10 Aniball Myths Debunked | Pelvic Floor Training for Birth
10 Myths About Aniball
Over the past 13 years, we've heard all sorts of opinions and concerns about Aniball. To help you make an informed decision, we've tackled the most common myths head-on.
Aniball is scientifically proven to help prevent perineal injury during childbirth, yet some people still dismiss it as unnecessary, unnatural or just clever marketing. Let's set the record straight.
1. It's just marketing. Our mothers didn't need gadgets and they managed fine
Can we really compare previous generations to today's expectant mothers?
- Women are giving birth later, often with more health conditions, injuries and medications – including long-term hormonal contraception
- We move less, sit more and lead increasingly sedentary lives (or push ourselves too hard with inappropriate exercise)
- Poor lifestyle choices and chronic stress take their toll
All of this affects the pelvic floor, increasing tension and making it harder to relax the birth canal. This can complicate labour and increase the risk of tearing.
Birth injuries shouldn't be accepted as a normal part of giving birth. They leave physical and emotional scars. With proper preparation, you can give yourself the best chance of a positive birth – and full recovery afterwards.
2. Is using Aniball natural? Animals in the wild don't need training to give birth
Behaving intuitively during labour is absolutely natural.
Animals give birth in peace, safety and seclusion. They can follow their instincts without interruption.
Women are often denied this same intimacy. Bright lights, noise, cold rooms and lots of people can all trigger a stress response that makes it harder to relax and follow your body's cues.
Preparing with Aniball helps you experience the sensations of labour gradually, learning to work with them using breath and movement. You start trusting your body and your instincts – which is as natural as it gets.
3. Aniball stretches the birth canal and perineum
This is one of the biggest misunderstandings.
The goal isn't to stretch anything. It's to learn how to consciously relax your pelvic floor using your breath, so you can avoid forced pushing during labour – which often causes tearing and can reduce oxygen supply to your baby.
If your birth canal stays tense, your baby's journey into the world is harder.
Aniball doesn't stretch your vagina, birth canal or perineum. You can't "overstretch" your pelvic area.
4. You should inflate Aniball to match a newborn's head circumference (about 34cm)
Not true. The point isn't to reach the biggest size possible.
Aniball is inflatable so it can adapt to your body. Performance and size don't matter – what matters is listening to yourself.
- Only inflate until you feel slight tension, never pain
- We strongly recommend not exceeding 25cm
- Focus on gradually relaxing your pelvic floor with your breath
- Don't force the balloon out or overinflate it
5. Aniball overstretches and weakens the pelvic floor muscles
The balloon isn't designed to stretch muscles, and shouldn't be used that way. Always follow the instructions and listen to your body.
Overworking your muscles during practice won't help you during labour. Everything has its time – your birth canal is only ready to let your baby through during labour itself, thanks to hormones and contractions.
6. Aniball causes incontinence
One in three mothers experiences pelvic floor weakness and stress incontinence after giving birth.
This is usually caused by birth injuries, though pregnancy hormones and gravity play a role too. If incontinence doesn't improve within six months, it's important to address it.
Aniball doesn't cause stress incontinence. In fact, it helps you stay strong from six weeks postpartum onwards.
Regular pelvic floor training – including both activation and relaxation – significantly reduces the risk of incontinence. Research by Ruiz de Viñaspre found that inadequate pelvic floor exercise after birth is one of the main factors behind incontinence issues.
Aniball does not cause stress incontinence. On the contrary, it helps us to keep fit from six weeks after delivery onwards.
Regular training including activation and relaxation of pelvic floor muscles significantly reduces the risk of incontinence issues. According to a study by Ruiz de Viñaspre, insufficient pelvic floor muscle training during the postpartum period is one of the most significant factors causing incontinence.
7. Using Aniball can permanently damage the vaginal walls
When used correctly, Aniball is safe for both mother and baby. The exercise isn't about expanding your vaginal walls.
No adverse reactions have been reported by gynaecologists, midwives or physiotherapists.
8. There's no proof Aniball works – the research is missing
Aniball is a medical device that's been tested in perinatal research studying the effects of pelvic floor exercise with a vaginal balloon in Czech women.
Studies have also looked at its role in preventing episiotomy (a surgical cut to the perineum) during childbirth.
The growing use of Aniball among obstetricians, gynaecologists, urogynaecologists, physiotherapists and women themselves confirms that it significantly reduces the risk of medical intervention, perineal tears and their long-term effects.
9. Every pregnant woman should use Aniball because it guarantees a complication-free birth
Aniball isn't a magic solution that guarantees a perfect birth. It helps you understand your body and build confidence, but it won't do the work for you.
It's not suitable for everyone – particularly women with contraindications or those who misunderstand its purpose and treat it like a performance challenge.
Some women give birth without any intervention, but this depends on many factors including age, previous births and baby's weight.
Aniball is designed for proactive women who want to reduce their risk. Proper preparation significantly increases your chances of birth without injury, as confirmed by multiple studies.
10. Isn't the breathing during labour the opposite of breathing during Aniball practice?
No – and this is an important point.
During labour, your body releases a hormonal cocktail and contractions support you in ways they don't during practice. But the breathing principle is exactly the same.
Your diaphragm and pelvic floor work together like twins. When you breathe in, they both relax. When you breathe calmly and deeply into your belly, you naturally guide your baby into the world without forced pushing.
Learning this connection takes time – and that's what Aniball helps with. It teaches you that your pelvic floor relaxes on the inhale, just as the balloon starts to slip out. The same principle applies during labour.