Epi-No Birth Preparation Trainer Dolphin plus, 1 ST

A gentle start
into life



A birth is like a little miracle: joy, wonder, pure emotion – but also hard work. To ensure that you and your baby are well prepared for life’s start, there are things you can do even before the birth:

With EPI·NO Delphine and EPI·NO Delphine Plus, you can take an active role in shaping and supporting your antenatal preparation. Through gentle, targeted and regular training with EPI·NO, you can effectively prevent painful perineal injuries during childbirth – such as an episiotomy or a perineal tear.

A large proportion of all women giving birth are affected by these injuries. Perineal massage alone is often not sufficient for prevention, or it may be found uncomfortable. Possible consequences of a perineal injury include inflammation, scarring, pain during bowel movements and pain during sex. Long-term consequences may also include, for example, stress incontinence or a prolapsed uterus.

The idea that led to the development of EPI·NO originally came from midwives in Africa: there, even today, pregnant women prepare for childbirth in a completely natural way by using calabash gourds to stretch and strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. This helps to reduce the risk of perineal tears.


This ancient African tradition has given rise to a modern medical device: the soft, inflatable silicone balloon from EPI·NO.

We invite you to find out all about EPI·NO on the following pages. Read studies and user testimonials, as well as the frequently asked questions and their answers. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have by telephone or email (see Contact)
All documents (e.g. the full user manual, a postnatal recovery programme, etc.) are available to download free of charge. We strive to provide factual information – not sensationalist advertising.

EPI·NO is not a miracle cure but a medical training device designed to better prepare the body for childbirth. It strengthens and stretches the muscles (important: only to the point of feeling maximum tension – without any sensation of pain!). Through training with
EPI-NO does not permanently stretch the tissue (or ‘stretch it out’), but simply makes it more flexible – and therefore more stretchable – for a specific time (childbirth).

A simple example: if you train for a split over 2–3 weeks – gradually increasing the intensity – you’re more likely to achieve it through consistent practice and without injury or strains than if you attempt it suddenly and unprepared. Uninjured tissue returns to its normal state much more easily. If you then stop practising the splits, you will find that after a while you can no longer do them (without preparation). Essentially, it is just like any other ‘athletic’ activity (stretch, flex and relax).

EPI·NO is by no means a substitute for the work of midwives; however, many midwives now use and recommend this training as an additional and useful complement to antenatal preparation. According to our latest survey (first half of 2009), one in two (52 per cent) EPI-NO devices used in Germany had already been recommended by a midwife.

How you can benefit from using EPI·NO Delphine PLUS
during childbirth:

• The risk of perineal tears is significantly reduced, as scientific studies
have shown . Combining it with perineal
massage is ideal.

• The duration of the critical expulsion phase is significantly reduced
allowing both mother and baby to experience the birth with less stress.

• The need for pain relief during labour is reduced.

• Regular training reduces anxiety about childbirth and boosts
self-confidence: the expectant mother practises recognising the sensation she feels when
the baby’s head passes through the vagina.


Childbirth preparation
with EPI-NO

Around three weeks before the birth, various exercises are carried out to
increase the elasticity of the pelvic floor and vaginal muscles
. You should practise for about 15 minutes every day. Just like with sport
, this not only strengthens the muscles but also stretches
and made more flexible (stretching).



Strengthening/building up the pelvic floor
muscles




First, the EPI·NO
balloon is inserted into the vagina
. The training is carried out
by contracting the
muscles against the
resistance of the balloon.


Stretching the muscles




Using the hand pump,
, the balloon can be gently inflated without
risk to the baby
into the balloon
. The diameter
diameter of the balloon
increases
gradually, and muscles
and tissues are
gently stretched.

Inducing labour




To finish this
stretching exercise,
the expectant mother
inflated balloon
out of her vagina
– a sensation similar to
when the
baby’s head.



Feel great all round

With EPI·NO, you can prepare yourself perfectly for the birth – it
gently stretch your pelvic floor muscles and perineum, thereby helping to
injuries during childbirth.

After the birth, EPI·NO Delphine Plus is your ideal partner for
postnatal recovery and the rebuilding of weakened muscles.





Protecting
–
for an all-round sense of well-being.



Benefits of EPI·NO Delphine and EPI-NO Delphine Plus

• Train easily and conveniently at home at any time
• effectively prevent an episiotomy or perineal tear
• Make childbirth less stressful for both mother and baby
• provide optimal support for the postnatal recovery process
• Get back into shape more quickly
• Maintain a healthy sex life
• Monitor your training progress using biofeedback

EPI·NO Delphine and EPI-NO Delphine Plus are patented
and have been successfully tested in clinics.


Postnatal recovery training
with EPI-NO Delphine Plus

Around three to six weeks after giving birth, targeted pelvic floor exercises can help to strengthen the stretched pelvic floor muscles.

The more the pelvic floor muscles are contracted, the greater the pressure on the balloon. With the pressure gauge on the EPI·NO Delphine Plus
, this pressure – and thus your progress – can be monitored and visualised (biofeedback).





With the EPI·NO Delphine Plus
feel exactly the right muscle group,
train them and monitor your training progress




What is the pelvic floor?



The pelvic floor is one of the most important muscle groups in the whole
body. This multi-layered muscular structure connects the coccyx to
the pubic bone.



It closes off the pelvis, which is open at the bottom, and keeps our
whole body upright and stabilises circulation and breathing.

The stronger the pelvic floor muscles, the better the organs in the pelvis function: the womb, bladder and bowel. Well-trained
muscles also enhance sexual pleasure.

Why practise pelvic floor exercises?

During childbirth, the pelvic floor muscles are stretched to the limit.
Through the conscious contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor
muscles during postnatal exercise, the muscles become
strong and toned.

The biggest problem when starting pelvic floor exercises is that
many women do not know at all where their pelvic floor muscles are, or have difficulty contracting these muscles in a targeted manner.

It is therefore crucial during training to develop a sense of the
pelvic floor muscles and to sense the correct muscle groups.

EPI·NO Delphine Plus supports you in this with biofeedback
.