Belly binding postpartum - Page 6 « Back to Group Discussions

[loveandgarbage]

I think you're just screwed if you have a small band size/larger cup size combo. Nursing bras in those sizes exist but they all fit so differently and the sizing isn't universal. I'll let you know if I find other ones that work! I'm tempted to order some from Hotmilk but I'm sort of sick of ordering, trying on, being disappointment, then having to return!

[loveandgarbage]

Oh and thanks for the thoughts on the Squeem. I think it's already made my waist smaller from just one day of wearing. Crazy! Haven't put it on today but plan to sleep with it tonight.

[Chloe'sMama]

Can someone post a picture of you wearing the squeem.... it seemed so weird on the website.

[HouseofPeace]

this was 2 weeks postpartum- only about 5-6 days in the squeem and not even daily.  my belly is much smaller now and this is on the first set of hooks.

and my waist IS smaller- down to 30 inches after not wearing the squeem for a day.  i'm still rocking some belly padding and loads of hip padding, but i don't mind!

and no feedback on my frumpy sweats and that t-shirt is organic!  just for you, Choe'smama!  i wasn't going to post these for me!

[Chloe'sMama]

Thanks hop!  That seems to fit you well.  I have a small waist and big hips (but no boobs, so not your hourglass figure). I will check it out,  What size do you think?

[HouseofPeace]

i went by the measurements from the manufacturer- i'm a 28 inch waist normally, and 41inch hips, so the M seemed like a good match for getting smaller.  i think i'd wear a S if i weren't only almost 4 weeks PP.  my belly was up to 46 inches, but dropped down quickly. 

[loveandgarbage]

I bought a M as well. Belly was about 43" the last time I measured during pregnancy and is now 32" 3 weeks PP. I was worried it would be a little big but NO WORRIES with that haha.

[typebug]

I thought I should follow up with a quick run-down of what my wrapping experience was like. I had my wrapping treatment lady come every day for a week. Her sessions began with 45 minutes of massage which seemed to really help overall circulation. She also did a pretty intense breast massage to clear any engorged areas that had become sore and hard. That was odd the first time but to be honest I think it saved me a lot of pain. The next step was a tummy massage where she centred the womb and moved it downwards a little each day. It seemed to make me pass a few last blood clots and by day 7 when she concluded that the womb was back in it's place, the bleeding stopped completely. After that massage she'd spread a paste of herbs on my belly that seemed to be based with ginger and lemongrass and a bunch of other warming things. It made my tummy warm and tingly for at least an hour afterwards. A towel went over that layer and then she put me in a cotton corset that tied up the front. After that she had a long woven cotton cloth, about 5" wide that she wrapped around and round me from hip to bra line. The finished wrapping was very tight (I felt like I was ready to put on a baroque period ball gown) and made it impossible to bend! I had to wear that till evening each day and then remove it. 

The result is pretty cool. I had already lost all of my pregnancy weight right after the birth but I had that puffy hanging belly thing going on. I still looked 4-5  month pregnant. By day 2 that was starting to disappear and by day 6 it was flat as a pancake. I'm almost at my original waist size. I think I just need to get those deep abdominal muscles all engaged again. 

[Chloe'sMama]

Originally Posted by typebug 

I thought I should follow up with a quick run-down of what my wrapping experience was like. I had my wrapping treatment lady come every day for a week. Her sessions began with 45 minutes of massage which seemed to really help overall circulation. She also did a pretty intense breast massage to clear any engorged areas that had become sore and hard. That was odd the first time but to be honest I think it saved me a lot of pain. The next step was a tummy massage where she centred the womb and moved it downwards a little each day. It seemed to make me pass a few last blood clots and by day 7 when she concluded that the womb was back in it's place, the bleeding stopped completely. After that massage she'd spread a paste of herbs on my belly that seemed to be based with ginger and lemongrass and a bunch of other warming things. It made my tummy warm and tingly for at least an hour afterwards. A towel went over that layer and then she put me in a cotton corset that tied up the front. After that she had a long woven cotton cloth, about 5" wide that she wrapped around and round me from hip to bra line. The finished wrapping was very tight (I felt like I was ready to put on a baroque period ball gown) and made it impossible to bend! I had to wear that till evening each day and then remove it. 

The result is pretty cool. I had already lost all of my pregnancy weight right after the birth but I had that puffy hanging belly thing going on. I still looked 4-5  month pregnant. By day 2 that was starting to disappear and by day 6 it was flat as a pancake. I'm almost at my original waist size. I think I just need to get those deep abdominal muscles all engaged again. 

