EPI-NO

Mrs.Teddy

Have we hear/talked about this!? I hadn't! A friend of my sister who is also an April mommy, although not a bumpie that I know of was asking me my opinion on this product, she bought it and plans on using it. I am not sure, I had never heard of it! Its like a balloon you put in your vagina and pump up in preperation for childbirth?! 

I do know I don't have $200 to spend on it so its a no go for us!

WDYT? https://www.pelvicfloorwellness.com/product_detail.php?id=14

Mamasaurus

I wouldn't use it. I know that in the 3rd tri, internal exams sometimes accidentally cause the membranes to rupture. That's from a speculum. I am not going to try to inflate something in there to the size of a baby's head when a speculum could break my water prematurely.

Bonidiebabe

Thats too much. I wouldn't go there. I don't even want internals.

TKx2

Just try fisting.  That's free.

 But seriously, no, this does not seem like a good idea.

gisa886

TKx2:

Just try fisting.  That's free.

 But seriously, no, this does not seem like a good idea.

Haha you beat me to it!!! Fisting for the win! 

eiramami

I've heard of a doctor using this sort of thing as a more natural way to induce but I wouldn't dream of doing it myself...cripes.

Johlise

I think you'd probably be better off going with perineal massage than using that. At least perineal massage you can control more.

Mrs.Teddy

gisa886:

TKx2:

Just try fisting.  That's free.

 But seriously, no, this does not seem like a good idea.

Haha you beat me to it!!! Fisting for the win! 

FTR I'm pretty confident I wouldn't use it if I had $200 to blow, we didnt' even do any massage etc. I had just NEVER heard of this and thought it was a little crazy, didn't know if I was being all judgy

Mrs.Teddy

Mamasaurus:

I wouldn't use it. I know that in the 3rd tri, internal exams sometimes accidentally cause the membranes to rupture. That's from a speculum. I am not going to try to inflate something in there to the size of a baby's head when a speculum could break my water prematurely.

FYI-internals during pregnancy don't typically involve a speculum, only if they are trying to visualize to confirm if your water broke or if they are inserting the cervical foley for induction, otherwise its just a digital (manual) exam.

And these exams CAN cause yoru membranes to rupture, but you have to be dilated (some anyways) and typically the bag of membranes if fairly exposed/tight and bulging for that to happen. I've had bags of water rupture while checking a women before but always once they were already in labour.

TKx2

Mrs.Teddy:

gisa886:

TKx2:

Just try fisting.  That's free.

 But seriously, no, this does not seem like a good idea.

Haha you beat me to it!!! Fisting for the win! 

FTR I'm pretty confident I wouldn't use it if I had $200 to blow, we didnt' even do any massage etc. I had just NEVER heard of this and thought it was a little crazy, didn't know if I was being all judgy

Don't worry, I didn't for a second think this was something you'd try!

Musiclover2012

TrendyTina

gisa886:

TKx2:

Just try fisting.  That's free.

 But seriously, no, this does not seem like a good idea.

Haha you beat me to it!!! Fisting for the win! 

haha. nice.

jsillyfun

I actually read a study a couple of years ago that said Epi-no greatly reduced the risk of tearing. (I wish I remember where I read the study. Sorry) But, I am not about to shell out $200 for it. Also, it sounds very unpleasant to use.

Monicagail1

gisa886:

TKx2:

Just try fisting.  That's free.

 But seriously, no, this does not seem like a good idea.

Haha you beat me to it!!! Fisting for the win! 

Dang it-you leave the bump for 30 minutes to do some acutal work and miss out on being the first to rec fisting.  One of these days...

FitnessDoula

I bought and used one in my first pregnancy - my son crowned sideways and was 8'3 - had no tearing or abrasions.  Used it with my second, again no tearing.  Now 7 years postpartum and I can still run, jump, skip etc without leaking and my organs are where they should be.  The product is not just about not tearing, it is about functionally training your pelvic floor for birth and recovery so you are less likely to tear, less likely to suffer from incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.  So many women hold tension in their pelvic floor and when it comes time to give birth the baby meets that resistance and slows the process and then as the mom pushes through it, she is more likely to tear.  I know it sounds a bit odd but it is so beneficial, you can use it for more than 1 pregnancy - up to 5 years of use both prenatally and postpartum.  Incontinence pads cost about $1500 a year (and that is if you only have minor leaking...things can be way worse).  It is well worth the $200 investment - your pelvic floor health is so key to your overall health and quality of life - do whatever you can to keep things intact.

FusionLMT

FitnessDoula:

I bought and used one in my first pregnancy - my son crowned sideways and was 8'3 - had no tearing or abrasions.  Used it with my second, again no tearing.  Now 7 years postpartum and I can still run, jump, skip etc without leaking and my organs are where they should be.  The product is not just about not tearing, it is about functionally training your pelvic floor for birth and recovery so you are less likely to tear, less likely to suffer from incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.  So many women hold tension in their pelvic floor and when it comes time to give birth the baby meets that resistance and slows the process and then as the mom pushes through it, she is more likely to tear.  I know it sounds a bit odd but it is so beneficial, you can use it for more than 1 pregnancy - up to 5 years of use both prenatally and postpartum.  Incontinence pads cost about $1500 a year (and that is if you only have minor leaking...things can be way worse).  It is well worth the $200 investment - your pelvic floor health is so key to your overall health and quality of life - do whatever you can to keep things intact.

