The epi-no can be your perineum’s best friend as you prepare in pregnancy for childbirth. The epi-no developed from traditional Ugandan culture where midwives gave pregnant women different sized dried calabashes to insert into their vagina to stretch the pelvic floor muscles in preparation for childbirth, to help prevent perineal injuries.

In this video, I explain how to use the epi-no and why more pregnant mamas should use this medical device. It is important to note that use of the epi-no is no substitute for medical advice and that when using it, that you do not feel any pain.

If you do not have access to an epi-no, then you might want to try doing daily perineal massage manually, using your thumb and forefinger, massaging the perineum between your fingers with some natural-based oil, such as coconut or almond oil. This can also be done twice daily for five minutes each time. Perineal massage has its benefits, as it gets you more in touch with your body – and you need to know your body well when you prepare for childbirth, in addition to softening the tissues to allow for more stretching in childbirth. You may even choose to do perineal massage and epi-no training in conjunction to each other, as both have their unique benefits.

Contact a midwife or a doula in your area that might be able to connect you to an epi-no device. You may contact me for more information about getting a device to use.

I would like to thank the amazing home birth independent midwife, Sister Susan Lees of Cape Town, for helping me with the content of this video.