It’s not uncommon to see celebrity moms and many other people back in perfect shape within months of giving birth. So, what’s the secret? Using postpartum waist trainers is believed to do the magic here! In this era of people going for the perfect body shape, the age-old method of waist training has turned into a go-to remedy to shed the postpartum belly.
Waist training is an old method of tightly binding or wrapping the body’s midsection from the bottom of your ribs to the lower waist with a supportive band or a corset to gradually decrease the natural waistline. The process is thought to reshape the waist leading to slimming in women looking for a perfectly shaped waist. There are also claims that waist trainers promote heat in the abdomen, which causes perspiration and fat loss.
After birth, the changes in hormones and fluid content in the body can cause water retention in the abdomen. The accumulated water takes about two weeks to dissipate and two more weeks for the rest to subside. Meanwhile, it can take up to six weeks for the uterus to shrink from the size of a watermelon to its normal size. All this occurs naturally along with belly shrinkage whether women wear waist trainers or not. However, waist training is thought to speed up the process and help women shrink their bellies sooner.
The rationale behind waist training after delivery is that during pregnancy, the body releases a hormone called relaxin that softens the ligaments and cartilage. It helps during the final weeks of pregnancy to allow for increased flexibility to help with the baby’s passage through the birth canal. Wearing belly support such as a wrap or a band helps to stabilise the pelvis and keep it steadily in shape so that it stops shifting and heals. The advantage of this is that women can resume exercise sooner to return to their normal function and pre-pregnancy shape. What Are Post-baby Waist Trainers Made Of?
Post-baby waist trainers come in many designs, and they are made of different types of materials, such as spandex, and latex, with cotton, nylon and lycra added to the fabric. Here are some of the types:
Belly wraps are the simplest of the waist trainers and are usually a wide adjustable elastic band that wraps around your abdomen from below the ribs to the top of the waist. They provide gentle compression, which can often be adjusted with a Velcro tightener, and several designs are available for pregnant women. These are not as intense as corsets or waist trainers but offer excellent support right after birth for the first week or two until you’re ready to upgrade.
Abdominal compression binders are commonly used after surgery to stabilise the abdomen. They feature no-frills bands with adjustable compression that generally work with Velcro. Although it’s a general medical device not specific to postpartum mothers, it can be used as a support for the abdomen as part of waist training. A study conducted in 2019 found that women who wore abdominal binders after their c-sections were able to cover longer distances and had less feeling of distress than those who did not wear binders after 48 hours of operation. Since the incisions of c-sections stay fresh after such a short time, you should wait for 2-4 weeks and consult your doctor before using belly bands or wraps.
Waist trainers are tighter and designed to apply more pressure on the abdomen using zippers or hook-and-eye closures. These are the ones commonly seen by celebrities, and they can be worn under a regular dress or when you’re at home working. They cover the midsection of your body from under the breasts to the top of the hips. Cinchers are often made of latex-like stiff materials reinforced with plastic or metal boning. Their purpose is to apply extra firm compression and drastically reduce the waist size. They can be worn a month after giving birth anywhere from one to eight hours a day, depending on your comfort. They are believed to show results in about a month if worn for eight hours a day along with following a healthy diet. Cinchers can also be worn while working out.
Corsets apply a much stronger compression than waist trainers or belly wraps. They contain steel bones in them, which are tightened using laces. Corsets are meant for body sculpting using high compression. They would feel uncomfortable in the beginning. Therefore, they should only be used in later stages when you’re ready to upgrade from all of the above. They can be worn for an hour or two a day until you get used to them, and then move to eight or twelve hours over the months.
Using a waist trainer after delivery has a number of benefits for postpartum women. Here are some:
Most new moms wish to lose their baby pouch as soon as possible. Wearing a waist trainer belt can help you lose all the fluid and fat fast to achieve a shapely waist. The waist training works by cinching the waistline to make the stomach take the shape of the waist trainer.
Waist training corsets use materials such as plastics or metal bones that keep your back straight for as long as you wear them. Hence wearing these will enhance the posture of your back, keeping the spine straight and firm. If you tend to slouch or have back pain post-pregnancy, waist trainers can help improve your posture.
Maintaining a good posture with the help of waist trainers can help you go a long way in fixing your upper and lower back pain problems. Maintaining a good posture while you sit and walk helps to take the stress off the back and reduce back pain. In a comprehensive study, it was found that belly bands can decrease distress and offer lower back support to those who had c-sections.
The waist trainer wrapped tightly around your abdomen won’t allow you to stuff yourself with food. As a consequence of less eating, you lose weight faster and get into shape sooner.
Some women find that cinchers help ease menstrual cramps. The pressure applied to the peritoneal organs can result in lesser contractions in the uterus and blocks during the period.
So, is it safe to wear waist trainers? The answer is yes and no, depending on the conditions.
The gentler trainers, such as belly wraps, can be used a few hours after you deliver, provided your doctor gives you an all-okay. Do confirm with your doctor before using it.
Start with what feels comfortable; it could be one or two hours a day initially, and wear it for up to 8 or 12 hours. Most manufacturers recommend wearing it all day and night except when taking a bath for 30 to 60 days postpartum.
Measure the waistline five centimetres above your navel. Pick a waist trainer that is four inches smaller than your measured waistline. The hooks can be adjusted as your stomach shrinks.
Waist trainers can help you shed that baby pouch and get back to your perfect figure in a short time. It’s essential that you also maintain a good diet and exercise routine to go with it for maximum benefits.
References/Resources:
1. Karaca. I, Ozturk. M, Alay. I, Ince. O, Karaca. SY, Erdogan. VS, Ekin. M; Influence of Abdominal Binder Usage after Cesarean Delivery on Postoperative Mobilization, Pain and Distress: A Randomized Controlled Trial; Eurasian J Med. – PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6812913/; October 2019
2. Szkwara. J. M, Milne. N, Hing. W, Pope. R.; Effectiveness, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthoses (DEFO) for Managing Pain, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life during Prenatal and Postnatal Care: A Systematic Review; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; MDPI; https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/13/2408#metrics; July 2019
3. Maternal Diet; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/diet-and-micronutrients/maternal-diet.html
4. Fukano. M, Tsukahara. Y, Takei. S, Nose-Ogura. S, Fujii. T, Torii. S; Recovery of Abdominal Muscle Thickness and Contractile Function in Women after Childbirth; Int J Environ Res Public Health; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7926552/; February 2021
5. Di Mascio. D, Caruso. G., Prata G, Saccone, G, Terrin, G, Giancotti. A, et al.; The efficacy of abdominal binders in reducing postoperative pain and distress after cesarean delivery: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials; European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351446531_The_efficacy_of_abdominal_binders_in_reducing_postoperative_pain_and_distress_after_cesarean_delivery_A_meta-analysis_of_randomized_controlled_trials; July 2021
6. Ghana. S, Hakimi. S, Mirghafourvand. M, Abbasalizadeh F, & Behnampour. N; Randomized controlled trial of abdominal binders for postoperative pain, distress, and blood loss after cesarean delivery; International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314102718_Randomized_controlled_trial_of_abdominal_binders_for_postoperative_pain_distress_and_blood_loss_after_cesarean_delivery; March 2017
Also Read:
Exercises to Do After Delivery
Weight Loss Diet Plan after Delivery
Post Pregnancy Belt for Reducing Belly Pouch
This post was last modified on February 17, 2023 3:06 pm
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