Postpartum culture series: All about postpartum belly binding

Leslie Abraham

By Leslie Abraham

Overview of postpartum belly binding:

What is postpartum belly binding?

Postpartum belly binding. Is that a real thing?

I hear this question a lot with my postpartum clients. They wonder if they should use all the fancy belly belts sold on the new Mama market.

Here is what you should know:

1. Belly binding is a very ancient tradition

In many different cultures (Arabic world, South America, Japan…), postpartum belly binding is widely used among all new moms. It is even done right after giving birth before they set a foot down.

We can find many books and testimonials where this technique is referred to, from very ancient times to nowadays. This tool is still being used in their traditional recovery process.

Usually, women use a tight scarf placed around their hips and the lower part of their belly.

2. Here is why it matters

During birth, there are different movements happening at your pelvic bones (iliac bones, sacrum and pubic bones).  We call them counter nutation and nutation. The outcome is that the space between your iliac crests will be wider. Some women also feel as if their vagina or vulva is still hanging wide open.

Postpartum belly binding is simple. By placing this type of tight scarf around these bones, you can help your bones come closer to each other and thus relieve some lower back pain and any kind of sciatica experienced. In other words, you’ll feel lighter.

Moreover, it also helps to bring the vagina walls closer to each other.

Postpartum belly binding is something that, I believe, absolutely NEEDS to be done after giving birth. It helps so much to relieve all these different pains and discomforts. But it is also useful to help and support your pelvic bones and organs to “go back in place”.

Woman with a scarf
Excuse Mam, I just need your scarf. You can keep the bling bling on!

3. Step-by-step guide to postpartum belly binding

  • All you need is a scarf long and tight enough but not too wide.
  • If  2 people  can help you, it will be easier. Ask them to place the scarf behind your buttocks.
  • Then, each one take a string of the scarf and tighten it just where your thighs and trunk meet. Finally, cross it above your pubic bone, do a twist and then a knot.

Keep it in place for 30 to 45 minutes at a time. You can repeat this several times a day especially for the first week. And less frequently during the following month.

Also, consider being active a bit, and as soon as you can (think breathing exercise, light muscle mobilization). The goal here is to avoid your muscles getting weaker by overusing postpartum belly binding in your daily life.

Below, you’ll find a video showing you how to do it with a simple step-by-step method:

Looking for safe and efficient breathing exercises? Check out this blog post and video for some help!

Disclaimer: Bonjour Baby strongly recommends that you consult with your physician before beginning and enrolling in any exercise program, even if you are in good physical condition, not suffering from any complications, and able to participate in the exercise.
Bonjour Baby is not a licensed medical care provider and represents that it has no expertise in diagnosing, examining, or treating medical conditions of any kind or in determining the effect of any specific exercise on a medical condition.

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