belly binding and placenta eating? « Back to Group Discussions

[border stories]

The two are not related!  Just combining for quickness!

I am super anemic right now despite taking floradix and/or spa tone this entire pregnancy.  My Hb is 8.4 and my ferritin is at 5.  Not sure if I have absorption issues or if I really just need a lot of iron.  I am taking lots of different supplements now and hopefully will see an improvement before the birth.  Mainly I just get super tired and out of breath/dizzy easily.  BUT with my last birth (this next one will be number 4 and hopefully home vbac number 2) I was totally wiped out.  Like I could have slept for a week no problems.  I think then I had undiagnosed iron deficiency anemia too.  I do not want to be in that state again.  Anyway, moving on to my main point.  A friend recommended to me that I eat some of the placenta.  She said she did this after her 5th baby and the difference she felt was amazing.  She hardly bled at all, maybe for less than a week with PP bleeding and was so energised.  She said she took 3inch pieces and each day would put one in a smoothie.  She and her mum chopped the placenta up into tiny bits and froze it and she would eat a smoothie a day for about a week.  Then she dehydrated the rest and made capsules to take.  I did some research this last week and found a 'placenta network' here in the UK where someone can come take away your placenta and make the pills for you.  It is a really growing thing.  I had heard about it before but never felt much like trying it.  However the way I feel right now I would be happy to have an energy boost.  Supposedly you get a boost of the hormones your body is lacking (and which can contribute to PPD) and feel good emotionally too.   Anyone done this or planning too?   I realise it is too hard core for most and do not know even if those of you planning hospital births will have access to their own placentas to take home afterwords.  I do not know how it works over on the other side of the Atlantic.  Here you can request your placenta and just take it home with you (although I am sure most mamas might say to bury it rather than eat it!).

Belly Binding.  Saw this mentioned on the PP thread.  I have been very keen to so this but have heard a few not good things about the main seller of belly bindings for PP, the Belly Bandit.   Mainly that it is uncomfortable to sit in (see how their website doesn't mention sitting?  Only standing up?  Well I just know that with breastfeeding non stop I shall be spending my more time on my ass and back than feet).  Also some reviews say it is stiff, does not look good under clothing and rolls over when you use it sitting down.   I am thinking about buying a surgical one from amazon and seeing how it goes.

oh wait look, this lady did a review on the five best belly binders.... maybe I will try one of those.  Although the one she has as her favourite doesn't adjust?

http://twinpossible.com/top-5-best-belly-binders-on-the-market-plus-belly-binding-you-can-get-your-tummy-back

 I love the idea of being wrapped in something strong around my abdomen after birth as I always feel so loose and strange.  It will be comforting I think.  Plus so many other cultures do this as a matter of course, to strengthen the woman's core and help with body shaping, and muscle strengthening/correcting.

I'd like some others opinions on these two issues,  thanks

Claire 

Edited by border stories - 7/14/12 at 4:23am

[help007]

Hmm, we have a couple of wide (like 4" or 5") ace bandages. I wonder if those would work for belly binding. I've been curious about binding this time around. I have been very fortunate that my abs have healed well (one therapist said it is because I didn't do crunches, yay me!), and my stretch marks have closed early on. I just have a sneaking suspicion that the 3rd time around won't be so easy.

[Monkey Keeper]

I used a surgical binder after #2 and #3 (#2 was a c/s), and it worked great. They do roll, but I think that's just the nature of the beast. It did feel a lot better with everything held in places--my uterus was floating all over my abdomen for a couple weeks!

[foxsmama]

I didn't use any binding after DS, and I remember the no-ab-muscle-tone feeling being pretty awful. This time, I gave in and bought a Belly Bandit. With all the stretching involved with carrying twins, I think it will be needed. It's pretty soft and feels like it will be comfy. I know a couple people who have used one and said they work pretty well, even with nursing. I also bought a Shrinkx Hips belt. I'm hoping the combination with help pull everything back in line after the birth.

[JuicyPakwan]

I had never used any form of belly binding until my 5th which was a c/sec but for this one, hopefully a hbac, I will absolutely do the belly binding.  I used the surgical wrap they gave me at the hospital it was perfect.  I didn't have any rolling issues and it was very flexible I used it for about 6 weeks more in the beginning less towards the end and I think it really did help with the core muscles. I had always heard that they can cause weakening which is why I never tried but after my experience I would highly recommend it.  My guess is it allows me to be much more mobile than I would have without it which is why it helped get my muscle tone back more quickly.

