Prospective cohort study "Investigating antenatal pelvic floor training using a vaginal balloon device in Czech women" conducted by Dr. Fousek et al., after 6 years of intensive research, published in the prestigious British Journal of Midwifery, (February 2023, Vol 31, No 2).
The study shows that antepartum pelvic floor preparation with the medical device Aniballod 36 weeks of pregnancy in women delivering head to term reduces the incidence of episiotomies (cases: 34% vs. controls: 59%; P = 0.007)and the total number of birth injuries (80 vs. 97%, P = 0.005).
~ FREQUENCY OF EXERCISE
More frequent exercise does not lead to a further reduction in the number of birth injuries or an improvement in their spectrum. Conversely, less frequent exercise (obden) appears to be more beneficial.
~ BALLOON CIRCUMFERENCE
The most common maximum balloon circumference was 25 cm - confirming that it is not desirable to inflate the balloon more. The aim of the training is to practice pelvic floor relaxation and not to achieve the largest possible balloon circumference.
~ QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER CHILDBIRTH
Women who exercised did not report a decrease in quality of life (in terms of incontinence or sexual dysfunction) after childbirth. Conversely, stress incontinence and a decrease in the quality of love experience after childbirth were reported by more non-exercising women: stress incontinence (p = 0.066) and sexual dysfunction (p = 0.14).
In addition, analysis of the reasons for women's dropping out of the study after delivery revealed a non-significant reduction in the number of vaginal extractions in exercising women (6.8% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.0895). This interesting incidental finding could provide an impetus for further research into the potential benefits of balloon use?