After you give birth, your body starts working on getting back to its pre-pregnancy state. Your midsection is deflated, and it takes time for things to get back to normal. Because of this, it’s not uncommon to feel like your midsection is lacking the support it needs. A postpartum girdle or corset can help you regain the strength and self-confidence you need to get back on track. It also helps compress your uterus to not only return the uterus to its original size, but to help the swelling go down and allow the extra fluid to escape. I’m not talking about waist training, I’m talking about being able to pick up your toddler with some added core support. I’ve had an amazing experience with my Mother Tucker corset by Belly Bandit. I feel completely supported when I wear it, and since it tightly pulls my tummy in, I can wear it comfortably under my clothes. With that in mind, read on to learn how this small aid can help you build your strength and self-esteem as you reflect on the miraculous changes your body went through.
Why You Need It
In simple terms, a postpartum girdle or corset simply encourages your body to get back to its pre-pregnancy state. Believe it or not, abdominal compression garments like corsets and binders have been around for decades. You may have heard of them being used for pain relief by individuals with back pain, due to the enhanced compression around the midsection. Similar to this, wearing an external binder or corset after childbirth gives your trunk muscles support while they’re healing postpartum. This increased abdominal support provides a host of benefits that can help post-delivery recovery, including helping posture, pain, and self-confidence. It’s important to note that a postpartum girdle will not cause any changes to your body that wouldn’t have happened on their own.
After childbirth, your ligaments are still more stretchy and elastic, and it takes a while for the abdominal muscles to regain strength and return to their normal size. Wearing a postpartum girdle can help provide support during this process and encourage it to happen quicker. If you had a c-section delivery, they can help the recovery process immensely. Another added benefit of wearing a postpartum girdle or corset is that it helps with poor posture and lower back pain. These two symptoms are extremely common due to all of the changes in your body during pregnancy and after childbirth. As this time your abdominals are unable to provide the support you need on their own. As a result, more stress is applied to the spine, which presents itself as back pain. A postpartum girdle will provide this support for you.
When to Start Wearing it & For How Long
Remember, this is a process, and though a corset or girdle can make this process happen quicker, the uterus can take up to 6-8 weeks to shrink back to its normal size. It’s recommended to start wearing your girdle immediately after giving birth and consistently wear it for 8 weeks post-birth. This is because the hormone Relaxin stays within your system for this long. Relaxin is a hormone produced by the ovary and the placenta with important effects in the female reproductive system and during pregnancy. In preparation for childbirth, it relaxes the ligaments in the pelvis and softens and widens the cervix. Therefore the largest impact of the girdle is when relaxin is still present to move everything back together with ease. You can continue to wear it after 8 weeks or until it feels more comfortable to go without it than wear it. In the hospital, I used the Mother Tucker Nursing Tank. I wore that consistently until I was able to squeeze into by Corset.
Feel Good Again
Last but certainly not least, a postpartum girdle or corset can help build your confidence and self-esteem. One of best parts is that it will immediately get your tummy area back into its normal position, letting you wear your regular clothes without feeling self-conscience. The added compression to your midsection also gives you peace of mind – no more feeling like your organs are freeing moving around in the extra space.
My Experience
Before I found the Mother Tucker Corset, I started cheap – and then I realized cheap was a bad decision. I bought one for $20 on Amazon after my oldest son, Sage, was born and honestly, it was terrible and oh so uncomfortable. I would recommend purchasing one with no velcro. The first one I owned looked funny under clothes and was itchy. The difference in comfort, support, and overall build quality are no comparison. Also, more importantly, it works! After baby number 3 more midsection was weak and unfortunately I did not have the luxury of not picking up objects heavier than my baby. I had a 3 year old and a 1 ½ year old that needed holding as well. This corset provided me the support I needed, expedited draining excess fluid from my uterus, and helped my body return to its prepregnancy state.
Other wardrobe staples of mine include the Upsie Belly Support Band (during pregnancy) and the Mother Tucker Nursing Tank (postpartum). These, along with my postpartum corset, have given me the support my body needs and I sincerely recommend them for all moms after childbirth to comfortably get back into the swing of things and feel confident doing so! In addition to this supportive tool, the easiest way for you to feel your best is by leading a healthy lifestyle by fueling your body with whole foods and adding in a regular workout routine.