As for the iron issue that is a bummer I am struggling with that this time as well and have started taking 15ml of the floradix instead of the 10ml twice a day and am finally feeling a bit better.  I was a little worried about taking too much but I think it has been a good decision.

[judybean]

I'm so glad the belly binding issue has a bit more of a seperate thread to be discussed more... I've been really interested in this... even to the point of maybe trying to make my own binder with some sturdy knit fabric (two layers thick, with one piece laying so stretch is horizontal, one with it going vertical, so it's not super loose, but has more 'give' than a woven, non-stretchy fabric would have if that makes sense.  My biggest problem would be trying to figure out how big to make the darn thing.  I don't know what size my belly was before, so I have nothing to measure... I almost wish they made snappis, but for big people... big people that want to belly-bind ;)  That way I could make it out of a stretchy terry and not have to worry so much about exact sizing ... I need clippy things like ace bandages have...)

[ArtificialRed]

Is belly binding recommended for everyone? I'm curious about it, but I've had a lot of people tell me that because I'm young, was in fairly good shape before, and this is my first baby I'll have no problems "bouncing back." I guess I just don't really know what to expect post-partum. What will my abs be capable of? Can you really feel your uterus just kind of floating around?

[help007]

After two babies, I never had the sensation of anything 'floating around'. Everything felt like jello, though, for a good month. Traditional crunches and sit-ups are a very, very bad idea of healing abs. I saw a physical therapist who specializes in the effects of pregnancy on mama's bodies, and she showed me how to properly strengthen my core to avoid ab-splitting (can't remember the specific term) and to support my body which, after 2 pregnancies, was not in the best shape, but certainly not the worst, either. I followed her advice for about 2 months before conceiving. My belly didn't 'pop' until nearly 20 weeks, and I have had better alignment and less pain overall. I don't know how I got off on this tangent, but my point is to allow your body to heal before doing strenuous exercise, and if your abs don't come together on their own, get help from someone who knows what they're doing!

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by judybean 

I'm so glad the belly binding issue has a bit more of a seperate thread to be discussed more... I've been really interested in this... even to the point of maybe trying to make my own binder with some sturdy knit fabric (two layers thick, with one piece laying so stretch is horizontal, one with it going vertical, so it's not super loose, but has more 'give' than a woven, non-stretchy fabric would have if that makes sense.  My biggest problem would be trying to figure out how big to make the darn thing.  I don't know what size my belly was before, so I have nothing to measure... I almost wish they made snappis, but for big people... big people that want to belly-bind ;)  That way I could make it out of a stretchy terry and not have to worry so much about exact sizing ... I need clippy things like ace bandages have...)

I wonder if these Boingo fasteners would work? You'd need several, I'd imagine...

Originally Posted by ArtificialRed 

Is belly binding recommended for everyone? I'm curious about it, but I've had a lot of people tell me that because I'm young, was in fairly good shape before, and this is my first baby I'll have no problems "bouncing back." I guess I just don't really know what to expect post-partum. What will my abs be capable of? Can you really feel your uterus just kind of floating around?

I didn't feel the floating sensation until after my 3rd, and that was a large baby with polyhydramnios. With my first, my ab muscles recovered pretty quickly.

Edited by Monkey Keeper - 7/14/12 at 9:00pm

[Yeeska]

Originally Posted by help007 

After two babies, I never had the sensation of anything 'floating around'. Everything felt like jello, though, for a good month. Traditional crunches and sit-ups are a very, very bad idea of healing abs. I saw a physical therapist who specializes in the effects of pregnancy on mama's bodies, and she showed me how to properly strengthen my core to avoid ab-splitting (can't remember the specific term) and to support my body which, after 2 pregnancies, was not in the best shape, but certainly not the worst, either. I followed her advice for about 2 months before conceiving. My belly didn't 'pop' until nearly 20 weeks, and I have had better alignment and less pain overall. I don't know how I got off on this tangent, but my point is to allow your body to heal before doing strenuous exercise, and if your abs don't come together on their own, get help from someone who knows what they're doing!

I would be really interested in more information on this.

[Yeeska]

My business partner has recently started doing placenta encapsulation and she says good things, although I have no personal experience. It's a paid service

http://placentabenefits.info/articles.asp

[judybean]

Monkey Keeper-- yeah, those are what I'd want I think, but those would get pricey maybe.. (wait... I was looking around and recalling the price of the version 2.0 ones... If I had to get too many and add in the cost of fabric though, it could easily not be a money-saver,.. hmm...

