Hello,

I want to hear about it. Did you used it after the birth for supporting the belly? Apparently it is good for both C-Section and natural birth.

Anyone tried it?

Nil

Hi, I did not hear of it, but the binding of the abdominal area is an ancient practice in India. It is basically, a thin long woven piece of cotton that is wrapped around your belly, down to your hips.
Though i would double check with your gynecologist about using it after a Cesarean. I dont think it is advised.

btw i do have a belly belt if you would like to buy one, i used it during the last 3 weeks. The little one arrived early.

cheers

Thanks,

I have one that I use to support my belly and hips (I have a lot of problem during pregnancy with my hips because everything is loose) And my physiotherapist told me to wear it all the time.

But I was curious about the belt used to hold the belly, the c-section and pelvis. For year it had bad press because they were saying that it was making the muscles more lazy (because you are using something to support your belly and back)

It is now pretty popular in france and I am curious to see if it does help. I remember with my first, it took a lot of time to not feel the muscles of the tummy burning at every effort!

These are commonly given out after a C-section in the US, however I had to ASK for mine and they immediately obliged. I found mine of fantastic use on both C-sections. It's like a huge band that Velcro's into place. I wore mine for about 3 weeks after the C-section. Not sure if it was really necessary so long after, but it provided great comfort as my body was trying to shrink back and your abdominal muscles are all out of whack and stretched. I only took it off to shower. It was even comfortable to sleep in.

This is great information! Thanks! I heard a lot of women use it with a natural birth as well, it help to bring back to place the hips, muscles, stomach!

And apparently, it is also supposed to prevent hernia!

I bought one with a cool pack inside (to support the healing process, so I tought) but did not use it. In the hospital (Hirslanden Zurich) and my doc shared the opinion that the wound is healed better without any supportive belt.

Irrelevant what they said, I did not feel any necessity for it.

I am with armandair, I was about to get one after csec since we have a physio store in our street and they recommended it. When my OB/Gyn found out she really warned me against those, apparently in medical environment very against this in here? She said the muscles need to retrain themselves, if you press them they do not have the push on their own, so the whole process takes a lot longer. She said it is like walking with a stick. She also said the wound should not be pressed on at all, it cuts the circulation and can prevent healing. I didn't have it, still have massive adhesions probably due how small my frame is, so...It does make sence, though, one shouldn't press the sensitive layers together, or the internal wound sticks. I very liked the idea but after what my doc said didn't want to mess with it. Nursing makes the hormons shrink your womb in no time, maybe it helps the ff moms?

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

and .... in addition to the above great idea, also get your surgical stockings measured and ordered (reimbursed by basic health insurance). It will keep your legs slim and keep the water retention to a minimum. I had never heard of the idea but my ob/gyn recommended that I use them. They worked really well (but they're so tight you have to lie down to put them on). Your doctor will give you a prescription to take to the pharmacy.

You know, I was reading about myths of breastfeeding and Bottle feeding (we are not going to start the topic here) and I found this information that the idea of the womb shrinking faster because of breastfeeding isn't that much different than Bottle feeding. The process it takes for the urterus is the same time no matter what.

But I am certainly going to ask my doctor what she thinks about the belt.

Those should be wear after the birth?

No, while pregnant

As mentioned by Sky, it helps the water management.

I wore one after a natural birth and it was well worth it! It helped with holding it all in, which gave me a constant reminder to use my muscles. Planning on wearing one again, but this time around it's going to be a cs so I might look for one with the cooling pouch.

Sure, it may be for some people, the chemistry and hormones work different degree for dif mamas. My experience was that nursing worked a little too much, the uterus was shrinking so fast it was painful, every single feed.

For the belt, 4yrs ago the smallest size I could get here was too big for me (I had cca 60kilos before labor), anyways, and I didn't want to shop around for it, either, with a newborn and all. I wanted one, looked logical, but when the doc was against it, I was glad I saved 150fr, Helsana didn't cover it. I wonder if those are cheaper these days or covered.

Before, it supposed to prevent varicose veins. I had the pharmacist measure me wrong and they ordered a wrong size in Yvd, they had to reorder and it was not worth the hustle in the end. If you want them, make sure they measure you well, there are couple of sizes, obviously.

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

yup.. keep your slender gams, water retention ruins 'em
get your stockings young lady

I'll look for them! But you see, I am also retaining a lot in all my body around... Arms, shoulders, legs, everywhere I am bloathing!

Little Beluga

You won't find them. It's your doctor who will give you a medical prescription to take to the pharmacy. The pharmacy takes your measurements and orders them specially for you.

Ok, I'll ask the doc next time I see her!

I had thought these support hose were the same thing that one can buy at airports, aimed at aiding circulation ( lessening the chance of developing blood clots) during flights and also at giving support for those with painful varicous veins. Am I wrong?

I can't help but feel that the tummy bands are a form of corset that actually inhibits the muscles from doing their work - though I can see the reasoning for temporary pressure if one has very lax muscles, simply to keep internal organs from being able to tilt out of position. I have come across hospitals that did use a stomach binder for the first few days after a birth. Also, I have come across a hospital that had a "tummy time" where it was suggested that new mothers spent an hour a day lieing on their stomachs. I presume that was meant to also relieve any downward gravity pulling. I have no idea if it worked.

With regards to having a pressure band on after a C section: I have no facts either for or against, but would it have anything to do with less external scarring? Pressure bandages are used during the process of healing burn scars (I think) so maybe the same theory is being used.

Re breastfeeding and uterus contractions: It is very common for women to feel strong contrations when breastfeeding during those first few days after birth - I think ( can't recall the reason, so don't want to be quoted and am happy to be enlightened) that this is especially noticable after second and subsequent births. I also don't know the facts as to whether this is important or not.

Well, we seem to have various opinions, and to have had various experiences and been told various different things by our medical advisors. Maybe this tells us that we should always ask lots of questions and keep on asking them if we are not 100% happy with the answers we are getting.

yup 'fraid so, you can't buy them and I never saw anything like them before and since. It's as if they were tailor-made Very expensive too (reimbursed by the basic insurance)

That's exactly what my ob/gyn and bunch of other docs told me. It's more about having the uterus shrink by external pressure, rather than work of the muscles (which are naturally completely shot by labor or/and stretched by pregnancy).

It's because nursing releases oxytocin which packs the uterus in. It's hormonal work.

I know, but I was restraining myself, to make sure I wasn't adding to the breastfeeding/bottle debate, as I don't have any research results at hand, on whether the uterus that is getting the extra oxytocin effect, is actually healing significantly more rapidly ( with thought to the earlier post that said something about no difference...) and if it actually matters.