epi-no: very expensive can you sterilise them enough for others to use safely?

[Razzberry]

Hi,

I had an episiotomy and vacuum when I had my DD and obviously want to avoid that again. I am not scared of labour - I am terrified of the aftermath of agony being cut and stitched!

So my Obstetrician has told me to get an epi-no and start at 34 weeks. He really believes it significantly reduces the risk of tearing and needing instruments to help birth.

I looked them up and they are $179!!! so expensive.

I have a friend who has offered hers but it kind of grosses me out. Is there anything you could do to sterilise it enough for another person. I mean I am scared of diseases etc!!
Would you just put it in boiling water? or should I get some sterilising formula or something?

What are your thoughts?

[Amaunet]

No idea on the sterilization etc... But, My OB recommends them for first births but not subsequent births, just some perineal massage this time around I also had vacuum assistance and tore (2nd degree) as he was about to cut, so I get where you're coming from.

[Razzberry]

Do you know why only first but not second births? geez, I hope its better this time round!

[Amaunet]

I think it's cos the damage has been done (stretching wise iykwim) also the vacuum (for me) was about my ds's posterior presentation so hopefully won't need that again!

[Razzberry]

anyone else???

[HotI]

An episiotomy is not always needed when vaccuum is used- but most drs will cut out of habit.

Were you able to move around in labour the first time? Do you think the episiotomy and vacc were needed?

i don't know much about epi-no, but (if you can reach) you can do your own stretching of the perenium. Read up on positions during labour that help to get bub out, warm cloths on the perenium when bub is coming out can help, taking your time to push bub out, listening to your body. Let your health care providers know that you don't want to be cut. Tears don't always need to be sewed, and often heal better if they are not.

I was cut with my first bub and i felt it, it was horrible. My midwife knows that i do not consent to being cut and we will do things that will minimalise the chances of tearing.

[Babyluv]

I had an epino, didn't get to use it very much though as bub came a week early but I think it helped. The ob wanted to cut me, I said no and I ended up with just a tiny tear.

[Taurean]

I had a vacuum with DD (she was posterior and badly stuck so had to be turned first) but an episiotomy wasn't necessary at all. I only had a small graze, one stitch and that was it.

I personally think our genes play a big role in how stretchy our skin is. I also think the position(s) we birth in plays a huge part too. From all my friends who have had babies, only one has had an episiotomy Sometimes it just has to be done though

Hopefully there won't be any need for you to have another one this time round. I'd certainly be reading up on labour and birthing positions instead of worrying with an EpiNo

Fingers are crossed for you!

[PumpkinZulu]

Fwiw, my skin is clearly not stretchy at all, as I got huge, deep stretch marks all over my belly when pregnant. But, I didn't tear at all, not even a graze. A huge part of it is going slow and using optimal birthing positions, breathing through some contractions and letting your body push instead of consciously doing it yourself, if you can. Letting the area stretch out a bit, letting bubs head sit there for a bit before going further. I didn't use anything, not even massage. I just went slow. I think it's rare that an episiotomy is actually ever necessary. Sometimes it totally is, but a lot of ob's are more than willing to give it a snip so it's 'quicker' and 'easier'. Good luck!

[Miss E]

I can understand why you might be a bit grossed out by the idea of borrowing one... I think I would be too!

But I remember reading years and years ago that the bacteria/germs/whatever associated with sexually transmitted diseases doesn't survive outside of the body for long (no more than an hour in most cases).

Thrush and fungal things might be a bit different... But I think if you were to clean it in sterilising solution like Bloom suggested, rinse well and then leave out in the sunlight for the day that it would be fine. I'm pretty sure that the balloon attachment would be removable for cleaning, so it shouldn't be an issue.

And FWIW I think the points made be the others about birthing positions etc are probably worth looking into. I know I found Active Birth eye opening when I read it last preg. But I can also understand how traumatic your last experience was and why you would want to do everything you can to prevent another epi, so in your shoes I'd probably be borrowing the epi-no too! And I'd probably be telling my OB that I don't want an epi under any circumstance, unless of course it is life threatening.

[Lily Dust]

Hey Razz!!!!

Its up to you if you want to bother, I used an epi-no religiously from the set date and well, you know how badly I tore! I wouldnt bother again. I also thought you could put a condom on the balloon part if you did want to worry about it but dunno if that would work as it inflates and might burst the condom

Not much help there but want you not to stress to much, you did this with E and you can do it again, precious

[Razzberry]

Thanks girls, I pushed for 2 hours and then she was getting distressed, I was exhausted and had nothing else to give, a c-section was spoken of but would have been complicated as she was so far down the birth canal. I know he only cut me because he had too as we had many discussions while I was pregnant, he knew of my fears and explained various tears and epi's and reasons why he does/doesn't do them, I remember him quite clearly saying generally speaking he lets women tear if he knows it will be better healing than an epi, he cuts when the damage will be too great - ie incontinence problems. He has been my gyno for years for endo/pcos issues so I do trust him, but I'mjust not sure that the epi-no will improve things for me!