REPLAY: EBB 210 - Evidence on Warm Compresses and Hands-on vs. Hands-off for Protecting the Perineum

Evidence Based Birth®

Rebecca Dekker

Pregnancy, Health & Fitness, Childbirth, Parenting, Birth, Medicine, Kids & Family, Doula, Obstetrician, Midwife

4.6 • 978 Ratings

🗓️ 11 June 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Curious how to actually prevent perineal tears during childbirth? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker breaks down the latest research on three of the most talked-about methods: 1) using warm compresses, 2) provider “hands on” techniques, 3) provider “hands off” techniques, and how these approaches measure up when it comes to protecting your perineum. You’ll learn surprising facts, like how a simple warm washcloth can significantly lower your risk of severe tears (and even ease pain!), plus what the evidence really says about whether a provider should help “guard” the perineum or just keep their hands off you during the actual birth.

Content note: Discussion of perineal tears during childbirth, severe tears, and episiotomy.

(02:55) What is the Perineum?

(05:33) Warm Compresses Reduce Birth Tears

(08:51) Warm Compresses Reduce Birth Complications

(12:27) Hands On vs. Hands Off

(18:07) Hands-On vs. Hands-Off Perineal Techniques

(19:38) Perineal Support Training Reduces Tearing

(22:47) Hands-On vs. Hands-Off Birth

Resources

For a full list of scientific references, visit the EBB website here.
To watch the EBB YouTube video with visual props, visit here.
Listen to Episode 206 of the EBB Podcast (Perineal Tears and Avoiding Episiotomy) here.
Learn about becoming an EBB Instructor here.

For more information about Evidence Based Birth and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker’s book, “Babies Are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered!” If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi everyone, on today's evidence-based birth podcast, we're going to talk about the evidence on warm compresses, the hands-on technique, and the hands-off technique for preventing perineal tears during childbirth.
0:15.8	Welcome to the evidence-based birth podcast. My name is Rebecca Decker, and I'm a nurse with my PhD and the founder
0:22.3	of evidence-based birth. Join me each week as we work together to get evidence-based information
0:28.2	into the hands of families and professionals around the world. As a reminder, this information is not
0:34.4	medical advice. See eBbirth.com slash disclaimer for more details.
0:40.8	Hi everyone. Before we get started with today's replay on protecting the perineum,
0:45.9	I wanted to remind you that if you're interested in becoming an evidence-based birth instructor
0:50.1	this year, 2025, the deadline to purchase your application is Monday, June 23 at 5 p.m.
0:57.1	And applications are due on Friday, June 27. So what does it mean to be an EBB instructor?
1:03.3	When you're accepted into the program, you're trained and licensed to teach the official
1:07.4	evidence-based for a childbirth class to families in person or online, as well as
1:12.5	teach EBB continuing education workshops to birth workers like doulas, labor and delivery nurses, midwives,
1:18.6	and more. If you're a birth worker or healthcare professional, this is a powerful way to use your
1:23.0	voice and your skills to make a real difference in your community. If you're at all interested in applying
1:27.9	this year, we strongly recommend that you purchase and download your application well before June 23
1:33.2	so that you have enough time to write your responses, gather reference letters, and submit these
1:38.0	materials to EBB. If you'd like to learn more, if you have questions, or if you're ready to
1:42.8	get your application started,
1:50.0	just visit eBbirth.com slash instructor and don't forget that the deadline to get your application for 2025 is next week, June 23, and all applications must be submitted by June 27 in order to be
1:57.6	considered. And now let's get started with today's replay of the Evidence-Basebirth Podcast.
2:03.6	Today I'm so excited to revisit some evidence-based information with you about perennial tears,
2:08.6	and we're going to talk about newer research on three different methods that are sometimes used to prevent perineal tears.
	...

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