belly wrapping! must share!

[aries24]

I'm 25weeks. Something I found out and must share for those who don't know. Having quite an attractive body, the thought of pregnancy has always scared me to the point of non excitment (although I adore children) because generally most women lose their flat tummys afterwards! And no amount of gyming and losing weight gets it exactly the way it was(I've seen this in many as work at a nursery school). So all my time I've just accepted this fact until I saw a friend of mine two months after the birth of her DD with an incredibly sexy flat tummy! She told me about belly wrapping! You wrap your tummy for 40 days night and day, very very tightly. It pushes the womb right back into place which doesn't happen naturally! And restores stretch marks by 50%!!!! Apparently its a very ancient practice in many cultures around the world!! Hope this helps for some of you's!! I can't wait to try it

[PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot]

You too blue moon, I hadn't realised about your loss in my first message or I wouldn't have been so blunt.

In real life, I suppose we would choose our audience somewhat and be a lot more sensitive to people's individual situations but it's impossible on here isn't it.

Wishing you the best too for a very healthy pregnancy.

[aries24]

BlueMoon74 I understand your loss and pain, I had a miscarridge at 3weeks last year but didn't even know I was PG at the time so I guess the feeling of loss wasn't very strong. But still to still call me shallow is horrid, you don't know who I am inside? How passionate I am about children? How teaching the little ones has enriched my life beyond anything? Quite frankly I'm allowed to worry about my body, its my vessel. And that's not to say I don't worry about my DD! I feel nervous for her all the time!!! Is she going to be prem? Her kicking movements, Downs symdrome(as I chose not to know cause it doenst matter really) and the list carries on. I've got enought care and worry for a truck load lol

[Loislane78]

I don't know much about belly binding aries so can't offer any advice but if you want to give it a go and it works for you - you go girl!! :)

[ladymia]

aries i have just been looking into this after reading your post. thank you for sharing.

some people care about their appearance and some do not, i for one do care how i look (not because of my DH but because of ME).

good luck with your pregnancy!

[BlueMoon74]

Having quite an attractive body, the thought of pregnancy has always scared me to the point of non excitment (although I adore children) because generally most women lose their flat tummys afterwards! And no amount of gyming and losing weight gets it exactly the way it was

I thought you were a little shallow based on the above....

I now think a and a based on this..I understand your loss and pain, I had a miscarridge at 3weeks last year but didn't even know I was PG at the time...No really love, you don't. You really don't understand the level of pain and loss. And i can assure you, the bump I still had after losing my baby, and how I was going to regain my lovely flat stomach, was the LAST thing I was thinking about at the time.

In fact, have another , I'm actually speechless. Still think you are shallow.

[ItsMyLastOne]

That miscarriage comment was incredibly naive IMO. I had a miscarriage in my first trimester 3 years ago, but I couldn't even begin to imagine how horrendous it would be to lose a child late on, or after birth. That's a completely different situation.
I have worried a lot more during this pregnancy as I know how much I love my DD more than anything, and I couldn't imagine how it would be to have anything but a perfectly healthy baby again at the end of this pregnancy.

However, I don't think anyone should be looked down on for wanting to get their pre pregnancy body back. I think most of us do want a toned figure back if we had it before. Although fwiw, my womb had completely retracted 8 days PP (so it certainly can happen naturally), I had no stretch marks and I had a toned belly pre pregnancy, but I certainly didn't go back to my pre pregnancy body afterwards! I never managed to BF but BFing and exercise are likely to do more IMHO.

[ahopskipandafurryone]

Whilst we're not judging anyone, can I gently point out that not bring overly bothered about a totally flat stomach immeadiately post birth or at any time really does not equal not caring about your appearance, as some posters seem to be claiming.

[DigestivesWithPhiladelphia]

OP, I originally felt sympathetic towards you because you had written a relatively light-hearted post & I didn't feel you deserved some of the nasty responses that you got.

However, your last two posts make you sound sound incredibly childish and really quite vicious. Calling another woman a "bitter bitch" after she has been honest about the pain and anger associated with losing a baby... Do you really think that is acceptable?

I do hope you are lucky enough to have a smooth pregnancy & birth. I'm starting to suspect that the shock of having a baby to look after will distract you from your belly wrapping plans anyway, as you will (hopefully) be growing up fast.

