Epi-No

Has anyone used, or using the Epi-No?

It is an instrument designed to help you stretch the perineum before giving birth to hopefully :crossfingers: avoid tearing? My Ob has recommended it after seeing it used by some patients and not by others to great affect. I had kind of dismissed it and told him so, and he said the decision is mine but he doesn't want me to dismiss it just yet. He is the kind of obstetrician that really wants his patients to have a no or low intervention birth so I don't believe he is pushing the idea as something for no reason, because tearing is pretty much an accepted part of birth. As I really haven't done a whole lot of research on it I just thought I would ask here if anyone has used or is using it and what they think?

Have not tried it myself, My Ob just recommended Perinum massages,

i didnt tear with DD but i did a little bit with DS ( although he was my 2nd, his head was 37cm!)

I haven't tried it, but i'm sure i read the post of a woman on here (not sure who it was, perhaps they'll see the thread though) tore from USING the epi-no - before birth! So that definitely put me off the idea. I did perineal massage once ever (too hard to reach) and i had a tiny tear which didn't need stitches. I know someone who did their massage daily for the last 6 weeks and she had a 3rd degree tear. I'm not sure anything can make as much difference as help in the 2nd stage to push slowly or not at all during crowning and being properly relaxed. I practiced relatxation a lot, and i did feel that helped me at the time.

Bx