Postpartum band: is it really essential? Midwife’s advice

The postpartum band or pancera is a tool which, by compressing the abdominal area, the hips and the first part of the buttocks, gives the woman the impression of having greater support. But is it really necessary after a natural birth? What about a caesarean section?

The first 40 days after giving birth, mystery and doubt for every woman.

Unfortunately it is difficult to face pregnancy without asking the question of “what will change in my body?”.

We live in a society where image is very important and, inevitably, pregnancy with its soft shapes and curves is often seen as an enemy of physical fitness .

Here with this concern, many women in the past considered the postpartum band a must of the DOC mother’s paraphernalia.

Whether it is called a band, girdle or postpartum pancera, the result is essentially the same: a device that aims to help the mother regain muscle tone after childbirth .

How does the postpartum band work?

The postpartum band is a tool which, by compressing the abdominal area, the hips and the first part of the buttocks, gives the woman the impression of having greater support .

It is therefore easy to imagine that by wearing it the mother can feel “lightened” and contained .

Normally, this task would be up to our transverse abdominis , that muscle belt that goes from the spine to the rectus abdominis (better known as straight abs, abdominal turtle or six pack).

In pregnancy, however, the rectus abdominis must gradually move away to make room for the growing uterus and the transverse abdomen undergoes enormous stresses , also due to the shift of the center of gravity due to the weight of the baby.

The use of a girdle or a postpartum girdle, therefore, should help to recover support and tone in the abdominal wall and facilitate the recovery of physical fitness. But is it really so?

Natural postpartum band: no thanks

After the birth of the baby, our body undertakes to restore the balance and reorganize the space inside the abdomen which, inevitably, will be less tense. It is what mothers often define in forums as a “soft belly” or “flabby” after childbirth and for which they wonder whether or not to use a girdle.

To achieve this goal, mother nature has foreseen that over time and with our continuous work as mothers, the abdominal wall will return, more or less, to the same as before pregnancy .

Consequently, many specialists advise against the use of the sling in the event of a natural birth, as it is useless or even harmful .

In fact, the compression exerted by the pancera actually gives a sense of containment “above”, but also creates a constant pressure “below”, which is discharged onto our pelvic floor .

Let’s remember that during pregnancy this muscular component is subjected to the effort of supporting the weight of our changing body and that of our child, with annexes and connections. The use of a postpartum sling , therefore, risks adding further stress to the pelvic floor, with consequent negative effects on the well-being of the new mother .

Instead of resorting to a sheath, the advice is to contact your trusted midwife for an evaluation of the abdomen and perineum . Once the situation has been examined, it will be possible – if necessary – to start any exercises or targeted therapies for optimal recovery .

Post cesarean section: yes, but only for a short time

Clearly women who are faced with a cesarean delivery have other difficulties.

In the first place, the gynecologist had to cut some tissue that will have to be healed.

Secondly, she had to distance her rectus muscles to be able to reach the uterus in the maternal abdomen, further favoring the above-mentioned separation.

The postpartum band is therefore often recommended to women who have undergone a cesarean and, precisely for this reason, experience pain in the wound .

Even to them, however, it is necessary to make a clarification on when to put it . To avoid the negative effects that we have already talked about, the postpartum girdle should be used as little as possible and only in the first period after the operation .

Post cesarean section: which one to choose?

Undoubtedly it is better to prefer an elastic and non-rigid band adjustable in pressure or a shorts girdle , so that the distribution of the containment is balanced. Instead, rigid bands should be avoided , which tend to create excessive pressure on the abdomen

To summarize :

• The postpartum band is a containment tool that can be useful to use after having undergone a cesarean section, for short periods of time.
• Undoubtedly it is better to prefer an elastic and not rigid band, adjustable in pressure, or shorts .
• To regain one’s physical and, consequently, psycho-emotional well-being , it is important that the new mother contact her trusted midwife , who will be able to help her in the reactivation of the abdomen and pelvic floor .

One last tip…

Beyond the aesthetic standards imposed on our body, the ideal would be to learn to recognize ourselves as mutable subjects and, as such, absolutely beautiful ! It is unthinkable to believe that an event as shocking and wonderful as becoming a mother leaves no mark on us.
We should try to see all this and live it with pride , or at least accept it.
After all, it is a sign of change and growth as human beings, of past experiences and experiences yet to be lived.