@pizzaplz lol! Mine came in a pack of like 100 and I wasn't expecting that. It looks like I could open up a nursing home. There's like 10 packs of 10 and I had to stock them all over.
@julybaybay that's so many!! I guess you're set for life now. You can always save them for when baby is old enough to start potty training; my sister did this.
Anyone here planning to use or did use a belly binder post baby? I've heard both positive and negatives on them. Some swear they help move everything back and help retone and other people have said they are painful and your muscles just become lazy.
@Niesen27 I liked mine especially post CS because after the incisions you literally don't have anything holding your abdomen together to heal. The counter pressure reduced a lot of the "pulling" sensation on the stitches.
Post vaginal it was ok but I preferred a spandex tank top just to hold everything in.
I've not heard muscles becoming lazy. I wouldn't use it forever but you need to give yourself some time to heal.
ETA: you really shouldn't be using ab muscles right away after birth. They are stretched out and you risk injury if you go too hard too soon, especially if you have diastasis recti. I'd avoid ab work until your PP checkup.
@Niesen27 Like @Cbeanz said, the binder is pretty necessary for cesarean recovery to give you extra support while everything is trying to heal, but it's not a shaper. It's hard to stand upright for the first few weeks. And I agree that you are not supposed to be working your muscles for the first 6 weeks.
That being said, compression garments can help with swelling and I've read can be beneficial (and feel good) while your uterus contracts. I have a postpartum girdle from Bellefit, and some other stretchy compression undergarments.
To get your abs back into shape, I'd recommend pilates. It is proven to help reduce the severity diastasis recti and help fine tune the small core muscles back into position. You can use compression garments in conjunction with exercise to offer you additional support while you strength your muscles. I use one now during pilates sessions to help hold everything into place but I'm still doing a lot of abdominal work.
@Niesen27 I'll be the odd one out here...I had a CS with DD and didn't use anything. I didn't feel I needed anything. Everything went back to where it should be rather quickly and I had no issues. I think a lot of it is preference. They are definitely not a requirement and I had no issues getting my abs and body back quickly after DD without using anything and not working out until I was cleared at 6 weeks. But I also know people who swear by them.
@Panaceia same here. They gave me one in the hospital with DD1 and it's still in the plastic in her closet. I didn't quite understand what it was for, but I did just fine healing without one so I guess I didn't need it 🤷♀️
Re: Post-partum home care for mom
I liked mine especially post CS because after the incisions you literally don't have anything holding your abdomen together to heal. The counter pressure reduced a lot of the "pulling" sensation on the stitches.
Post vaginal it was ok but I preferred a spandex tank top just to hold everything in.
I've not heard muscles becoming lazy. I wouldn't use it forever but you need to give yourself some time to heal.
ETA: you really shouldn't be using ab muscles right away after birth. They are stretched out and you risk injury if you go too hard too soon, especially if you have diastasis recti. I'd avoid ab work until your PP checkup.
That being said, compression garments can help with swelling and I've read can be beneficial (and feel good) while your uterus contracts. I have a postpartum girdle from Bellefit, and some other stretchy compression undergarments.
To get your abs back into shape, I'd recommend pilates. It is proven to help reduce the severity diastasis recti and help fine tune the small core muscles back into position. You can use compression garments in conjunction with exercise to offer you additional support while you strength your muscles. I use one now during pilates sessions to help hold everything into place but I'm still doing a lot of abdominal work.