A bandage is a special device that helps maintain the abdominal muscles for medicinal or cosmetic purposes. The bandage is prenatal and postpartum. A postpartum bandage will remove excess load from the spine, reduce back pain, quickly bring the tummy back to normal, restore the tone of the abdominal muscles, with a cesarean section, fix the suture, support and strengthen the muscles of the abdominal wall.
Types of postpartum bandages
Universal bandage. The most economical, because it is used both as prenatal and postnatal. It is an elastic tape, one end of which is wide, the other is narrow. After childbirth, the wide side supports the abdomen, the narrow side is worn on the lower back. The price is from 300 to 1000 rubles.
Tape - belt. It is a wide, up to 30 cm wide, elastic tape with a dense insert in the abdomen. It covers almost the entire stomach, tightens it. Fastens with Velcro, the diameter of the bandage can be adjusted. Pros: not very expensive (from 500 to 1000 r), tightens the abdomen well, after a cesarean section, it fixes the suture well, serves as a preventive measure for postoperative hernias. Minuses: while wearing, it can bulge to the top of the abdomen, creating inconvenience when walking, especially if it is worn under trousers. Popular brands: Fest, Bliss, Chicco.
Bandage - panties (grace). This type of bandage is made in the form of underpants. On the stomach there is a dense insert. In many models on the sides there are multi-level fasteners that allow you to adjust the density of the tie. There are models with fasteners at the bottom, they allow you to not remove the bandage during the toilet. Pros: perfectly adheres to the body, does not bulge, does not slip, perfectly belts the stomach. Allows you to wear tight-fitting clothing, as it is practically invisible. Minuses: requires daily washing.
There are also corset panties (high waist) and bermuda (with an extended thigh line). Their advantages: in addition to the abdomen, the waist and hips are tightened, the manifestations of cellulite are removed, stretch marks, the figure takes on beautiful proportional outlines. The minus is the same as that of cowards - graces: daily washing. Prices from 600 to 3000 p.
Bandage - skirt. Represents a wide elastic tape with a fastener - "flypaper". Dressed in the form of a skirt, covering the waist and hips, well pulls them.
See photo: types of postpartum bandages
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Choose a bandage
Be clear about your choice of brace. Incorrectly selected, it will bring the hostess only inconvenience and grief. The recommendations below will help you avoid buying errors.
- Carefully approach the selection of size. Arm yourself with a centimeter tape and measure the volume of your waist and hips at their widest point. On the packaging of the bandage there is always a table with sizes where you will find the size that suits you by your standards. Even better, if the pharmacy is allowed to try on a bandage before buying. Well, here you definitely will not make mistakes with the choice of size. Bandage-panties buy one size larger than usual for you. In general, the size of the postpartum bandage should match the clothes that the woman wore before pregnancy. In those cases, if she recovered by more than 12 kg during the gestation period, the bandage should be chosen one or two more sizes.
- Choose a bandage containing natural fibers (cotton), elastane, microfibre. Then the body will “breathe” when pulled together. A good postpartum bandage is made of dense elastic fabric, it fixes well, but does not squeeze the stomach. It must allow air to pass through and absorb moisture well.
- Pay attention to the clasps. If they are multi-level, this will allow you to optimally adjust the degree of fit of the bandage.
- Consult how best to wear each type of bandage. Determine for yourself what will be more convenient for you.
- Buy a bandage at the pharmacy. In specialized pharmacies and stores they will help you choose the size, try on several models. Thanks to this, you can purchase a model exclusively suitable for you.
- Do not take from friends or buy an already worn bandage. As a rule, its material has already been stretched during use, partially lost elasticity and will not be as effective as new.
If the bandage is easy to put on and take off, you are comfortable in it, you don’t feel seams and fasteners, so you can buy it.
When and how to wear
Is there a need for a bandage for you and when to wear it, the doctor will tell you. First you need to consult, as there are some contraindications.
