We talk about Kegel exercises and perineal massages as methods to avoid episiotomy during labor, as much as possible.
Both methods are quite effective if we have proof and above all, if we perform them well.
The perineal muscle is a complicated muscle to work because it is quite difficult to identify it and we can believe that we are exercising it when we are not really strengthening it.
To ensure that we exercise the corresponding muscles well, both to reduce the risk of episiotomy and for postpartum recovery and avoid urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse, there is a medical device that can be very helpful.
The Epi-no Delphin Plus, which is a pre and postpartum exerciser. It is a kind of inflatable balloon that is inserted into the vagina to effectively exercise the pelvic and perineal muscles.
Its development is based on an ancient African custom, still in use, where pregnant women gently insert a pumpkin into their vagina to stretch the pelvic muscles, thus facilitating natural childbirth and reducing the risk of tears.
The contraption, developed by gynecologists and midwives, consists of a silicone ball and a hand knob with an integrated pressure display (biofeedback) to monitor the improvement of muscle tone.
According to studies, the use of the exerciser helps to reduce the duration of the second phase of labor by almost half, in addition to benefiting the baby who responds better to the Apgar test and also decreasing the need to resort to epidural anesthesia.