 

LOL @ the one post. Someone from this company must be trolling around looking for ppl to reference this to be able to respond. At least try to be a little less conspicuous.

FusionLMT

eiramami:

I've heard of a doctor using this sort of thing as a more natural way to induce but I wouldn't dream of doing it myself...cripes.

This is a completely different product. I'm pretty sure what you are referring to is the Foley Bulb, which is inserted through the cervix and inflated to give the cervix the feeling of having intense pressure put on it in order to dilate.  This looks like you just put it in the vaginal canal.

TheBuddha

FusionLMT:

FitnessDoula:

I bought and used one in my first pregnancy - my son crowned sideways and was 8'3 - had no tearing or abrasions.  Used it with my second, again no tearing.  Now 7 years postpartum and I can still run, jump, skip etc without leaking and my organs are where they should be.  The product is not just about not tearing, it is about functionally training your pelvic floor for birth and recovery so you are less likely to tear, less likely to suffer from incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.  So many women hold tension in their pelvic floor and when it comes time to give birth the baby meets that resistance and slows the process and then as the mom pushes through it, she is more likely to tear.  I know it sounds a bit odd but it is so beneficial, you can use it for more than 1 pregnancy - up to 5 years of use both prenatally and postpartum.  Incontinence pads cost about $1500 a year (and that is if you only have minor leaking...things can be way worse).  It is well worth the $200 investment - your pelvic floor health is so key to your overall health and quality of life - do whatever you can to keep things intact.

 

LOL @ the one post. Someone from this company must be trolling around looking for ppl to reference this to be able to respond. At least try to be a little less conspicuous.

Bahahahaha!!!  Good catch!  Notice it was her first post.  They are fast!!

mamabear0813

Yeah, I'd just go with perineal massage. This thing doesn't seem like it's supposed to go very far into your vagina, so I wouldn't be worried about it causing premature labor or anything like that, but for $200 you can buy a lot of lube/massage oil and do perineal massage until your fingers fall off.

FitnessDoula

yes, I do sell the EPI-NO - you caught me! but my mission is really to educate women on pelvic floor health.  So many women face issues after birth (sometimes not until a few years later) and many have no idea these issues were even possible.  I recommend everyone see a pelvic floor physiotherapist - ideally during pregnancy but for sure at the 6 week mark postpartum.  Pelvic floor dysfunction can have a huge impact on so many aspects of women's lives, I'm just trying to educate and provide women with access to information so they can make informed choices.

The EPI-NO has never caused premature rupture of membranes - it is not inserted far enough.  Perineal massage is a great choice and a free choice but it is difficult to do on your own and even with a willing partner, you don't have feedback to know if you have made any progress and it only focuses on the bottom portion of the perineal tissues.  Tears can occur higher up as well.

TKx2

FitnessDoula:

I bought and used one in my first pregnancy - my son crowned sideways and was 8'3 - had no tearing or abrasions.  Used it with my second, again no tearing.  Now 7 years postpartum and I can still run, jump, skip etc without leaking and my organs are where they should be.  The product is not just about not tearing, it is about functionally training your pelvic floor for birth and recovery so you are less likely to tear, less likely to suffer from incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.  So many women hold tension in their pelvic floor and when it comes time to give birth the baby meets that resistance and slows the process and then as the mom pushes through it, she is more likely to tear.  I know it sounds a bit odd but it is so beneficial, you can use it for more than 1 pregnancy - up to 5 years of use both prenatally and postpartum.  Incontinence pads cost about $1500 a year (and that is if you only have minor leaking...things can be way worse).  It is well worth the $200 investment - your pelvic floor health is so key to your overall health and quality of life - do whatever you can to keep things intact.

Yeah, well 3 years ago I had an epi and an episiotomy and I can also run, jump, etc. without leaking and my organs are where they should be. My recovery was super easy. So no way am I paying $200 for your crazy product...just another way of taking advantage of pregnant women.

Mamasaurus

Mrs.Teddy:

Mamasaurus:

I wouldn't use it. I know that in the 3rd tri, internal exams sometimes accidentally cause the membranes to rupture. That's from a speculum. I am not going to try to inflate something in there to the size of a baby's head when a speculum could break my water prematurely.

FYI-internals during pregnancy don't typically involve a speculum, only if they are trying to visualize to confirm if your water broke or if they are inserting the cervical foley for induction, otherwise its just a digital (manual) exam.

And these exams CAN cause yoru membranes to rupture, but you have to be dilated (some anyways) and typically the bag of membranes if fairly exposed/tight and bulging for that to happen. I've had bags of water rupture while checking a women before but always once they were already in labour.

 I did not know this! I have had 3 internals so far (one in each tri), but they were taking cultures at all of them, so maybe that is why my experience has been different.