I'm struggling to increase the diameter of the balloon. Does that mean I won’t be able to reach a larger diameter?
Be patient. It is not advisable to increase the size of the balloon at all costs. Clinical data show that achieving a balloon circumference of 25 cm (about 10 pumps) is sufficient for the effective prevention of perineal injury. We recommend not exceeding this circumference to avoid injury!
Blood appeared during exercise, should I stop?
Yes, definitely. Bleeding is a contraindication for using the balloon!
Bleeding can have various causes. By the time you start using Aniball, the cervix is already slowly maturing, softening, and preparing for childbirth. At this time, it is very vascularized and fragile, and even light contact can cause slight bleeding or spotting. If this happens after exercising with Aniball (as well as after a medical examination) and the spotting stops immediately afterward, you can carefully continue using Aniball the next day.
If improper handling of the balloon or failure to follow the manual leads to minor injuries to the birth canal, we recommend stopping the exercise for at least 4–5 days, then proceed carefully (exactly according to the manual instructions) and, above all, respect your body's limits!
Is urine leakage possible during exercise?
There may be slight urine leakage due to the pressure of the balloon on a full bladder. This is a minimal amount and does not prevent further exercise with Aniball. After completing the exercise, there should be no more urine leakage.
Can I continue exercising with Aniball if I test positive for Streptococcus?
In this case, there is no restriction related to exercise. Streptococcus does not cause any problems for the woman; it can only be dangerous for the baby. For this reason, antibiotics are given preventively during labor, but the presence of Streptococcus during pregnancy is not a contraindication for exercise.
However, it is different with yeast infections. If the yeast infection is in the acute stage and the woman is experiencing discharge and treating the infection with suppositories, we recommend waiting with the exercise. If the vulva is red, itchy, burning, and the vaginal wall is fragile and prone to cracks and bleeding, it is better to stop exercising during the use of suppositories.
Can I use Aniball if I might have a yeast infection?
We do not recommend exercising during the treatment of an infection. The vaginal walls are fragile, the mucous membrane at the entrance is red, painful, and often cracks. In acute stages, even perineal massage is not recommended.
Is it safe to use Aniball if I have varicose veins on my genitals?
If you have varicose veins on your genitals, it is particularly important to avoid cutting during labor. If you don't have contraindications for a vaginal birth, and the baby's head can be born even with varicose veins, you can use the balloon – but your specific condition should always be assessed. We recommend a cautious approach, plenty of lubricant, and a slow and careful removal of the balloon.
Do you recommend exercising with Aniball during a high-risk pregnancy?
If your doctor has diagnosed a high-risk pregnancy (short cervix, baby very low, etc.), we recommend consulting with your doctor first.
Can I prepare with Aniball if my first delivery was a cesarean section?
Yes, thanks to Aniball, a natural birth after a cesarean section is possible. If you are a healthy woman and there are no other obstacles to a natural birth, you can exercise with Aniball.
What is an episiotomy, and what are its consequences?
An episiotomy is a surgical procedure in the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) performed only during the second stage of labor. Its purpose is to enlarge the vaginal opening and protect the woman from spontaneous perineal tearing. Unfortunately, it is associated with several unpleasant complications and negative long-term effects. These often include poor healing, pain during defecation, limited sexual life, the need for perineal plastic surgery, incontinence later in life, and other seemingly unrelated issues such as headaches or psychological problems.
Therefore, it is important to prevent perineal injuries (both cuts and tears)!
Is an episiotomy really necessary?
There are cases where an episiotomy is unfortunately unavoidable. However, in most births with applied local massage and controlled pushing, the vaginal tissue stretches without problems due to hormones. If a spontaneous tear does occur, the wound is usually smaller, less painful than a surgical cut through all the layers, and typically requires fewer stitches than an episiotomy. Additionally, natural tearing carries a lower risk of infection and complications compared to an episiotomy. Aniball can help women prepare for childbirth without the need for a perineal cut.
How does Aniball help after childbirth, and can it help with urinary incontinence?
Using the device after the postpartum period helps restore proper pelvic floor function, reducing urine leakage after childbirth and preventing stress urinary incontinence later on.
Can the same Aniball be used in a subsequent pregnancy, and what is its lifespan?
The warranty period for Aniball is standardly 24 months. If all the conditions for use and storage are followed, the properties of the silicone rubber remain unchanged for at least 5 years. However, it should be noted that frequent use may lead to increased wear and thus shorten its lifespan. Therefore, we do not recommend using a balloon that has already been used by another person, and we offer the option to purchase a replacement silicone balloon at a significantly lower price. The quality of the silicone is also affected by the use of oils – it is essential to use water-based lubricants that do not contain oils during exercise.
Where is Aniball manufactured?
We are proud that Aniball is a completely European and Czech product. The silicone balloon is a Czech product, and the material is supplied by a German manufacturer. It is made from high-quality silicone approved for medical use. All other parts are manufactured in the EU, and the product is assembled and inspected in the Czech Republic.
How does using this device relate to the risk of infection?
If all the safety instructions are followed, including thorough cleaning and regular disinfection, the risk of infection is virtually eliminated.
When is Aniball not recommended for use?
Contraindications: Do not use Aniball in case of a high-risk pregnancy, the threat of premature labor, any vaginal bleeding, the presence of condylomas or other infectious pathologies in the vagina or at the vaginal entrance, vaginal inflammation, genital herpes, vaginal injury, bladder inflammation, uterine prolapse, precancerous conditions, or cancerous pathologies of the cervix, vagina, or external genitalia, during the postpartum period, or in the first 6 weeks after gynecological surgery. Any problems encountered during exercise should be consulted with your midwife or doctor.
