EPI-NO Testimonials

Clinical Testimonials

Patient Testimonials

Clinical Testimonials

arco Geburtshaus&Hebammenpraxis GmbH
(Arco Maternity Clinic & Midwife Practice, Ltd.)
Rosenweg 3
6370 Stans
www.geburtshaus-stans.ch

To Whom It May Concern:

Our Experiences with EPI·NO
How it all began:

The Arco Maternity Clinic was founded in August of 2000. In January 2005, we were able to welcome our 300th baby into the world. Since November 2001, more than 220 pregnant women have trained successfully with the EPI·NO pelvic floor trainer (see statistics.) Were we, as midwives, sceptical about EPI·NO? Very much so!

When we first heard about EPI·NO, we received a demo instrument that first landed in a drawer and just sat there. An "engineered" training of the pelvic floor to prepare the perineum was contrary to our philosophy of natural and integral birth assistance. However, in July 2001, three women who were having their first child gave birth one after the other with a strikingly shortened expulsion period of less than half an hour and without any kind of perineum injury. As was discovered later, all three women (they knew each other privately) had decided themselves to train with the EPI·NO, without our knowledge.

This definitely caught our attention. We gave the EPI·NO information folder to a successful therapist we knew who offers acupuncture massage (in the style of Penzel) and asked him to review the instrument for (what he might consider) any negative effects, if it were used in the perineum region. After this therapist declared that he was neither for nor against the instrument, we decided to test the EPI·NO pelvic floor trainer in our maternity clinic for half a year, recommending that all women train with the instrument.

After the amazing and extremely positive results of the first half-year test, the EPI·NO has (since November 2001) been an indispensable part of the "inventory" in our clinic.

Our recommendations for use:

· Daily training from the 36th week of pregnancy on, optimally 2 x a day in a relaxed and undisturbed atmosphere.
 · Preheat the perineum region if required with a warm damp compress, a hayseed pack or a hip bath
 · Train for not less than 10 minutes, according to the instructions for use. Increase the diameter of the balloon daily, by inflating right up to the point where a feeling of tension is noticeable.
 · Breathe deeply several times into this tension, close your eyes and visualize the little head of the baby, then press the balloon slowly out of the vagina - we prefer to use the word "push"
. · The training is recommended for all pregnant women, whether expecting a first child or after several births, and whether previous births occurred with an intact perineum or with a perineal tear or an episiotomy. (Because one birth where the perineum did not tear does not necessarily guarantee that with a second birth the perineum will not tear. A heavier birth weight or special postures or positions of the baby can very much change the state of the perineum during subsequent births.)

How do we bring our customers to train with EPI·NO:

Many of our mothers are at first rather sceptical. As such, we bring up the subject of EPI·NO right from the beginning.
 · At the very beginning, our mothers receive, along with our clinic brochure, an EPI·NO brochure
. · During the monthly information evening, we mention training with EPI·NO
. · During the preliminary talk when our mothers register with the maternity clinic, we take approximately ten minutes to introduce EPI·NO. In the 35th week of pregnancy we distribute the EPI·NO. The consultation and the briefing take approximately one-half hour.
· We tell about the successes that our customers have had through training with EPI·NO. We make clear that a traditional perineum massage does NOT replace the training with EPI·NO, though it is better than not preparing the perineum at all.
· It is also important to explain to the pregnant woman that the training with EPI·NO is NOT a romantic matter. It is training - and that is absolutely the correct term - because one must be mentally prepared as if she were going to a fitness studio and concentrating on the stomach muscles or the biceps. In this case, of course, it is concentrated training of the pelvic floor muscles.

In the case of considerable scepticism or even of anxiety, we encourage the customer to at least try out the EPI·NO, if the scepticism still remains or the woman decides against EPI·NO, we accept her decision. The mother should recognize the logic behind the training and she should not feel forced into it or be traumatized by it.

Ultimately, our statistics say enough about the success - that numerous women have successfully trained with EPI·NO before the birth - to entice other mothers to use EPI·NO too. Only three perineum cuts in five-years use in over 300 births is a motivating indicator!

Our experiences with EPI·NO:

Through the training with EPI·NO, the need for episiotomy and the spontaneous perineum tear rate have sunk significantly. The expulsion phase has -- in more than 70% of all births -- been shortened by at least half the expected time. The anxiety that many pregnant women have concerning the "passage of the head" is discussed and can already be dissipated before the birth.

