Does the Epi-No® Birth Trainer reduce levator trauma? A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

This pilot randomised controlled trial showed a nonsignificantly lower incidence of pelvic floor muscle injury in women who used the Epi-No device from 37 weeks onwards.

Effects of antenatal pelvic floor preparation techniques on the perineal integrity: a randomized controlled trial protocol

“…This position is to ensure the lengthening of the desirable structures and that it does not touch the uterine cervix during use. 2,4 Then, the device will be inflated by manual pumping until the tolerable woman's limit. The pregnant woman will be encouraged to daily inflate a greater volume of compressed air into the balloon so that the amount of air is greater than the quantity in the previous day, achieving, day after day, a greater stretching of perivaginal structures, always respecting the individual tolerance limit.…”

“…The pregnant woman will be encouraged to daily inflate a greater volume of compressed air into the balloon so that the amount of air is greater than the quantity in the previous day, achieving, day after day, a greater stretching of perivaginal structures, always respecting the individual tolerance limit. 2 The amount of manual pumping imposed to inflate the balloon should be written in an Intervention Diary so that the next use, the pregnant woman will be sure that pumped the device more times than in the previous session. At the end of use, the balloon should be washed with water and mild soap and dried with a paper or cotton towel.…”

“…[1][2][3] Thus, perineal integrity has been a challenge in the practice of pregnant women assistance and parturient, in order to avoid sequelae especially to the neuromuscular structures of the pelvic floor. These structures, when damaged, can lead to disorders, such as urinary and anorectal disorders, pelvic pain, disabilities of pelvic support and sexual dysfunction.…”

Can pelvic floor injury secondary to delivery be prevented? Comment

“…However, as if they were completely unaware of the literature on the issue, the authors of this supposed review omit to reference any of the dozens of papers published on this topic since 2004. It is plainly astounding: the authors mention the Epi-No device in one of their algorithms and in the text, but not the randomised controlled trial (RCT) that was very recently published in this journal [3] and presented at a meeting in 2010 that the senior author attended.…”

Análise da distribuição multivetorial de cargas do assoalho pélvico feminino em diferentes populações

“…Este treinamento tem o objetivo de preparar o assoalho pélvico para o parto vaginal podendo ser direcionado para um fortalecimento (54,64,65) e/ou para um alongamento da musculatura (66)(67)(68). Durante o parto vaginal, o assoalho pélvico se alonga de 3 a 4…”