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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to be considering a Belly Bandit?

14 replies

editthis · 08/03/2015 08:58

Has anyone got any experience of girdles following on from a c-section? Given it didn't exactly look taut and bronzed prior to pregnancy, I don't expect my mid-section to be magically transformed into Jessica Alba's in four to six weeks (I do; I really do) but are these helpful after surgery – or a huge con?

The narrow parameters of my mind are willing to be stretched, rather like the effects on my abdomen following gestation of a baby.

OP posts:
cherrypez · 08/03/2015 09:29

Watching with interest as I'm researching them on ebay at the moment. The 'Abdomend' is quite expensive, even second hand, but there's lots of girdles from Hong Kong for around six quid.

ahbollocks · 08/03/2015 09:34

If you dont have that much fat in the area then they might work.
How far past your c section are you?
It took about 6 months for my stomach to get back to normal

Original poster
editthis · 08/03/2015 09:54

Section scheduled so still looking like Violet Beauregarde, pre-juicing. Hoped the girdle might work to optimum effect if used as soon as possible after the op.

OP posts:
JoolsSchmools · 08/03/2015 10:29

I had one.
Complete waste of money. Way too sure after section to be binding it up. Wouldn't do up straight anyway, massively showed under clothes.

JoolsSchmools · 08/03/2015 10:29

Sore not sure

NeedABumChange · 08/03/2015 10:54

I work at a physio. We sell lots of support garment for after c-sections. They do seem to make a difference. I have never heard of a belly bandit though. Get down your local physio and ask to have a look through their medical catalogues. If they are like us then they wouldn't charge for an appointment. It'll be much cheaper.

ahbollocks · 08/03/2015 10:59

I would give it a bit of time. Not showing off but my stomach is flat now without any special stuff and has healed fine.
I just would worry that a girdle might affect the healing

Original poster
editthis · 09/03/2015 23:10

Thank you all for your very helpful responses. I will certainly try to locate a local physio.

I know in some cultures it's very common to bind one's stomach after birth and I'm interested to hear more about that from someone knowledgable. I've recently decided that the old advice is the best. (Vests! Facial flannels! Soon-to-be-girdles? All sexy developments my husband is thrilled with, you understand.)

OP posts:
maddening · 09/03/2015 23:18

I had one due to badly separated tummy muscles (and unknowingly double hernia) I found it uncomfortable as it really doesn't contour nicely and could do with being wider.

I later had a medical support band as my hernia kept strangulating (whilst waiting for surgery ) and this was wider and contoured better but you still get them folding back on the edges.

Tbh I have found support/control tights much better and wished I had used them first as they provide firm support and contour nicely and are much more comfortable imo

maddening · 09/03/2015 23:20

Ps they don't "breath" well and as you might perspire I would imagine having something more breathable when you have a healing wound might be more desirable

QTPie · 09/03/2015 23:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

BestZebbie · 10/03/2015 01:40

I had a c-section and a belly bandit.
My tummy has got a lot smaller since the day after the birth, but that is because I still looked 6 months pregnant the day after the birth and have lost lots of weight all over by 4 months later.
I did not use the belly bandit constantly as it suggests as it was a bit restrictive and also made velcro noises and has a big ridge that shows through clothes where it meets up if on a bulgy tummy! I didn't wear it at all for several weeks at the start when the scar was still a bit too new and by about 3 months after I had basically shrunk out of it, which I think was totally unrelated to wearing it - you shrink a lot straight after the delivery anyway.
However, to be honest it has come into its own post 3 months as I am now slim enough that it is much less visible or noisy under clothes, as the clothes can hang loosely over it without touching it (also I learned to put the seam down my side not in front), so it is useful as a tummy-flattenubg control pant type device for wearing under jersey dresses that otherwise look as if I have three breasts...however there are a billion other actual control pants on the market to do that without having to lie on the floor to wrap yourself up...

BestZebbie · 10/03/2015 01:43

I also had the fancy c-section belt with hot and cold pack inserts like Batman's utility belt but that never even came out of the box - by the time I was ready to think about things beyond how hot it was in the postnatal ward and this BABY suddenly here, the moment had already passed.

GallicCunt · 10/03/2015 02:02

You can do the Tupler Technique after a c-section, though you can't wear the splint until your scar has healed - they say 6 weeks. There's a bit of info here about extra work needed to close the gap under your scar.

The exercises are brilliant. You can find them free on various bits of the internet but, if you're planning to spend money, you may as well buy the course and a splint for when you've healed.

Hope all goes smoothly for you!

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