What is your POV on stomach binding after delivery? It’s a common practice in India. Everyone I know has done it. My mom is coming to N.Y. to help me post-birth. We are wondering if we should do this.
—Thank you!
Abdominal binders are common in many cultures — the basic idea is that it provides support and possibly promotes healing. There is relatively little hard data on it. There is one randomized trial in Iran, among women who had cesarean sections, that suggested binders might reduce pain and bleeding. A study in the U.S. showed similar impacts on lowering pain, though no impact on bleeding. In Turkey, researchers found more mobility with binder use, again after a C-section.
Although all these studies are small, they come together to paint a similar picture: abdominal binding does seem to have some positive impacts after a cesarean section.
There is less evidence on their use post-vaginal-delivery. I found one study from India that argued that this approach relieved constipation. Overall, though, there isn’t much to lean on. But there also isn’t anything to suggest it would be harmful, and no reason to think it would be.
Should you do this? I would say: yes, if you want to.
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