Belly binding in postpartum is an ancient technique, like infant massage, dating back thousands of years, to support the birthing mom’s postpartum recovery. I only learned about this powerful practice in recent years and became certified recently. Wow, I wish I had known about it for both my postpartum experiences! It is one of many indigenous experiences that support mamas in thriving in the 4th trimester. Here were other secrets to thriving in postpartum.
Malay Tradition
In Malay cultures, a midwife will come to the home for the first 40 days to care for the birthing mother. These postpartum experts determined the herbs based on mom’s condition in order to maximize healing and recovery. They gave her herbal tea and prepared an herbal bath. They warmed her abdomen then applied oil, massaged, and placed a bind on her. It’s a comfortable cloth bind to accommodate your shape and size. Think of it as a corset for your lower abdomen! Mom wears this cloth bind for 6-8 hours a day for several months. She will also be provided with nourishing foods to help her heal. They also gave massage and a bind to baby for all the benefits we know about massage and to prevent gas pains as his or her digestive system matures.
In America, many hospitals provide a binder to you but it is a standard size made of plastic, polyester, and Velcro. I made myself wear it as much as possible but it felt miserable, especially in the dead of the summer heat. It was not what I wanted against my sensitive, delicate skin that just birthed a baby.
My Introduction to Belly Binding
When I learned about belly binding at my midwife’s office ribbon cutting from Salwa Salim of Birth Matron, I was ecstatic. I remember thinking “this sounds amazing and American mothers NEED to know about this!” and “I wish I had known about this!” I signed up for the next training and it was one of the BEST training courses I’ve attended in my life. And this includes training I’ve attended in my professional and personal life over decades.
I LOVED hearing about the indigenous roots, the Malay culture, the strategic decimation of practices by British colonizers, and more. During the training, I volunteered to have the abdomen massage modeled (I know, tough job). I ate the herbs and drank the delicious concoctions and soaked it all up. It was clear why these practices support healing even as I myself was two years postpartum.
Postpartum Practices from Around the World
Did I mention I’m obsessed with pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum practices from around the world? In fact, we did an episode on it years ago.
I digress. So, the training was amazing but even more so was learning about how Singapore, where the instructor was from, has some of the lowest postpartum depression and anxiety in the world. Of course! If we care for the birthing mother consistently, she can care for her baby and family.
What would your postpartum experience have been like if you were nurtured and nourished every day by loving, caring women? 30% of women experience postpartum depression and anxiety and maternal suicide is the leading cause of death in baby’s first year. Wake up America!!!
The abysmal and criminal treatment of mothers in America is not something to go into yet again in this post. However, it’s important to note that we have the outcomes we do because we have the practices or lack of practices that we do. Indigenous communities around the world already have the solution. We have to figure out how to adapt those solutions to our system, which is extremely difficult but not impossible.
For six months as I became certified in belly binding, I offered the service at no cost to my baby massage families. Most of them could not make the time for themselves to bind. We have bought into the messaging society sends us that we do not matter and we must sacrifice ourselves for our babies. Our health matters; Our recovery matters; Our healing matters. In Latin cultures they believe in la Cuarenta, where the first days dictate the first 40 years. If we can care for ourselves while caring for our babies, we will be better mothers, not pouring from empty cups for months on end. In my next post, I dig deeper into belly binding, the practice. In the meantime, check our free guide to plan for your postpartum.
If you’re on board, check out our services and products in the Shop. If not, read part 2 on belly binding benefits and the history.