[Badgerina]

Quite aside from the charming debate over whether it's shallow (or even realistic) to want your pre-pregnancy body back, I absolutely FAIL to see how belly wrapping is going to help achieve that goal.

As many people have said, your uterus returns to its original position and size by itself. But it's not your uterus that you need to be fretting over. It's your stomach muscles. There is NO quick fix to regaining a flat stomach. A toned body, like all desirable things in life requires EFFORT. The kind if effort that may not be possible immediately after having a baby.

It'll certainly become a question of priorities, and when you have a young baby to look after, there are no prizes for guessing where your priorities will lie.

I for one intend to do a lot more this time around (after DS2 arrives) to regain pre-pregnancy strength and fitness. I won't be wrapping my belly and expecting things to magically flatten out though. That kind of thinking is completely unhelpful and totally disregards the massive impact that carrying a baby for 9 months has on your body. This over emphasis on a "quick fix" also, to my mind completely misses the point that so many others on this thread have tried to make: that carrying a baby for 9 months, and then giving birth, also has a massive impact on your SOUL.

[MB34]

I cannot believe how rude and cruel people can be on here. The OP was only trying to point out something that SOME women MAY want to try, if you don't, then fine, ignore it and move onto something that you can be nice about. Everyone has their opinions but if they don't match with yours, there's no need to be vicious about it.

Some people are being really hurtful to aries and as soon as she puts up a fight, she's slated! I just find it totally childish.

When I first found out I was pregnant I came on here posting about how I was scared about my body changing and I had comments in the region of "don't be selfish/stupid/it's not about you anymore" and I felt like a horrible person. I felt my feelings were being trampled on and I felt worthless. In the end I didn't bother replying otherwise it would've turned into something like this thread!

It's so sad that grown women can be so spiteful to other women

[MrsPaynie]

MB34, my feeling exactly. This tread has turned nasty, and very childish! I would like to think the women posting on this board are all parents (or soon to be) and grown women, yet this post has turned into something you would expect to see in a school playground. If you have nothing nice/useful to say, then don't, it's that simple.

[milli2512]

I saw this thread yesterday when it had not long been posted. Shocked at some of the bitchy comments. Ok this suggestion is not going to be everyones cup of tea, but do you really need to be so nasty about it. Of course a healthy baby is the focus of all of us but I'm sure a large percentage of women post birth think about how their body has changed and how to get back into those favourite pre-pregnancy jeans. Does that make us shallow?? No, I think it makes us normal.

[pinkspottycups]

aries Although I felt that your orginal post might have been somewhat misunderstood by some posters, but judging by your most recent posts I take it all back.

MB34 Actually Aries herself has been horribly judgemental and nothing short of vicious to Bluemoon, she is more than capable and has displayed quite nasty behaviour herself.

Looking back on your posts throughout this thread you come across as nothing short of shallow and lacking in any form of empathy and sensitivity. I sincerely hope that motherhood helps you grow up a bit and see a bit farther than your own nose. In all seriousness I think whether or not your tummy pings back into shape is the least of your worries.

[hzgreen]

blimey, is it me or has this got massively out of hand?

people can offer criticsm or express opinions without getting nasty.

i have come across body binding in a couple of posts, i don't know much about it but i am a bit interested so will look into it more and hopefully make an informed decision. i have plenty to worry about and have the ability to have several considerations on the go at any one time.

my DH couldn't care less if i have a flat stomach but i want to feel nice AND feel that i am attractive to him just the same as he likes to feel attractive to me. so if it's not too much hassle (yes i am quite lazy but also prepared to accept the consequences of that) and safe i might give it a go, if it works great, if not well then i tried.

the health and wellbeing of my baby is paramount but this is a completely separate issue, i don't see that thinking about your post pregnancy body is such a bad thing - i'm also looking forward to having a crisp, cold half pint, getting a decent haircut and digging out some of my old clothes that i haven't seen for a while, because after i've had this baby i'll still be a person in my own right as well as a mother.

