Anybody used the Aniball?

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Has anybody used the Aniball or Epi-no to prepare there vagina for birth? I am naturally quite tight so panicking slightly that being extra tight will just add more pain to the labour! Would you recommend using one? What are your experiences?

Hi I've been using aniball for the last week I am 37+4 days . I got to 19 cm..thats about 5 pumps. I got little spotting bleeding yesterday expelling and I expelled twice today and bleeding happened again after each time? I feel comfortable and not putting alot of pressure. There is no pain but little discomfort. The bleeding is worrying me. It stops after a couple of wipes. At first I thought it might be the cervix soften but now thinking it can be the canal. Has anyone else experience bleeding? Is it normal? I dont want to stop exercising as I may be induced in a week or so. Any advice ?

Hi I've been using aniball for the last week I am 37+4 days . I got to 19 cm..thats about 5 pumps. I got little spotting bleeding yesterday expelling and I expelled twice today and bleeding happened again after each time? I feel comfortable and not putting alot of pressure. There is no pain but little discomfort. The bleeding is worrying me. It stops after a couple of wipes. At first I thought it might be the cervix soften but now thinking it can be the canal. Has anyone else experience bleeding? Is it normal? I dont want to stop exercising as I may be induced in a week or so. Any advice ?

Hi,

I had a small amount of bleeding once - I could see it was coming from the perineum area though so wasn’t concerned it was anything worrying. If you can’t tell where blood is coming from, might be worth getting checked over. I think if it’s bleeding, maybe take it a bit slower- I tried doing it 5-6 times a night and found it got easier each time- so I started small and gradually increased size slowly over the night until I was at whatever target I was trying to hit. Then I’d set the target 0.5cm higher for the next day and so on.

I can’t attest to whether it works unfortunately as I ended up with another c section! I was getting to about 27-28cm towards the end though without pain or bleeding. Hope it helps you!

Hi I’ve had bleeding a little when I’ve expelled the balloon too quickly. On the aniball website it does say this can happen and as long as it stops and clears up then it’s fine. I’ve been using aniball for a few weeks and a little bleeding has occurred and stop after a few wipes. I’m personally not worried about it.

Hmm I've not had any bleeding although I have felt a little sore - maybe take it a bit slower and increase the size more slowly?

I'm finding it's really improving my confidence - and I can breathe it out in just a couple of breaths quite easily now (at 20cm).

I've also kind of combined it with the perineal massage - so I do a bit of massage to "warm up" then aniball in-out exercise and expel a couple of times, then massage again then the ball again a couple more times.

In the instructions book it says to aim for 25cm circumference maximum (10pumps), but on average a newborn's head is about 35cm? 10cm is an awful lot of a difference, so I'm tempted to think that even with practice, a small tear is inevitable?

Bump!

I’m only 33 weeks but obstetrician is ok with me having a go. Only pumped it 6 times today but it overinflated somehow. Came out no problem, but was at 21cm. Planned to go slower!

Liking it so far. I’ve had a tiny bit of spotting but I can see that it’s coming from external structures, so can live with that. It’s not going to be the same as pushing a person out, obviously, but it is giving me the confidence that I can push stuff out of there.

@laura2109 I'm also thinking that, but a baby's head sort of moulds to the shape of you when coming out (skull bones even overlap a bit, if I remember my obstetrics rotation as a medical student correctly). So I'm not sure it stays at a consistent 35 the whole way out?

@laura2109 I thought that too... The guidance says it's more about learning to controliit and familiarisation with the sensation, but I'm going to aim to get to about 30cm I think.
That said, we just found out our baby is breech... So if she doesn't turn I'll be having a c section and all this is unnecessary anyway 😕

Hi ladies,

Not sure if anyone is still following this post?

I am 36+2 weeks pregnant and I'm on my third day of using it.
I started two days ago and really struggled to insert aniball. It does get easier each time you use it. I find if I massage and gently stretch myself with my fingers down below aniball is much easier to get in. I also find squatting down or laying on my back the easiest way to get it in.
I managed to pump and expell 17.5cm today which I was quite pleased with. I do 3x rounds and keep it in for around 5 min each time then use my muscles and down breathing to expell aniball. The first time is always a bit uncomfortable but the 2nd and 3rd time there is no discomfort at all.
I'm just wondering by how many pumps/cm everyone goes up? Do you go up daily or weekly?

Thanks in advance :)

@Caz86 I find the hardest bit is inserting it in the first place! But once inflated, I push it most of the way out, then back in a few times.

