AIBU about belly binding?

[sockonmyhead]

I have never done this and it strikes me as a bad and wrong idea, primarily designed to make women feel even crapper about post baby jelly bellies (or at least that is how it is commercially marketed).

There is an advert for an abdominal binder on another parenting forum at the moment. It made me feel very sad to see it,but I don't know if I am in the minority thinking it is the wrong message to send to new mums.

Has anyone done this? Is it even medically advised or beneficial?

Is it something like wearing shape-knickers? Because I've done that and found it helped loads feeling better about myself, when I did something about my clothed appearance.

Why is it wrong not to want to appear wobbly?

it's more like a corset. I don't think there is anything wrong with not wanting to be wobbly, I don't like the idea that it's not ok to be wobbly the day after having a baby.

It's really this advert that has annoyed me, rather than the practice its self I think.

I've lived in Asia and it seems that it is quite normal that people get this done, I am not sure that everyone who gives birth does but it is reasonably common place.

There are special ladies who come to your house and wrap you up post birth... there is also in some cultures a 40 day confinement as well.

Probably totally different from the advert you saw ... but I think in concept it isn't such a bad thing.

I remember my grandmother telling me she did this (in 1944) and the midwife gave her a bollocking. But she had a perfectly flat stomach afterwards.

i still had to wear my spd support that went from boobs to thigh after i had DS.. made a world of difference in supporting my post-baby belly.

I dunno about actual binding to get a flatter tum, but i think a bit of support is lovely!

I think there should be studies done about this because I suspect it's actually really beneficial for healing the stomach muscles and supporting the back, and getting your waist back...

However, I do have an arts degree

It's this thing

www.purechic.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=439

Not binding in the traditional swathes of fabric manor, but the idea is the same.

It's not the product at all really, it's the ad, smack bang in the middle of a parenting forum. Just seems such a wrong message, and I don't think you would ever see it on mumsnet!

It has made me a bit sad, probably am taking it rather too seriously though

Oh and the spelling mistake in the description just makes me hate it even more!

The spelling is OFFENSIVE

ahem....

sock.....

I think you meant to use 'manner' not 'manor' in your rant about spelling.

As you were....

Seriously though, this bit "New mothers are raving about this product because it actually works no need for cosmetic surgery..." is grim.

Whether the spurious scientific claims of rehabilitating your abs are true or not, it implies that it is the norm, a 'must', to have a tummy tuck after pregnancy. That is an icky message to send out.

Hmmm, DS2 is 10 months and I have a jelly belly. Wonder if it would work now? :p

Hormones shrink your uterus after birth, squishing shouldn't make any difference to that. And if you are dieting/ exercising, you will shrink anyway, regardless of beauteous flesh coloured elasticated velcro accessories.

I put weight on after DS2. I blame society. And biccies. Obviously, I am not responding in the correct way to the pressure to be a yummy mummy.

I know my spelling is ait row chous, but I am not selling myself!

I have no medical knowledge about it either, have seen some articles that suggest binging or 'supporting' post birth can squish (medical term!) your internal organs but I have no idea if that could be true.

Yes it's the idea that you MUST have a flat tummy, yet another expectation for new mums to struggle to meet. And for a parenting forum to endourse that idea is just wrong to me.

that obviously should be binding, not binging!

After I had ds2 I was referred to a physio who told me to wear support for my stomach, I was given tubigrip (?) type of bandages and had to wear them all day and take them off at night, even when I was doing my exercises to bring the muscles back together.
SO there are some medical reasons to doing this. And yes, it helped. However now after 4 I need would like a fullblown corset like in the victorian times iyswim.
However it should be marketed along with nursing bras and maternity bras, as an aid to help support your back and weakened stomach rather than a beauty treatment that implies if you don't end up with a belly the same as before you grew a human in it you are ugly, lazy and/or fat.

I read ages ago about Agent Provocateur making a special post-natal range in association with a fertility/maternity expert...
This article makes it sounds all about wanting your tummy to look flat, but I remember the actual expert saying it is very beneficial to the muscles in the long term if you give them a little helping hand after birth

I had two dcs in 18 months. I had no difficulty getting my flat stomach back but then I didn't sit around on my arse in a fecking corset. Instead, in between pushing a double buggy up and down the mountainous hills round here, I rarely sat down. I can't help but think muscles will restore their tone far better if you work them. Not bind them.

Oh, that was it - I just sat and ate cakes. Doh.

I was also given a massive tubigrip thing but I had to wear it throughout pregnancy too. Ended up with massive back problems anyway, which the physio said was largely due to extensive separation of the muscles.

with ds2 I had a big seperation of my muscles - and in my subsequent pregnancies wore the tubigrip as well. I now have a hoodie, [rather than an innie or an outie] Niiice.
I still want a corset of the old fashioned variety, to squish it in and push 'em up to help my back out a bit. Or surgery.

So there are clearly some situations where corset type things are needed and medically recommended.

Cake eating aside, the tone of the article sparechange linked exactly sums up my issue with this and it's marketing to new mums.

I can't seem to find anything online from an actual medical expert saying it is good for all women after they give birth. Surely if it was so essential we would be advised to buy them by midwives or doctors, not vogue magazine!

I would have thought that binding would stop you getting any muscle tone back?

I'm not suggesting everyone sat around eating cakes, ffs. Because we all had jelly bellies after giving birth. Also, wanting to look less lumpy is a perfectly reasonable ambition.

However, I remain uncomfortable about the idea that corsets are an essential item of postnatal equipment. It all has a very Victorian feel to it, this strapping in of women lest they reveal signs that they've endured the vulgarity of childbirth. Lah! It'll chic to swoon soon...

I am going to order two. One for myself to use, and one to wrap arround the mouth of the woman who told me "you still have a large tummy, I lost mine as soon as DD was born!" in the hospital corridor, 2 hours after I had given birth to DD!!

I agree diddl, or put extra strain on other muscles, but I am working with gcse biology knowledge!

Pikelit, there is a business oportunity there; lacy hankies and smelling salts are the must haves for 2010

Think I'll just wear my corset lol