Many women speak after the birth of a "recognition effect" during delivery of the head because of their training with EPI·NO. In particular with women who have experienced births that ended with forceps - or vacuum birth -- which meant they experienced no conscious pressing phase, the simulation of the passage of the head by pressing out the balloon at the end of the EPI·NO training sessions are of great importance.

Without question the pressing phase, and the whole birth as well, is associated with pain. We, therefore, speak quite consciously of labour. EPI·NO helps here too to prepare for this imminent situation, for this extraordinary experience, to accept and deal with the pain.

In conclusion, it should be said that each midwife strives to protect the perineum and keep it intact. Many midwives are privileged to be there when the child arrives and to help avoid a rapid passage of the head and thus possible injury to the perineum. We midwives from the Arco Maternity Clinic go so far as to say that an active protection of the perineum by the midwife after training with EPI·NO is no longer necessary. There is nothing more wonderful and fulfilling for the woman giving birth, her partner and us midwives than for the woman to push the little head of her child with her own hand or the hand of her partner. Through the training with EPI·NO, she knows intuitively also how much pressure this procedure requires.

Births of this type are the ones with the fewest perineum injuries and make for the most dignified, active and integral way to give birth. So that woman and man can work together as one, we midwives try to remain in the background as "extras." Couples are able to call upon our professional knowledge at any time.

Based upon several years of experience, we can warmly recommend the EPI·NO pelvic floor trainer to every pregnant woman as preparation for the birth as well as well as after the birth for help in childbirth recovery.

Sincerely,

Irmgard Hummler
Qualified Midwife
Arco Maternity Clinic & Midwife Practice, Ltd.
Kehrsiten
April 12, 2005

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"In my capacity as an independent midwife I am often asked by expectant mothers for advice on preparing the perineum for their delivery. Until now I have only been able to recommend (perineal) massage with various oils, which, in my opinion, has not really been effective. Recently in my Clinic I have attended several women who have given birth without perineal injuries, some with quite large babies. They then revealed "their" method to me. EPI-NO Training. This experience has made me curious about the device. I will recommend EPI-NO, and include the training in my Childbirth Preparation Classes." -- SB

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Patient Testimonials

"On day 13 of training with EPI-NO, I went to the hospital with regular contractions . I had hoped that staying at home and "tolerating the pressure" (I had learned that feeling thanks to EPI·NO) would be confirmed by the midwife. And she did: my cervix was already 4 cm opened, so we knew that it would not take long!

After 4 hours and 15 minutes, three bearing-down pains and without episiotomy, my daughter was born! The pressure in the last contractions was by far greater than I had experienced in the most strenuous training with EPI·NO. My abdomen was nevertheless well prepared and my perineum was able to withstand the pressure and tension. I was and am very proud of myself!"

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"My cervix had now opened to between four and five centimetres. I wanted to take a bath to relax. As soon as I was in the water I felt the urge to press. The midwife did not even have time to put on her gloves, the baby's head had already been born. Our healthy baby with a birth weight of 3600 g was born without any damage to the perineum."

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"Despite the fact that Niklas was a big baby (born 8 days after the calculated date) and delivery was very quick (only 3 hours) - first the birth was induced, then a drug against pains was administered and then all in all the actual delivery only lasted 3 hours - nevertheless I neither had an episiotomy nor a tear.

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Training with EPI·NO helped me most by the fact that I knew how and where to press, apart from the fact that I had no episiotomy. I was therefore able to follow the midwife's instructions exactly. After this quite positive experience I will definitely start training with EPI·NO before the birth of our second child."

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"The training unit on the following day proved to be more pleasant and lasted over 10 minutes. With each day I got more experienced and found it easier to withstand the pain, I visibly noticed the positive training effect. One thing I would like to mention at this point is the fact that due to the daily training I was able to reduce my fear of the oncoming birth. It was my first pregnancy and the "horror reports" from women among my friends and relatives who had already given birth to children kept on going through my mind during the whole pregnancy.

No episiotomy was necessary - I only had a small tear which the doctor sewed with a few stitches. My midwife who came to examine me the next day (I was an outpatient) told me that it was only a minute tear. And I did not have any problems with that either.

I am convinced that without EPI·NO I would have had more than just a minute tear. My experience with EPI·NO was therefore highly positive. In the event of a next pregnancy I will definitely train with EPI·NO again."

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