I increase it every few days. So far so good.

When I used it, I tried to go up 1cm a day at the start- if that felt easy, I’d maybe try one more pump. The best way I found was to do the breathing exercise and trying to grip/ slightly move the ball, then I’d “expel it” 3-5 times and gradually increase the size each time. I found that way more comfortable than trying to go to my target size for that day straight away. Hope it works for you! I unfortunately ended up with another c section so can’t attest to how successful it was- I did get to about 27/28cm by my due date though and was far more confident!

Thanks ladies for your advice. I will try and go up a little everyday and see how I go. I must say even if it doesn't work in the end I feel so much more confident and in control and know which muscles I have to use now. I'm glad I came across aniball. Will let you guys know if I was successful in the end 🙏

Hi,

Hope you don't mind me jumping on this. I am 39+3 weeks and have been using the Aniball regularly. I'm at 29cm at the minute. My question is though, yesterday I had my 'show' and used the aniball tonight and I bled (haven't bled before). Should I stop using it because I've had my 'show'? I wasn't particularly concerned as the bleeding did stop very quickly but it was enough to get onto the towel I sit on. Thanks in advance!

I used the Aniball, only got up to 22.5cm (about 8 pumps) before my baby decided to put in an early appearance but I do feel it helped to an extent. I had a difficult induced labour but the pushing stage was by far the best part for me. It didn’t feel ANYTHING like the exercise booklet would have you believe (I didn’t breathe the baby out by relaxing my pelvic floor, I pushed and pushed HARD) however I think it prepared me for the crowning sensation and I was very aware of when I needed to slow down as the head was coming out. I didn’t avoid tears altogether but only had a very minor couple of first degree ones that only required a few stitches. Whether that would have happened anyway, who knows - it could be coincidence. But the midwives did comment on how well I handled the delivery of the head and given that the circumference was 97th percentile or something, I’m amazed I didn’t come off worse down there.

I did get some spotting with it however which alarmed me a bit at the time. Also my waters went early and I have wondered whether faffing about up there with a balloon might have had an effect, but who knows

Hi, I am having the same issue... I can't seem to get the aniball in. I've read online of people holding it in with their muscles and moving it up and down etc etc. I find if I get it in I have to hold it in there. If I don't it just slips straight out! So I don't even know if I'm using it correctly! I really want to get the best out of it after buying it but I just can't seem to get it in....

Any tips for inserting the aniball? I literally feel like I cannot get it in. If I stop forcing it in with my hand it just slips straight out.

Hiya, I did struggle in the beginning getting it in but manage fine now. I use loads of oil both on the aniball and also rub quite a lot on down below. I give it one pump then gently press it in. You have to make sure you are fully relaxed and are not pushed for time. I have managed to go up to 22cm now which is approx 8.5 pumps. It does get easier the more you use it.
Hope that helps :)

@Caz86 careful with the oil. Apparently you're only supposed to use water based lubricant with it because oil can damage it and make it likely to rupture. (I only read about it as I was about to oil it up. I don't want it bursting in my vagina! 😱)

Omg thanks for pointing that out lol. I shall get some water based lub before using it again. That would probably cause more damage than the baby will 😂🙈

An update to my aniball usage. Baby boy was born on 17/3/21 following induction at 38 weeks. Episiotomy and forceps required right at the end. (No fetal distress, but I was exhausted and couldn't push anymore. Ended up with 2 black eyes from the effort!)

Life is good, but not sure this aniball business achieved much!

@ValidUser sorry to hear that!

I'm afraid my update isn't very helpful - we found out baby was breech at 38 weeks, so ended up with a planned section. Had 2 failed ECVs but once it became clear she wasn't turning I gave up on the aniball!

Hello ladies,
Just wanted to give my personal review on aniball.

My little lady was delivered via vontouse (or however you spell that 😆) yesterday.
I was in established labour for over 12h and extremely exhausted in the end and needed a hand getting her out.

I stated using aniball from 36 weeks pregnant. I used it daily to start of with but only every other day towards the end as I couldn't go any bigger than 27.5cm.
I really think it prevented me from tearing. The doctor who delivered the baby was amazed that I didn't have any tearing in my perineum. She only had to do a 1cm cut to assist baby out.
When babies head crowned it was the same sensation then pushing the aniball out. Knowing that sensation massively helped me to deliver babies head easier.
I'm really glad I used aniball. I'm obviously still sore down below but so glad I didn't have any tearing and required stitching.
Good luck to you all and I wish the same for you xx