Epi-No

[k4mi]

Has anyone used one in preparation for birth? I can completely see the 'benefits' but would really like to hear from people who have actually used one, how much preparation they did and also how far they managed to inflate it to pre-birth lol!

I think they're very popular in Canada and Oz but don't seem to be here...

What is it?

It's a piece of equipment you use to train your pelvic floor and prepare the perenium area for birth supposedly. It's basically a balloon type thing you practise with...! Supposedly helps with reducing tears etc.

I think perineal massage may be a better option! It is excellent at preventing tears.

I did, on the advice of my consultant. I got to 8cm (which seemed MAHOOSIVE I might add) and hovered around there. Alas, I never got to try out its efficacy as I had an emergency c section so who knows how my perineum would have fared after its prepatory stretching. However, it did feel beneficial when I was doing it. I felt 'prepared' and I wasn't as worried about tearing as I might otherwise have been. That's just a feeling though and has naff all to do with reality.

The downside is they are expensive and there's no re-sale for obvious reasons. They do say you can use them afterwards to re-train your pelvic floor so I guess they don't become entirely obsolete.

Personally, anything is worth a go. My consultant was the senior, top notch guy and knew his bananas and I don't think he'd have recommended anything pointless. If you don't fancy shelling out the ££s then perineal massage is also supposed to be beneficial.

Bonne chance.

I used one. It was pretty odd. Only got to 7cm (just) and didn't do it every day. My worst fear was episiotomy or horrendous tear. I had no perineal damage (small internal tear where she scratched me on the way out but I didn't even know it was there after the birth - they put a couple of stitches in) and her hand was by her head which could have been a perineal disaster! First baby btw.

I have considered getting one but see from the website that you're not meant to use it before 37 weeks - seeing as babies can arrive full term from 37 weeks, that doesn't seem long for prep! When did those who used one start using one? Thanks.

Well, I started at 36 ish I think, based on your reasoning - didn't really see how it would make that much difference - and she was born at 39 weeks. It might have made no difference and I wouldn't have torn anyway but you never know...

Loveinasnowyclimate - I did nothing but had a midwife who did a lot of 'stretching' during later labour (I ended up with epidural at 8cm which slowed things down even more than they already were so plenty of time). So I don't know how long the stretching was but not over days or weeks . Anyway I ended up with forceps and only a minor internal scratch that needed some stitches. I would guess therefore that there would be plenty of time if DIY stretching didn't start until 37 weeks.

Thanks, Fleetwood and cantreach - your MW sounds great, cantreach!

I used one for my first baby and will be investing in another one for this pregnancy. I don't know how much good it did as it was my first birth so I have nothing to compare it to, but I didn't tear, had what they described as a 'nick' but didn't need stitches. I also did perineum massage with almond oil. I was one of about 5 friends who were pregnant at the time and all the others who had a vaginal birth needed stitches.

The other benefit of the epi-no was having some idea of how it would feel to give birth - although of course you can deflate the epi-no at any time - unfortunately not an option with a baby's head!

I bought an EPI-NO and tried using it from 37 weeks as advised, as I was really worried about perineal damage but I didn't find it useful. Maybe I was using it wrong but I found it very fiddly to use and had to use lubricant and it kept on slipping out. The more I inflated it, the more it slipped out so I could never really practice dilating to more than 7cm. I found it just one more faff and PITA to deal with when you're already the size of a house, aching all over, exhausted and rubbing in stretch-mark cream every night, practising breathing, pelvic floor exercises etc.

In the end I had an epidural for the birth due to lack of progress / exhaustion and then forceps delivery with double episiotomy. It was exactly what I'd been hoping to avoid by buying the EPI-NO but it all worked out fine. I didn't feel a thing during the delivery, was stitched up really well and have fully healed now, 3 months on. Everything is back to normal and in full working order, so to speak, so it wasn't a big deal in the end.

Don't worry too much about tearing - the delivery just goes the way it goes and if you tear, you tear. It's not as bad or as painful as you think it will be. Maybe try the basic perineal massage and pelvic floor exercises instead and save yourself £90+...!