Contraindications: It is contraindicated in case of allergies, certain diseases of the skin, kidneys, with delayed contraction of the uterus, delayed postpartum secretions (lochia) in the uterine cavity, and stomach diseases. Also, doctors are not always allowed to wear a bandage after cesarean section (case of a longitudinal seam or some other non-standard types of sutures).
You can use the belt two hours after the birth (with the permission of the doctor). After a cesarean section, it will relieve pain in the seam area and evenly distribute the load, which will prevent its possible discrepancy. But usually it is recommended to start using it only after a week (7 - 10 days). You need to wear it while lying down, slightly lifting your hips - in this position the muscles are relaxed, the belt will fit more tightly to the body. Rise, wearing a bandage, try slowly. A sharp rise can lead to dizziness, even fainting.
Tighten the belt so that it does not squeeze the stomach. If you feel uncomfortable, immediately loosen the belt. Usually on the package there are drawings with instructions on how to wear a bandage. In any case, you can consult your doctor or nurse.
Wear a bandage every day for a month and a half (6 weeks postpartum period). Be sure to take breaks for half an hour every 3-4 hours of wearing. You can’t sleep in it.
We also read:When can I put on a postpartum bandage and how it is useful: medical advice
How long to wear a bandage after childbirth:
DIY postpartum brace
If there is no desire to buy a bandage in the store, you can do the postpartum swaddling of the abdomen, or tying. You will need a dense fabric three meters long and 50 cm wide. If there is a sling scarf, you can use it (See how to make a sling do-it-yourself scarf).
Do not look at the photo that the model is tied up while standing, it’s just more convenient to show how to do this, but you need to tied up while lying down.
In this photograph, the hand indicates that there are two layers. And they are different. Wide and narrow.
It should be comfortable, you can’t tighten too tight, because when you get up, the fabric will become even tighter.
Text instruction:
- Lie down on your back, lay the fabric on the belt, after having straightened it.
- Cross her behind her, leading the ends forward again.
- Now, a wide strip has appeared on the stomach, it covers the stomach (the so-called "pocket").
- We bring two narrow ends under the lower abdomen, we tie them a little on the side. The result is a second, narrow strip, it supports the stomach.
- We put our hands under a wide strip as deep as possible, “spread” the stomach in a “pocket” over a narrow ribbon. Carefully get up.
- Do you feel like someone behind you has hugged you from below under your stomach and lifted you up? It’s comfortable to stand, breathe easily, the belt does not press? You did everything right. Is there a feeling of extreme constriction? Lie down again and dress the fabric, loosening it a little.
It should be tied up for about 10 - 14 days. If after removing the bandage you feel as if you did not remove it, you can remove the bandage.
Pros: the muscle corset is strengthened, the internal organs "fall into place", the extra load on the back is removed, the stomach is tightened. Well, of course, making a bandage with your own hands, you will significantly save your budget.
It is important not to overtighten!
It doesn’t matter which postpartum brace you choose. The main thing is that you dress and wear it with pleasure and pleasure.
On the topic of the postpartum period:
How to lose weight after childbirth and lose weight quickly (some simple tips).
Restorative gymnastics after childbirth - 14 simple exercises.
We recommend reading about slings (how to choose and how to wear).
I once went to the pharmacy, where a pregnant girl chose a postpartum bandage. The pharmacist told her that she could not find the size, since the girl was still pregnant. I concluded that it is better to buy a bandage after childbirth, but when, whether the young mother will have the opportunity to go to pharmacies and choose a model. Therefore, I am inclined to universal options in which the size is adjustable.
I used a bandage-panties, I was uncomfortable in it only the first time, I felt some discomfort, but over time, I got used to it, I hardly wore it at home, only for walks.
During pregnancy, the bandage is worn in a narrow part forward, and after childbirth - on the contrary, so that a wide part stretches the stomach.Bandages are convenient, with additional Velcro fasteners on the hips to regulate the volume of the product in the center and on the sides. Such bandages can be in the form of an elastic tape or panties with a tight insert on the stomach. Put them on underwear.