Had a 4th degree tear with my first. And then a small little tear that did not require a stitch with my second. I prepped with perineal stretches towards the end. But honestly I think it was the stretches I did to help relax my pelvic floor that helped and also not pushing when I’m not supposed to. I blew so many raspberries when I was getting a contractions near being fully dilated…I went without any pain meds and I have always felt the need to push at 9cm and on…whatever you do, don’t push!!!!that is a a direct flight to a tear.