Hi all I too speak about the Epi-no at my HypnoBirthing classes and the obstetrician that refers clients to me ran a trial with it and his last 23 out of 25 women who used it had no tears or episiotomy. Once women get used to using it there doesn't seem to be a problem with it. All of my mums who have used it have not had a tear or an episiotomy.
One of the interesting things he did say was that because it exercises the pelvic floor by having to hold it in and then push it out is that there is less likelihood of prolapses both of the bladder and uterus later down the track. It isn't within the next 10 or 20 years that we will see the increase in this but 30 or 40 years down the track. I can remember when I had my children (blimey was it THAT long ago) that we had to do pelvic floor exercises and I notice talking with my clients now that it isn't a part of education classes now. Some give a handout but how many women actually do them. We did them within our classes. The Epi-no has the advantage of letting the mum know how to push (or breath in HypnoBirthing) their babies out by giving them the practice every day pushing the Epi-no out. I only wish there was some way of replacing the bulb so that it could be onsold as many mums see it as useful at the time but then often do not have a use for them afterwards. It gets the thumbs up from me! regards Diane -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
