the first knuckle. Then pull the wand or your finger to the side working your way from 3:00-9:00. Perform this 3-4x/week, holding at least 1 min in each direction. The pelvic wand from is shown in this video.
Questions? Drop them below!