In my last post, I referred to the roots of belly binding. Malay culture is thought to have influence from Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine so we know it is a beautiful coming together of some amazingly effective indigenous practices. However, they also practice belly binding in Russia, Africa, and in Latin cultures, sometimes known as “closing the bones”. Now let’s look at belly binding benefits and the sordid Malay history.
Colonialism and capitalism have damaged, decimated, and destroyed physical objects, practices, and even sentiments. When colonizers arrived to the Malay Peninsula, this was no different. As a result, over time, the Malay people abandoned their own indigenous practices.
Here are 3 few examples to illustrate my point:
1. When colonizers came upon women during their confinement/postpartum period in their homes, they found women sleeping on a makeshift “roasting” bed with a fire underneath them to address back pain. Colonizers claimed that the women were being “smoked out”, implying abuse. The fire warmed them in healing and recovery. If you recall, there wasn’t electricity at the time. Now, the practice of hospitals providing heating pads to women in childbirth and postpartum is common. Is it not the same intention? I don’t believe, for a second, that the colonizers were truly concerned about the wellbeing of these women. I do believe it was a way to call into question an indigenous practice in order to control and conquer.
2. As colonizers tried to conquer the local people, they were dying of malaria and found that the indigenous people were not. You see, the Indians, Chinese, and Malay people had access to herbs to help protect them from malaria, which the British colonizer did not. How can the colonizers conquer a people, if their own men were dying? So, they forced their pills on them, criminalized herbalists, and banished herbs thus killing indigenous people. Guess what, modern malaria medicine consists of herbs found in the rainforest. In fact, plants account for 70% of allopathic medicine content and yet we call into question the efficacy of plant medicine.
3. They uprooted and decimated midwifery in many cultures, like they did in America. Women, who historically, had helped birthed babies were abused, harassed, called witches so that hospitals of men (white men in America) could require mothers to come there to have their babies. They were able to see more patients that way and make more money. In Malaysia, people could only have their babies with government sponsored midwives and local indigenous midwives were forced out. Families were threatened not to receive birth certificates or to be penalized if they did not use the government midwives, who were not providing for mothers in the same holistic, comprehensive way. So, midwifery and herbalist disappeared.
Fun fact, midwives entered a girl’s life when menstruation began. Makes sense!
Pseudoscience?
I find all of this to be infuriating and decolonizing work is happening worldwide, but it will take time. This is critical to know when you are questioned about what practices you are adopting in motherhood. Indigenous practices don’t lack scientific evidence. They are based in science, but it is not western scientific research, because there is no profit incentive there. Unfortunately, in many cases, until it is backed by western science, its legitimacy is questioned and labeled “pseudoscience”. Nevertheless, massage and belly binding are backed by science and western research such as these articles by the Care.com and NIH.
Belly Binding Benefits:
- · Heal diastis recti
- · Reshape the hips
- · Flatten tummy
- · Core support
- · Improves posture
- · Prevents slouching
- · Improved mood and body image
- · Feel secure and firm
- · Boosts confidence
- · Supports breastfeeding
- · Womb support and repositioning
- · Bladder support
- · Pelvic floor support and recovery
- · Prevent prolapse
I Wish I Had Known
I wish I had known about this practice for my two pregnancies as I could’ve avoided many issues, some of which I’m still dealing with today. In India, they used to bind women with a long sari like piece of cloth. They also binded babies (similar to a swaddle) to prevent gas issues. Some research talks about the benefits of a bind, which I did receive from the hospital. However, if will incredibly uncomfortable and a one-size-fits-all. Needless to say, I didn’t use it much. The Bengkung belly bind, on the other hand, was comfortable and supportive and made for my size.
So, my mission is to share this with others so that their postpartum experience can be one of thriving and not just surviving. I’m passionate about addressing the maternal mortality crisis with the tried-and-true solutions we already have, which only boast side benefits and not side effects.
How to Get Started
Belly binding can begin in the weeks following a vaginal birth and longer for cesarean. They recommend binding for at least 6-8 hours a day for at least 90 days but more is great too! There are so many benefits to belly binding, but consistency is key.
If you are in the DC area and are interested in receiving belly binding services, check out our Shop page to learn more about what this holistic service entails.
If you’re not local, you can still purchase a bind and set up a virtual session to learn how to put on the bind optimally to make sure it is effective and not harmful in any way. You can incorrectly wear a bind that will do more damage.