That is so awesome.  My belly is still a little round, although, much flatter than with the girls at 8 weeks PP.  I stopped wearing my belly bandit at 4.5 weeks because DH was scared it was what was causing my crazy bleeding (gushes and clots every few days, even at 5 weeks PP).  The bleeding has stopped, and the size small bandit is a little too big now, so I can't really do anything more.... I wish my belly was flatter.  I still have a nice layer of FAT over my abs, I think that is just going to have to come off with time and good eating.  I can wear my pre pregnancy clothes fine, there is always a little muffin top though.... YUCK.  Anyways, that sounds really nice.

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by typebug 

I thought I should follow up with a quick run-down of what my wrapping experience was like. I had my wrapping treatment lady come every day for a week. Her sessions began with 45 minutes of massage which seemed to really help overall circulation. She also did a pretty intense breast massage to clear any engorged areas that had become sore and hard. That was odd the first time but to be honest I think it saved me a lot of pain. The next step was a tummy massage where she centred the womb and moved it downwards a little each day. It seemed to make me pass a few last blood clots and by day 7 when she concluded that the womb was back in it's place, the bleeding stopped completely. After that massage she'd spread a paste of herbs on my belly that seemed to be based with ginger and lemongrass and a bunch of other warming things. It made my tummy warm and tingly for at least an hour afterwards. A towel went over that layer and then she put me in a cotton corset that tied up the front. After that she had a long woven cotton cloth, about 5" wide that she wrapped around and round me from hip to bra line. The finished wrapping was very tight (I felt like I was ready to put on a baroque period ball gown) and made it impossible to bend! I had to wear that till evening each day and then remove it. 

The result is pretty cool. I had already lost all of my pregnancy weight right after the birth but I had that puffy hanging belly thing going on. I still looked 4-5  month pregnant. By day 2 that was starting to disappear and by day 6 it was flat as a pancake. I'm almost at my original waist size. I think I just need to get those deep abdominal muscles all engaged again. 

okay- we totally need to get on that here in the states.  i would have gotten this for sure if it were available!!!

my belly is squishy, but flat, and i'm at my stasis weight of 15lbs over my normal weight which lasts until 4-5 months pp.  i need it to maintain my insane breastmilk supply, so while doing pilates and walking, i can handle being a little soft.  it took over 2 weeks for my uterus to go down and i was massaging it myself every day.  i was worried about it!

i quit wearing the squeem around 5 weeks when i started exercising b/c i couldn't handle any more constriction.  my waist is back down to 30, and will drop a few more inches soon enough.  i tried the belly bandit, but never got into it, and used the squeem really consistently for 3 weeks.  i am SO HAPPY i did, b/c i can get my abs firm and in place pretty well after years of having a tight core, but my waist was getting thicker and thicker- kinda squaring off, and this really gave me a nice waist curve.  w/ my bust, i want Christina Hendricks' wardrobe!!!

[typebug]

Originally Posted by HouseofPeace 

okay- we totally need to get on that here in the states.  i would have gotten this for sure if it were available!!!

my belly is squishy, but flat, and i'm at my stasis weight of 15lbs over my normal weight which lasts until 4-5 months pp.  i need it to maintain my insane breastmilk supply, so while doing pilates and walking, i can handle being a little soft.  it took over 2 weeks for my uterus to go down and i was massaging it myself every day.  i was worried about it!

i quit wearing the squeem around 5 weeks when i started exercising b/c i couldn't handle any more constriction.  my waist is back down to 30, and will drop a few more inches soon enough.  i tried the belly bandit, but never got into it, and used the squeem really consistently for 3 weeks.  i am SO HAPPY i did, b/c i can get my abs firm and in place pretty well after years of having a tight core, but my waist was getting thicker and thicker- kinda squaring off, and this really gave me a nice waist curve.  w/ my bust, i want Christina Hendricks' wardrobe!!!

I was pretty surprised to discover that no one's doing the wrapping much in the US yet. Madam Wati travels to Australia and trains people there. I bet she could do well giving workshops in the US too. 

I concur on the Christina Hendricks wardrobe. :) 

[Teles]

My experience with belly binding, in short:

I hated the sensation, couldn't get comfortable, and found that it made the fat just redistribute so it was flowing above and below the band (making me look worse than just having a little pp belly). I never wore the thing as a result but I'm still down 10.5 inches at 7 weeks pp. That said, this is my first baby, I was only 26 when I had her (27 now), and I've always had an athletic build (see also: not a very curvy midsection), so my experience might be a little different than some.