Epi-No/Luibricant/Birth (TMI warning)

[nougatness]

Hi, sorry if this is TMI.
I have been using the Epi-No for pre birth training and am quite comfortably getting to a 9.5cm width with it.
However I had thought that I am 'cheating' as I use a little lubricant.
This is a stupid question I know, but do the midwives put any lubricant on you whilst you crown, or is the baby 'greasy' enough.
I just don't want to be feeling confident only for it to be based on the fact that I haven't been 'practising' right. It still hurts to push out at that width, but is totally manageable.
Again so sorry for TMI

wow this is such a good idea. i pushed for 3 hours but coudln't get the hang of it. everyone says its like pooing, but postnatally i ended up with really bad haemorhoids, i think because i pushed too far back! the midwife was trying to explain to me where to direct my pushing but i just couldn't get it right. if this helps you practice pushing it sounds pretty good!

The best laid plans, ended up having a caesarean as the baby did not want to come out!

Bugger!!

I used the epi no as a first time expectant mum and found it really helped. I would recommend it.

My friend who's an independent midwife really recommends these. She says in her experience they not only reduce perineal damage but they also shorten second stage considerably. Said she'd noticed that mothers who'd used it seem to delay pushing until the baby is really low down in the birth canal, then they push it out very quickly and easily.

The 2004 study was done in Israel by the way.

I've heard from an NCT teacher friend of mine who was given one to use before her third was born that the stats show a 45% decrease in damage (tearing, epi, grazing) of the perineal area during birth.

Them odds, I could live with, but it's too late for me now as I'm nearly ready to pop!

But it's nearly #100 I think?!

ps - my friend didn't end up using it for some reason, as they were moving house at the time and it was packed away for ages and ages.

The best advice I got was from a midwife at antenatal. Open your mouth wide as you push - apparently there is a reflex link to the vagina etc. it really works & makes pushing easier and more effective/ fast