Simple massage during labor may cut down on stitches and tears

This study tests whether a gentle massage technique applied during labor can reduce the need for episiotomy (a cut to widen the birth opening) and lower the risk of perineal tears. Researchers enrolled 202 women giving birth vaginally at a hospital in Pakistan, randomly assigning half to receive the massage plus standard care and half to standard care alone. The massage is performed by a trained doctor using lubricant during the first stage of labor and again near the second stage. The goal is to see if this simple, low-cost approach can make childbirth safer and less traumatic for mothers.