32-34 Weeks Pack

Please find in this information pack some valuable reading material which will be informative and useful throughout the coming months of your pregnancy.

Your midwife will go over this pack with you at your 32 -34 weeks appointment. Please do not hesitate to ask any of the Doctors or Midwives any questions you may have.

It’s a good idea to write down questions and bring the list with you on your next antenatal visit.

Perineal massage

We encourage and support women who are planning to have a vaginal birth to commence perineal massage from 35 weeks of pregnancy.

Please do not perform perineal massage if you have any of the following conditions:

if you have placenta praevia (a low–lying placenta) or any other condition where there is bleeding from the vagina during the second half of pregnancy
if you are suffering from vaginal herpes, thrush or any other vaginal infection, as massage could spread the infection and worsen the condition.

If you have not experienced any of these conditions you may perform perineal massage from 35 weeks of pregnancy.

What is perineal massage? – Youtube video

Please note: Although this video states perineal massage may be performed from 32 weeks, current research states that it is not necessary to perform perineal massage at this gestation and that optimal benefit is obtained if commenced at 35 weeks of pregnancy.