Epi-No Plus”
This is a basic rubber balloon affixed to a hose with a gage to determine changes in pressure.
What’s it for? Well, the basic gist is that you insert it into your vagina towards the end of pregnancy, and over a number of days gradually inflate it until your body is used to “giving birth to” an object of 10cm diameter. The perenium learns to stretch, with the result of reducing the need for episiotomies (although some would argue there’s almost never a need for episiotomies) and the incidence of tearing. In one Australian study of the device, 46 per cent of those using it emerged from birth with perenium intact, while only 17 per cent of the control participants had the same outcome. Twenty-eight per cent of the Epi-No users had a tear, and 49 per cent of the control subjects suffered one. And suffer they must have. These tears (and episiotomies) are not only painful and slow-healing, but can lead to life-threatening infections.
What’s it for? Well, the basic gist is that you insert it into your vagina towards the end of pregnancy, and over a number of days gradually inflate it until your body is used to “giving birth to” an object of 10cm diameter. The perenium learns to stretch, with the result of reducing the need for episiotomies (although some would argue there’s almost never a need for episiotomies) and the incidence of tearing. In one Australian study of the device, 46 per cent of those using it emerged from birth with perenium intact, while only 17 per cent of the control participants had the same outcome. Twenty-eight per cent of the Epi-No users had a tear, and 49 per cent of the control subjects suffered one. And suffer they must have. These tears (and episiotomies) are not only painful and slow-healing, but can lead to life-threatening infections.
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