This product is available in many countries but it seems the most accessible in Switzerland, as you can quickly order it from any pharmacy. I've yet to see it discussed on the forum and I'm curious if any women have used it to prepare for childbirth. If so, do you feel it helped or no?

There is a thread about it here somewhere, started by Nil IIRC.

Link please? It doesn't come up when I type the product into the search function. Danke!

a couple of posts here:

Moving away when heavily pregnant? (Last trimester)

C-Section on request

just started using it myself - expecting a slightly larger than average (but not huge) head circumference and I figured if it works it's well worth it, so will report back with the results if you're interested (that is if I manage to avoid delivery via the sun-roof this time around )

I'd be happy to hear how it goes. When are you due? I just picked one up a few days ago but it's still a bit early to start using it.

Here's to hoping it works well for you and you have a healthy and uncomplicated birth.

I used one from about 38 weeks and had a natural delivery at 41+3 with no tearing at all. Mini MG was 6lb13 with a 34cm diameter head.

I had planned to use it religiously but after the first few days probably only used it every 3 days or so. I did however do 'damm-massage' every day which the midwife recommended alongside the Epi-No.

I can't say whether it helped or not but I'm glad I did it and would definitely use it again. I think what also helped was the midwife using the damm-massage oil just before she crowned and previous to that she had applied a hot coffee compress to stimulate blood flow and help everything open up. (I thought I had misunderstood when she explained what she was doing until she wafted it under my nose and boy, it smelt good!)

Oh, just remembered that a friend of mine used it for her baby number 2 and also had no tearing or stitches and she was well pleased as needed lots of stitches after her first birth.

Good luck!

I do think the name requires an exclamation mark 'Epi-No!'

I haven't heard of the thing your talking about but I would say a major factor is the position you give birth in.

For no 4 all 9lb 10 of him ( thank goodness he was a week early!) I was not in the sitting position but lean't over the bed head. That said he doesn't have such a big head as no 3 who came in at 9lb 11. Debated not having a fourth after his arrival .

well I can now report back and am very happy to have achieved my VBAC!

I started using it from 37 weeks (as the instructions state) and used it more or less once a day, occasionally skipping a day if I just didn't find the time. I got as far as 8.5cm diameter stretches. I also combined this with perineal massage. As D-Day approached, I must admit I did stop using it as I didn't want to risk triggering anything before bub was good and ready to come out of his own accord.

I also found that it did give me some confidence that yes I can squeeze something that big through something so small... (if I had any doubts about the birth, that was it).

In the event I birthed a 36cm circumference head (11.5cm diameter) and ended up with a minor 1st degree tear and 2 stitches. Of course I don't know what the result would have been without the 'pre-training' and whether it actually had any benefit or not.

But I will also continue to use it after my 6 week check-up to help retrain and strengthen my pelvic floor muscles.

Overall, for me, it has been worth it, for both the confidence boost and also for the prenatal and postpartum training.