Provided herein are methods for decreasing the incidence of Cesarean childbirth by managing the labor process. In one aspect, a tactile feedback device is positioned adjacent the perianal tissues. A mothers labor is monitored for the progression of the baby along the birth canal and adjustments are performed in response to the progression of labor to promote a vaginal childbirth. A perianal support device includes a perianal support member having a pressure surface configured for engagement with tissue adjacent an anal orifice and a pressure detecting system associated with the perianal support member to detect pressure indicative of pressure on the perianal tissue of a patient.
