In plain words
The perineum is the area of skin and soft tissue between the vaginal opening and the anus. It is the part of the body that stretches most during a vaginal birth. As the baby's head crowns, the perineum thins and widens. It can tear or be cut, and it is often sore for days or weeks afterward. Many mothers are told to keep it clean and dry, and to rinse gently after using the toilet. Most of the stretching settles over time. Tell your provider if you notice increasing pain, redness, swelling, a bad smell, or a feeling of pressure or bulging.
The deeper version
The perineum is the lozenge-shaped region bounded by the pubic arch anteriorly, the coccyx posteriorly, and the ischial tuberosities laterally, divided into urogenital and anal triangles by a line through the ischial tuberosities. It contains the and the superficial and deep perineal spaces. During the the fetal head distends the introitus and perineum far beyond resting dimensions, and tissue tolerates slow, distributed strain better than rapid, concentrated strain (Standring, Gray's Anatomy, 42nd edition, 2020). Laceration and are the two principal forms of perineal trauma, and their relative frequency reflects practice patterns and fetal factors. Healing proceeds over several weeks, with the bulk of tenderness resolving in the first two weeks after vaginal birth.
Where it comes up
- Perineal massage, tearing, and episiotomyGetting Ready for Birth
- Healing a tear or stitchesPostpartum: Your Body
- Pushing and positions for birthGetting Ready for Birth
- Your pelvic floor after birthPostpartum: Your Body
- Postpartum bleeding (lochia): what's normal, what's notPostpartum: Your Body
What mothers here say about perineum
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Sources
- Standring S (editor) — Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, 42nd edition (2020)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 198: Prevention and Management of Obstetric Lacerations at Vaginal Delivery (2018)