As a woman, it is often difficult to adjust in a lot of information about childbirth, for example, how to ease the pain caused by parturition, when what to do, how to breathe during parturition and the pushing phase, in what positions and environments (in the bath, in the shower, in bed, etc.) choose. In answering these questions, the information given in the maternity physiotherapy classes, the childbirth preparers, are of great help, but from the practical point of view, the person who plays the biggest role in these questions is the midwife, who, with appropriate guidance, participates in the smooth conduct of the birth and the positive experience of the birth.

As a man, I can help with the following:

In performing barrier massage

• What is its purpose? – Making the muscles of the pelvic floor flexible, facilitating a natural birth, avoiding a large, deep perineum incision and rupture.

• When can it be done? – From the 36-37. week of pregnancy.

• When do we do the massage? – In the evening, after bathing / showering, with clean hands.

• How long do we do the massage? – For a few minutes.

• What do we do? – With perineum massage oil, which you first test by dropping it on your wrist and waiting 10 minutes to see if it causes an allergic reaction on your skin.

• Who should do it? – You or your partner.

• How do we do it? – Gently, carefully, without causing pain. First, with the index finger from the outside in a U shape around the vaginal opening from below, on the perineum. Then, introducing the top of the index finger vertically into the vagina, then turn your finger at a 45-degree angle and perform the massage from the inside on the muscles of the inner wall of the vagina. It can also be performed with 2 fingers, if the massage with 1 finger does not cause discomfort.

Massage during parturition

• What is its purpose? – Reducing the physical pain of the pregnant woman, calming her down, and creating a safe and loving atmosphere.

• Who can do it? – A midwife and a family member. (The midwife knows how to do it.)

• In what position can it be performed? – In any position that is comfortable. It can be lying on your side, sitting on a fit ball, sitting on a chair, in a corner sitting, in warm water or in the shower.

• How long do we do it? – As long as it comfortable for the pregnant woman, it can be done for hours.

• What do we do? – With massage oil or parturition oil, test the wrist before to see if there is any sensitivity, after 10 minutes, if everything is fine, the massage can begin.

In learning breathing techniques during parturition and the pushing out phase

It is really important and calming effect of the person who we love and whom we start a family can be by our side during parturition and delivery. The mental state of the mother is very important during the entire pregnancy, but especially on the day of delivery. The couple can learn the breathing techniques used during parturition and delivery through joint exercises at one of the individual physical therapy sessions. By performing the breathing techniques together, the father can more easily reinvent himself in the delivery room, by giving him a task as well.

On the occasion of the individual physical therapy session, together with the breathing techniques, we also take over the massage with the father.