Belly binding after birth

[Cariad007]

I saw something called a Belly Bandit for sale - it's basically a wrap for your stomach that claims to help shrink it down after you give birth. I am sceptical but has anyone tried anything like it and had success?

I've read up about them, but apparently they can actually slow the time it takes to get back to normal as your muscles won't have to work as hard if you're wearing one. Better to just focus on your posture and your body will sort itself out.

Sounds like a brilliant way to make money for nothing much.
Surely just running about the place and using your muscles will help everything to return to normal (a slightly different normal maybe...)

I was given something similar as standard as part of physio post c-section last time - I am not sure it had any effect on my tummy (much "softer"!) but my hips are def narrower than pre-baby. I read up on it and it seems people think that while the relaxin is in the system you can encourage things back into place - the opposite often happens with feet I think, when they never return to pre-preg size as the bones have spread a bit when the joints loosen. I have NO idea if any of it is true - there is one called a 'shrink hips' which is where I think I might have read some of that stuff!

"Proper" belly binding - with bandages combined with regular massage for two weeks or so post birth is popular where I live. Friends who have tried it either rave about the effects or say it was super uncomfortable and did nothing!

Never tried it, but I like the idea. Even if they don't do anything in the long-term, it'd be quite nice and comfy to have something supportive around your middle for the first week or so.

I'm wondering about this too, given I have dire separated abdominals both during and after pregnancy. Obviously I'm going to work on them with proper exercises etc etc but if binding gives me a head start..

I think something like that over a c-section wound would help when coughing/laughing though. Even if it brought no other benefits!

I used a Belly Bandit last time and it was fantastic. It helped with posture early on when you are carrying a baby all the time, and knitted my abdominal muscles back together within a couple of months, at which point I started back at the gym and did my usual abdominal exercises.