Belly binding postpartum - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[loveandgarbage]

So glad to hear from a trusted source that this will relieve after pains! I had read that it was possible, but good to hear a first hand story :). I'm a little nervous about them this time around.

mariee I think there are specific hip binders you can buy that are for postpartum. Haven't used one though... maybe someone on here has.

[typebug]

Originally Posted by sweetestday 

I used the one from Inhishands.com and it was wonderful! My tummy is going back much quicker, it eliminated that feeling that everything was hanging out, and my after birth pains were much less. I sure wish I would have used one with the other 4!

Nice, did you wrap right away? My Jamu wrapping lady wants to wait to start 4 days after birth.

[mama.nesta]

I have been talking to my mother in law in East Africa about their post-partum belly binding techniques.  They wait a few hours after birth and then boil water with salt and herbs (couldn't really figure out the translation of these...sorry.)  They then wet a fabric with the hot water, salt and herbs and "press" on the mama's belly, hips, thighs, etc.  she said they do it for an hour or so, and then do this every day for about a month.  After the rub-down they take a long long fabric and wet it in the water with herbs and salt and start low around the hips.  From what I gather they wrap going up until the fabric runs out and then tuck it below the mama's breasts.  Not sure how I feel about the wetness of the fabric since I am in Boston in February not Africa...hubby says he has seen it done and we are going to try it for a few days.  I am also buying a wrap for  back-up but would like to try the traditional way as well.

[sweetestday]

My MW wanted me to wait till the next day, but I tried it that night (had the baby at 1:33 pm) because I hate that feeling of all my insides hanging out. It felt so good, I left it on all night and just took it off for showers for the next few days. By the next week, I went to one of those tank tops that slims your waist. I got tired of the stiff feeling and the velcro. 

[Gillmoro]

I ended up ordering the belly bandit with a target gift card from the baby shower but am worried I ordered the wrong size. I guess I'll just use fabric if it doesn't fit me initially. Does anyone know if any place carries belly binders in store in case I need to run out and get a new size?

[loveandgarbage]

You can get cheap ones that are more for post-surgery at Target, and I think Motherhood Maternity has them as well. I'm also worried mine won't fit me because it just seems SO SMALL. So  might do the same a pick up a cheap wrap for the first couple of weeks until the "nice" one I got fits!

[Brambleberry]

My doula, who is a L&D nurse at the local hospital, said that I can request an abdominal binder from the nurses while I'm in the hospital - the ones that they give to women who have had c-sections.  So it would basically be free - insurance will pick it up as just one of the supplies used during your stay.  So I'm planning on just doing that, and if it turns out to be not breathable enough or a little uncomfortable or something, I can order a nicer one after I actually know what size I need.

[Chloe'sMama]

Just wanted to say that I have been using the Belly bandit bamboo all morning and I love it.  It is super comfy and may be helping a bit  with the after pains.  I got a size medium and it is going to be to big I think in a few weeks.... so i think i am going to buy the next size.

[kellybeth]

Originally Posted by Chloe'sMama 

Just wanted to say that I have been using the Belly bandit bamboo all morning and I love it.  It is super comfy and may be helping a bit  with the after pains.  I got a size medium and it is going to be to big I think in a few weeks.... so i think i am going to buy the next size.

that is great to know! i have the same exact one (same size even). 

[typebug]

I started my pre-natal sessions with my Jamu wrapping lady. She does massage leading up to the big day. I've been nosy about her herbs and so far I'm mostly seeing lots of lemongrass for the massage part. These ladies are very secretive about their herbs so I'll try to find out what I can. I'm pretty sure lemongrass and pandan leaf are main ingredients in the wraps. 

[loveandgarbage]

Ooh thanks for the info, typebug! Jealous of your Jamu wrapping! I bought a Gabrialla binder on amazon and it should be here on Monday. There is just no way I'll fit into the Leonisa one I bought, so I'll be using the Gabrialla in the meantime. It was $25 so I talked myself into it.

[Chloe'sMama]

I wanted to share these 2 photos... first is about 14 hours post partum (I had been wearing the wrap for a few hours, seemed to have made a difference already though)

second is a few hours ago, so around 36 hours post partum.  I always have a substantial belly for a while after baby comes, so i am a new convert!  My last belly shot just to remind how I looked before birth.

[loveandgarbage]

Wow, they really DO work!

[sgsnyder]

Whoooa, chloesmama, you look incredible! If I hadn't already planned on wrapping, your pictures alone would have convinced me to. Do you FEEL more intact already, too?

(Ill look back in the thread, but -) do you have any special tips, techniques, lotions or potions that helped tighten it up so quickly?

My wrap is a hand-me-down handmade thing, about six inches wide and probably 20' long. I was planning on rubbing on salves and essential oils to go under, but hadn't decided which ones yet. I have to order nipple butter from Earth Mama Angel Baby, so maybe I'll see if they have something creamy and herbal for mama tummies too.

[loveandgarbage]

I think a few of us posted in this thread what salves/etc we planned to use, but that might be on another thread, too. This is my plan as of now and what I've stocked up for:

First spritz belly with rose geranium hydrosol to help everything soak in. Then put on a blend of essential oils-- helichrysum, rose geranium, clary sage, frankincense, carrot seed and lavender. Then I'll apply the shea belly butter concoction I've made and used throughout pregnancy. I posted a recipe for it somewhere on here-- can find if you want. For the last batch I steeped calendula flowers in apricot kernel oil and whipped that up with shea and kokum butters and some other oils. If I feel like I need more moisture, I plan to use rosehip seed and borage oil as those are both really good for regenerating skin. If you're going to invest in one essential oil, I highly recommend helichrysum. It's just the best for stretch marks. It's pricey but worth it! If my belly isn't too sensitive, I'll also be exfoliating with a homemade sugar scrub (super simple-- just add whatever oils you have lying around, even if it's just olive oil to sugar, I also like to add jasmine tea leaves).

HTH!

[Chloe'sMama]

Originally Posted by sgsnyder 

Whoooa, chloesmama, you look incredible! If I hadn't already planned on wrapping, your pictures alone would have convinced me to. Do you FEEL more intact already, too?

(Ill look back in the thread, but -) do you have any special tips, techniques, lotions or potions that helped tighten it up so quickly?

My wrap is a hand-me-down handmade thing, about six inches wide and probably 20' long. I was planning on rubbing on salves and essential oils to go under, but hadn't decided which ones yet. I have to order nipple butter from Earth Mama Angel Baby, so maybe I'll see if they have something creamy and herbal for mama tummies too.

I am pretty sure it has helped with bleeding and with making everything feel more in place. I am still having the cramping from after pains, but I do think they are a little less intense than with dd2. Overall, I feel great and not like I had a baby yesterday morning!!!!!

Very happy with it.

[Chloe'sMama]

Just an update.  One week in and not much change from a few days in, but I am now in the size small (belly Bandit), so it must be working at shrinking the overall size.  I didn't measure at all.

[josie423]

You look beyond amazing!! I'm so jealous!! :D

[HouseofPeace]

i mean, you're in JEANS.

uh-uh.  not yet.  not for a while!  i've lost 20lbs and my belly is going in more dramatically (as of today at 6 days) but i'll be staying in stretchy clothes for a little while yet!

[buko]

Chloe's Mama, my husband actually said, "Wooooooooow."  With that many O's.