What is the Postpartum Period - 4th Trimester?

After a baby is born, a mother and child immediately enter into what is called the 4th Trimester.   The 4th Trimester is defined as the 12-week period immediately after you’ve had your baby. How you enter into this time can AND will affect your body & mind for years to come.

There are varying opinions on how long the postpartum period lasts.  Some say it’s 40 days, while others focus on the 12 weeks (the 4th Trimester), or some even say years.   In reality, once you give birth, you are forever postpartum. 

What is Belly Binding?   

Belly-binding is an ancient wrapping technique originating in Malaysian & Indonesia traditions called Bengkung belly binding.   This is the ancient art of wrapping a women’s belly and hips post baby, and is for both physical and emotional support. 

Women are traditionally wrapped as soon after birth as possible – usually 3-10 days after a vaginal birth (and after the heavy bleeding has stopped) and 3-4 weeks after for a cesarean.  This technique uses a long strip of cloth to wrap around the abdomen from the hips to the ribcage which supports your lower back, hips, and organs returning into place.  Belly-binding is like having a hug when there is so much empty space in your womb and stretched tissue, and can also assist in returning to pre-pregnancy shape. 

The role of the hormone ‘RELAXIN’ while Belly Binding?

When a woman is pregnant her body releases a hormone called RELAXIN. This super power hormone is critical for the ligaments to relax and loosen so that her baby can move easier through the pelvis during birth. Relaxin remains in the body for several months after birth, and longer if you are breastfeeding. Binding postpartum takes ADVANTAGE of the RELAXIN in her body and allows for a GENTLE MOLDING of her body to its PRE-PREGNANCY STATE. Use this SUPER POWER FOR GOOD!

It is recommended to wear your Belly wrap for at least 8-12 hours per day.

Belly Binding benefits include:

• Accelerated postpartum SLIMMING

• Posture SUPPORT and lower back - reduces the “NURSING SLOUCH” and promotes the best breast-feeding POSTURE 

• Fully customizable for each and every day – imagine a pair of jeans off the shelf versus a custom fit!   

• HEALING support of PELVIC, abdominal stretching and SEPARATION of muscles & ligaments (including diastasis recti)

• Reduces postpartum AFTERPAINS & BLEEDING time

• Helps uterus and surrounding ORGANS RETURN to their pre-pregnancy states

• REDUCES BACK PAIN

• Provides a sense of COMFORT and support to mother both PHYSICALLY & EMOTIONALLY

• Great form of GENTLE TOUCH for a new mother

• REDUCE afterbirth pains

• Restorative ENERGENTICALLY

• Repair and firms STRETCHED skin

• Diminishes PELVIC instability, BRINGING IN YOUR RIB CAGE and closes hip bones

• Help with DIGESTION and BOWEL movements

• Warms the “EMPTY WOMB” feeling

  Note: Belly-binding is not a corset, spanx-wear or waist-trainer, and is not a replacement for the use of your muscles.

What are the best foods for optimal recovery?

Let me show you the best foods which will maximize your healing, while allowing your body to quickly absorb necessary nutrients. Avoid raw and cold at this time. These foods and drinks shock your system and slow the healing process by processing foods that aren’t easy to digest.

What are the first forms of exercise I should do?

There is no “bouncing back” after a baby. You are a new self, not reverting to your old self in a rushed recovery with a shiny new accessory - your baby. Taking it easy is the basis of a successful, joyful and healthy postpartum recovery. I follow ancient, proven traditions of rest, body wrapping, eating the right foods, and gentle ease into body movement.

Your first forms of exercise should be:

Breath Work & Body Work

Think focused breath and gentle body work (massage, acupuncture, and seeing a pelvic floor PT). What you do now, WILL affect you later in life. You want to be the TORTOISE, NOT the HARE in the long term race. You might not see it today, but pushing your body before it’s fully healed will result in on-going issues that can set you back even further in healing.