When should I exercise with extra caution?
Special caution and exercise after consulting a doctor are required in the case of varicose veins in the vagina and external genitalia, low-lying placenta (confirmed by your doctor), reduced sensitivity of the vagina and external genitalia (neurological diseases, use of painkillers, alcohol or drug abuse), after treated vaginal infections (temporary vaginal fragility persists), after vaginal surgery (scars may limit the flexibility of the vagina), with lichen sclerosus of the external genitalia (chronic skin disease), or in the case of cancer in the pelvic area.
Any problem encountered during exercise should be discussed with your midwife or doctor.
Is it appropriate to use Aniball during the third pregnancy? I’ve heard it’s no longer necessary.
It depends primarily on how the previous two births went. Aniball is designed to teach women how to consciously relax using proper breathing, find the most suitable birth position, and become familiar with the feeling of pressure that triggers the urge to push, thus promoting intuitive behavior, which is crucial for a birth without injury. Whether you already "know how" is something only you can assess.
In any case, it’s great to use Aniball or Aniball Inco after the postpartum period as part of pelvic floor rehabilitation and prevention of incontinence or other dysfunctions that may arise after multiple pregnancies and births.
Is it worth using Aniball if I was injured (episiotomy or tear) during a previous birth? Will I automatically tear again?
It’s not automatic that you will tear during the second birth. The area that tore during the previous birth heals with a different type of tissue, which is stronger but less flexible and elastic. Using Aniball is very beneficial and recommended by experts to improve the quality of the traumatized tissue. We have had positive experiences from women, even after multiple births, who used Aniball during their third birth and were finally not injured or cut.
We recommend following the manual carefully, being sensitive and respectful of your body, not inflating the balloon too much, but practicing conscious relaxation and "breathing it out." Experiment with the most effective pushing position, which is the best way to prevent birth injuries 🙂.
Can I use the standard Aniball for stress incontinence after childbirth?
Yes, it is possible, and detailed instructions can be found in the second part of the manual. However, if you plan to use it long-term, which is more effective for pelvic floor rehabilitation, we recommend purchasing the Inco balloon, which is more comfortable for exercise. Some women don’t like returning to the standard Aniball after childbirth due to its size and shape.
When can I start using Aniball after childbirth to restore proper pelvic floor function and prevent incontinence?
You can start rehabilitating the pelvic floor with Aniball no earlier than after the postpartum period and after complete healing of any birth injuries (if any occurred).
Proceed carefully and be mindful of your body's sensations. Using the balloon should not be uncomfortable or painful. Don’t force anything.
Some women experience difficulty using the standard Aniball to strengthen the pelvic floor after pregnancy and childbirth due to its size and shape, which may be uncomfortable. In that case, Aniball Inco is a better choice as it’s better suited for regular and long-term pelvic floor training.
How do I properly handle the pump valve?
Turn the valve wheel gently with two fingers. Stop turning immediately if there is resistance. Do not over-tighten, as the valve is sensitive and seals properly.
We often encounter the question of how to breathe properly during exercise and whether it’s different during actual childbirth compared to the instructions in the manual?
Childbirth is a unique and complex event, where the body is additionally supported by hormones and contractions. However, the breathing technique is the same as practiced with Aniball.
Aniball helps women familiarize themselves with the sensation of pressure caused by the baby’s head during labor, which triggers the urge to push. Women should respond to this pressure with calm, deep breathing, which allows the pelvic floor to relax, making the baby’s smooth passage easier.
With deep abdominal breathing, the diaphragm relaxes with the inhalation, and so does the pelvic floor. The balloon placed in the vagina tends to slip out. Conversely, the pelvic floor tightens (activates) with the exhale. In this way, you gradually learn, along with the chosen birthing position, to "release" the balloon (or baby during labor) with the inhalation and breathe them out into the world without forced pushing, breath-holding, and tightening of the abdomen and sphincters, which is referred to as "controlled pushing." Controlled pushing is highly unsuitable because it often leads to significant injuries and puts the baby at risk of oxygen deprivation.
I’ve been using the balloon for five days, but I still have difficulty inserting it, and at larger sizes, I can’t "push it out." What am I doing wrong? I feel like giving up.
This is entirely normal. In the first few days, it’s harder to insert and expel the balloon. Please be kind to your body and don’t push past the pain threshold. Everything has its right time, and the exercises should align with the gradual release of hormones that loosen the birth canal as the due date approaches.
In the first few days of use, focus on getting acquainted with the feeling of pressure caused by the balloon and understanding how the pelvic floor works with the breath. Insert the balloon and inflate it only to the point of slight tension, and it should not cause pain! With the balloon inflated to a comfortable level, take about 10 deep breaths down to your abdomen. You should gradually notice how the balloon behaves with your breathing – with each inhalation, it tends to move outward slightly, and with each exhalation, it moves back in. You will use this technique during labor to "breathe" the baby into the world without forced pushing.
There’s no need to increase the size of the balloon every day at all costs;
always go by how you feel.
In the first few days, you don’t even have to try pushing the balloon out if it’s difficult. Deflate it and gently remove it instead. Allow time for the birth canal to relax...and soon, pushing it out will be easy with just your breath.
Be assured that the balloon size you achieve doesn’t matter at all! During labor, the tissues stretch due to a unique hormone cocktail and contractions. For now, practice with a smaller balloon and don’t stress about the size you reach.
Can I use Aniball after the mucus plug has been released?
Yes, after the release of the mucus plug, it’s safe to continue exercising with the balloon.
It’s different after the amniotic fluid breaks (or, for example, after a Hamilton maneuver), where there is a risk of infection and other complications, so using Aniball is strictly contraindicated at that point.
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