[elvislives2012]

I clicked on this to see what on earth belly binding is. Wow! I'm on mums net to get support and see what other people are experiencing. If people don't agree with a topic then they are welcome to ignore it. I love the high horses people seem to be on about this! Maybe you all need to chill out, have a cuppa and get some perspective! It's like the bullying you get in the school playground.
Personally I won't be belly binding as I have a feeling I'll be too overwhelmed with everything else. However am in the school of thought if it feels good, do it! So long as no risk to mum or baby of course!

[PandaWatch]

My GM was talking about this yesterday - she said when she had her first baby at 18 (71 years ago) not only did she get belly bound but all the mums were also instructed to lie on their stomachs for an hour a day to help with the stomach flattening!

[MissPollysTrolleyed]

Sounds interesting and thanks for sharing Aries but I know that I would never have the dedication for this in early motherhood. Instead, I'm going to go with the "eat cake and breastfeed" diet recommended by someone above for six months and then hit the gym very hard.

I was on the beach yesterday and it was full of skinny bikini-clad mums so that gave me lots of hope.

[ahopskipandafurryone]

Well Mumsnet is generally a very supportive place, but at the same time if people thinking you're talking bollocks they will tell you, personally that's why I like it .

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look after your body and get into good shape post pregnancy but the tone of the OP was just a bit grating, when I first read it I thought it was one of those unsubtle advertising posts. Add in the suggestion that those of us post DC1 are now hopeless causes and the rights of our husbands to wives with flat stomachs, and the implication that if we aren't interested in this we don't care about our appearance and you can see why it kicked off a bit.

[bbface]

Good grief!! I was just looking for some info on post natel belly bands as my stomach muscles were severely separated after my first, and I came across this ridiculous thread. The poor OP posts an upbeat friendly post about some advise she has been given, and the response!!!!

I am always baffled by women who seem so complacent in their marriages / relationships. There is NOTHING wrong with continuing to make an effort for your partner. I repeat, there is NOTHING wrong with wanting tonlook toned, have highlights, wear make up etc.


One particular poster made me chuckle. She sayes that the Op's husband married her body, whereas her husband married a person. Well, I a, pretty sure that in the early days you made an effort for your Dh and he damn well appreciated it!

I do all the above above in terms of looking after myself. Why? For myself and for my DH? FGS I love him, I fancy him rotten, we have been together for 7 years and I want to be with him forever. About to have our second child together and, as far as I know, he still fancies me rotten. I still make a big effort..., at 38 weeks pregnant I am off for a Brazilian tonight (got to admit, I am trembling at the thought!)

No one dreams to criticise people if they decide to kick back and let nature run its course with regard to looks. But god forbid any women wants to actually make an effort for her partner!!

[Creamtea1]

Why revive this thread after 6 months of inactivity? It was contentious to start off with and now you've spent 10 mins posting a lengthy post which will just revive it. Pointless.

[bbface]

because creamtea, that is the beauty of a chat forum.

[Purplecatti]

Well just to add fuel to the fire in I tried wrapping using a £20 orthopaedic corset off amazon after giving birth and...... it worked. My midwife couldn't believe what I looked like 3 weeks after baby.
I was mainly using it for my back.
I may have just been lucky.

[bbface]

purple, when did you start wearing and how long for in a day?
Do you have a brand name pls?
There must be some truth to it. my NHS physio after my first birth gave me a tube band and advised it should help with bringing together the muscles if supplemented with additional exercise. I hated the tube, but hoping that if i invest in anything a tad swankier it will be more comfy. thanks

[Emsyboo]

Thanks for the information on belly wraps don't get annoyed by people's responses once you have your baby you'll probably be less bothered about your shape as you have a beautiful baby to focus on.
I put on over 4 stone with DS I used to be very fit and when he was born accepted the fact my body would not be the same.
However I enjoy exercise and eat healthily and by the time my DS was 5 months old all the water retention had gone I was breastfeeding, pushing DS everywhere in the pram or carrying him and also started swimming and working out when I could. I didn't just get back to my ore pregnancy weight but the weight I was when I got married.
There are lots of options to get back in shape and being fitter will help running after a toddler
At the same time I didn't do it for my looks as went out and bought bigger sizes in clothes as didn't care I did it because I enjoyed it.
Whatever your reasons if you feel happier then this could be a good option so thank you but being a mummy is so rewarding many people really don't care about a bit of a muffin top