[judybean]

Originally Posted by Yeeska 


I would be really interested in more information on this.

There is a wealth of excellent information on www.alignedandwell.com! On my phone I'm having problems (with patience) linking them, but there are so many about pregnancy and alignment and diastasis recti!

[katt]

There are a LOT of people around here who encapsulate placentas.  I can name 3 off the top of my head.  It's a bit pricey for me, but maybe somehow...

I have NO idea about belly banding.

[help007]

Okay, I'm guessing most of you have read the thread about kegels. From the woman who wrote one/some of the information dispelling the myth (from her perspective) that kegels are good/vital: I posted a belly binding question to her facebook wall.

Me:Do you have an opinion regarding post-partum belly binding? I can see pros and cons, but I thought you might have a more thought out opinion.

Aligned and Well: Well the pros are that the binding device gives the connective tissue, organs, and vertebrae more support. The cons are that the muscles are supposed to be doing this. So, if one were wanting to put things back together optimally, learning how to do this with the muscles rather than the device would be better. But if one weren't going to learn, then the device is better than nothing. If one wanted to use the device but had the intention of doing it with the muscles eventually, then it would be good to note that it's better to get right to the muscle part as long-term use of a device will weaken the active muscular structures. So there are many situations to consider. And, exercises aren't really what I am talking about in terms of active correctors. The primary thing one should do is align the pelvis to the ribs, removing interfering tensions in the hamstrings, psoas, quads, spinal extensors, etc. Once the ribs and pelvis lines up, the abdomen can get busy firing without a lot of conscious "work" to it...



So, I can see how belly binding would be vital after cesarean (you can't/shouldn't be using core muscles while you're healing, right?), and helpful for the first weeks during recovery after a vaginal birth. I guess I know how long it takes me to pay any attention to my own body after a birth (months . . . ) so just more to think about, I suppose.

[Jend1002]

help007 - That's kind of in line with what I was thinking to myself.  I had a c-section with my first, did not bind, and slowly regained my core strength.  I would think that binding would just make the process to develop core strength a bit longer.  I asked my dr. for her opinion on hip binding, actually.  She said she has seen no studies that indicate that hip binding actually works - but then she also told me she'd prescribe me a belly binder at the hospital if I'd like.  I will probably take her up on that just to have it.  I am truly interested in hip binding because I don't feel like mine ever returned to the same width. I should post on the Aligned and Well page to see what she says about hip binding! 

[activealli]

I bound my belly after having my son last august. It really helped mentally and felt "put back into place". I am 100% in for doing it again this time. My belly was back to looking 95% like I never had a kid 3 months later. I used this one from amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Gabrialla-Breathable-Elastic-Abdominal-Binder/dp/B000WFT3II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342584032&sr=8-1&keywords=belly+binder

After about a month- 1.5 months, I couldnt get it small enough though, even though I bought a small so I switched to wearing small full torso spanx as often as I could. It was pretty tight but I swear if I skipped a day, my belly looked like it started puffing, bloating and sagging.

I might try one of the other ones this time.

Oh,. I had a c-section with #1 and planning a home vbac with #2. I see both situations as being equally beneficial to do belly banding.

[activealli]

I think Ill try the sqeem this time as I have a very long torso and that was my only complaint about the other one. I had to keep pulling it down only to kind of get a small roll at the top.

[Lucy Alden]

Originally Posted by activealli 

I think Ill try the sqeem this time as I have a very long torso and that was my only complaint about the other one. I had to keep pulling it down only to kind of get a small roll at the top.

Any sqeem in particular. I'm definitely going to do some belly binding this time. I have a 1.5 finger width diastasis and am looking for anything that will help me close it post-partum.

[TheLightbearer]

I was just going to ask this same question!  Regarding placenta eating, I think I'm going to do it.  I have a good friend who just told me that she did it with her third and the difference it made to her was phenomenal.  She said she had no fatigue at all following her birth, immediately or the weeks after, and that her body healed pretty much right away with no bleeding.  I am going to try to do it the way she did because I feel it is most beneficial and natural (how other mammals do it) but it's definitely not for everyone.  What they did was to expel the placenta naturally, by standing and letting gravity do the work, AFTER pulsing stops and breastfeeding for a bit, then her midwife cut it into pieces while still warm and she ate it!  It makes me a little squeamish (intensified I'm sure because I'm vegan, lol) but I'm going to go for it.  I try to live as naturally as possible and I bled for 8 weeks with my previous births so I'm willing to look to the 'animal world' for answers.