Weleda
Peri Prep Perineal Massage Oil 30ml
7.4/10 overall£12.00 (30ml)
A midwife-developed oil for perineal massage in late pregnancy, helping prepare and soften the perineum before birth.
The verdict
My Expert Midwife's Peri Prep is a midwife-developed oil for perineal massage from around 34 weeks, plus soothing use after birth. Worth packing in advance for anyone considering perineal massage or wanting relief after tearing or an episiotomy; the massage benefit works best when started consistently well before labour, not last-minute.
Developed by a practising midwife, this balm is designed for two related but separate uses: perineal massage from around 34 weeks (which NHS-aligned guidance suggests can help reduce the likelihood of tearing during birth) and soothing use on the perineal area in the days after birth, whether or not tearing or an episiotomy occurred. It's formulated without common irritants, which matters given how sensitive the area is in both use cases.
It's a smaller, easy-to-overlook item next to bigger hospital bag essentials like a going-home outfit or car seat, but it's the kind of thing that's much better packed in advance than sourced from a hospital shop or a 2am pharmacy run in the days immediately after birth.
Is the Peri Prep Perineal Massage Oil 30ml worth it?
- Midwife-developed for a specific, well-defined use case
- Useful both before birth (massage) and after (soothing)
- Gentle formulation for a sensitive area
What are the downsides of the Peri Prep Perineal Massage Oil 30ml?
- Small, easy item to forget packing despite its usefulness
- Premium price for the size versus generic balms
- Perineal massage benefit is most effective when started consistently well before labour, not as a last-minute addition
Specs
- Use
- Antenatal perineal massage and postnatal soothing
- Size
- 80ml
- Formulation
- Free from common irritants
How we scored it
Effectiveness
How well it does its stated job.
Purpose-formulated for a specific, sensitive use case.
Convenience
How easy it is to use and pack for the hospital bag.
Small and easy to pack, though easy to forget.
Value for Money
Cost relative to what you get.
A premium price for a small tube, though the specific formulation justifies it for some.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the Peri Prep Perineal Massage Oil 30ml ourselves yet. This review is built from Weleda's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £12.00 (30ml) | £5.49 (pack of 5) | £12.00 (38 pack) | £9.49 (40ml) |
| Overall score | 7.4/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Use | Antenatal perineal massage and postnatal soothing | Disposable, worn over maternity pads | — | — |
| Size | 80ml | — | Size 1 (2-5kg) | 40ml tube |
| Pack size | — | 5 pairs | 38 nappies | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is perineal massage oil used for?+
It's designed for two related uses: perineal massage from around 34 weeks, which NHS-aligned guidance suggests can help reduce the likelihood of tearing during birth, and soothing use on the perineal area in the days after birth, whether or not tearing or an episiotomy actually occurred.
When should I start using perineal massage oil?+
From around 34 weeks — the perineal massage benefit is most effective when started consistently well before labour, rather than as a last-minute addition close to your due date, so it's worth packing and starting to use it in good time rather than leaving it until the final weeks.
Is this balm gentle enough for a sensitive area?+
Yes, it's formulated without common irritants, which matters given how sensitive the perineal area is in both use cases — the antenatal massage stage from around 34 weeks, and the postnatal soothing stage, whether or not tearing or an episiotomy occurred during birth.
Is it worth packing in a hospital bag?+
Yes — it's a small, easy-to-overlook item next to bigger hospital bag essentials like a going-home outfit or car seat, but it's the kind of thing that's much better packed in advance than sourced from a hospital shop or a 2am pharmacy run in the days after birth.
Guides that mention this
Perineal Massage in the Third Trimester: Does It Actually Help?
Perineal massage has real evidence behind it, not just tradition. Here’s what it can realistically change, and how the NHS suggests doing it.
How to Write a Birth Plan the NHS Way
The most useful birth plans are short, specific, and written knowing plans can change. Here’s a practical structure to follow.
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.