The term "stretchy vagina" might not exactly sound like a good thing, but when you've got a small human inside your body needing to get out, a it can save a whole lot of pain and – hold your breath – tearing.
Vaginal stretching can be done from any stage of pregnancy, and the video recommends amping it up from the 37-week mark. It also suggests involving your partner in the stretches, which is clearly a decision that will need to be made on a couple-by-couple basis.
How to prepare for birth with vaginal stretching:
- Lay on your right side with your knees bent.
- Raise your left leg and rest it on a pillow.
- Insert 2 fingers into your vagina up to the second knuckles.
- Turn your hand around towards your tailbone.
- Take a deep breath in and breathe out for the entire duration of your stretch as you gently pull towards your tailbone for 1-2 cm.
- Breath in and return your hand to it's original position. Breath out and gently stretch towards the tailbone again for 1-2 cm.
- Repeat this 6 times.
- Turn your hand around to the oblique position as shown and repeat the stretch 6 times.
- Change sides
- Slowly insert 2 fingers of your other hand into the vagina as far as the second knuckles.
- Turn your hand around to the oblique position and repeat the exercise 6 times.
- From 37 weeks onwards increase the stretch to 4-5cm, 6 times in each direction.
You can also perform the vaginal stretch exercises with your partner as shown in your Vaginal Stretch by Partner video.
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