Where can u get epi-no?

Hi Ladies :)

Just a qs on where u can get epi-no??? has anyone used it before? how n when do u use it? and is it worth buyin it, how much is it?

Thanx for ur help! :)

Soory i cant help....ive never even heard of it before... what exactly is it??

i agree kim...what is it ?? :)

One of the girls in my buddy group has one and has been using it. Sorry, I don't have much info on it. I will send her over to this thread if no one is of any help.
Kim and Simone - It is a little, balloon type device that you put inside you to get your perineum ready for birth... it is also great for your pelvic floor muscles.

Oh how interesting!! How does it actually work...

From what I understand... you gradually increase the balloon size so that it gently stretches your perineum... I don't know much more than that though... I am actually wishing that I got it, because I am paranoid of tearing now!!!

I have one. Had problems with it - but apparently it's just me - but read the instructions very carefully to avoid injuring yourself.

I think i paid about $160 for it, apparently they are supposed to be great, and will def. use it b4 next birth. You can also use it for pelvic floor training, so have been meaning to start using it now to help with that.

You can get it online, i got it from a pharmacy in Clayton, Vic.

Sounds cool!! I just usd my thumb to do "prepare" mine - i was told just to put my thumb just inside (went to about the first knuckle) and slowly stretch until it starts burning a little then hold it. I think for about a minute or so?? i was told to do this a few timesa day with my second, and i birth my second son with not even a graze... a 8lber :)

Good luck finding it though!! Maybe online somewhere??

I've got one and love it!!! I've used it in both my pregnancy's and not torn. It's a rubber bulb type thing (like the thing that pumps up a blood pressure cuff) that you put in your vagina and pump it up a little each day until it gets to 10cm then you practice pushing it out. It can then be used after to strengthen the pelvic floor. It has a fantastic sucess rate in reducing perineal tears and reduces pushing time by 20 minutes. Well worth the $150ish it costs. I got mine from oze pharmacy in Castle Hill Syd but you can phone order it from there too. It says not to use till 36weeks but that is a bit late really as you need to start stretching the perineum quite early in pregnancy, I started mine at 28weeks, it can't do any harm and certainly will not start labour. It's meant to be much more effective that perineal massage alone.

Gee i done no prep.... and i wouldnt have torn if i heard the dr say stop pushing... and if i didnt have the vac extraction.

But they do sound pretty cool.....

I have done the same thing Simone... but it has been almost 10 years since I have birthed a 3rd trimester baby so I am still a little paranoid

im sure you wll be fine - maybe start doing the stretches again with your thumb, you can only try, it cant hurt!!

kiki - i'm assuming that you read the instructions like me, inflated it a little bit until you could feel it, and then practise pushing it out?

I did that, got an internal tear from it, and stopped using it like 3 weeks b4 cos i wanted the tear to heal b4 the birth, and then was told by the company that i wasn't doing it right and you weren't supposed to push it out inflated??

I still think they are good, but do warn people to be careful, do it slowly, b/c you can cause *minor* problems.

Oh crikey you poor thing! Yeh I whacked it in, inflated it to 7cm (the biggest I could tolerate) and pushed it out!! None of that "litle and often" for me rather "lets see how much pain I can take"!!!! I deserved the tear not you!! oooops

I wasn't so good on the little and often (just recommending that for others), as i think it did say do it to what you can tolerate or something... It was big but not huge, probs around 5 i think...

But i am right that it basically says to push it out inflated.. they claimed i was doing it wrong (maybe they were worried i would sue??) and i think if i was wrong then their instructions are pretty poorely worded.

Did u work for you? I'm still going to try next time, but be a lot more careful.

I had a vac extract, so had 2 x 1st degree tears, but it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be (tearing that it, it was my biggest fear).

OW OW OW!!! i had an epi and tore a little with my first, i cant believe you got a tear from a little ball!! big :hug: to you hun, that sucks...

Hopefully you "use it better/properly" this time??

Yeah..

It didn't hurt so much, but i have a pretty high pain tol.

It was more the shock of going to the toilet a few mins later and finding blood everywhere.. i freaked out bigtime.. but got to test the reponse of my obs - 40 sec call back after paging him i was bleeding.... so something good came of it :)

what a great ob!!

Hi Ladies :)

After searching online about this product (ie, info, and who stocks it). I might just get it its $179 and if your in perth u can get it in booragoon and subi chemist. I fink it will be a good investment. Anyfin to prevent tearing ( which im soooo scared bout being a first time mum :( ) I will ask my ob more about it too! If any ladies want anymore info about it go to www.starnbergmed.com

Thanx to the other ladies/mum dat helped me wif dis qs :) very much appreciated :)

I have it, I have been using it for about 3 weeks, am up to 8cms- I am going slowly slowly because I don't want to cause any issues - I am glad I got it and I can see how it will work. It also gets you used to the pressure and also to the feeling of having something that big come out so you don't tense up when it happens for real - apparently the tensing up when the baby comes out causes a lot of tears. I don't know if I will have no tearing or No episiotomy but I'm giving it a go and for $155 (which is what I paid for it) it is worth it just for peace of mind :)

There has actually been a recent evaluation of perineal massage by hand and by using things like the Epi-No. They found no difference between hands and the machine - so for those who don't want to spend $160, and can reach, your own thumbs are just as effective. The Epi-No may be a really good option for those who can't reach.

The study found that PM was beneficial for first time vaginal births but couldn't find any evidence to suggest it made any difference to subsequent births. (read my post here--->https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...032)

If you google Epi-No you will find the the retail website fairly easily.

I'm getting one of these because I'm already finding it difficult to reach 'down there' and my belly isn't even big. Maybe I'm just unco! LOL. I just think it will be easier using the Epi-no and I definitely want to do SOMETHING to reduce the risk of tearing.

um, maybe it's just me, but I don't think tearing is that big of a deal? It was my one and biggest fear about childbirth - to the point of thinking I should have an elective ceasar!!
I have had 2 kids and tore with both (2nd degree).
The first time was horrid which I now know was because the Obst. wasn't real great at stitching (It was 4 weeks before it didn't hurt at all), 2nd time I was up and walking around really soon after. The bruising on my poor botti TMI was more of a prob!!
But if you can reach and the thumb helps, go for it!!