Postpartum Hip Binding/Pregnancy Support Belts

Body: 

Hello,

I have been reading about two topics that I am hoping some of you could share your thoughts about:

1) Postpartum Hip Binding: Many woman are using belts and other compression devices to shrink the hips in the early postpartum days when relaxin is high. Does anyone have an opinion as to whether this is safe/recommended?

2) Pregnancy support belts: There are several pregnancy support belts that claim to alleviate lower back pain and lift low sitting babies... do you any of you have experience with these. I am somewhat concerned that extra pressure on the abdomen would be unwise.

Thanks for your advice.

Hi Worried - as you probably are aware, WW work is about getting the organs forward into the relaxed lower belly. WW posture is extremely important during the post partum period. Christine has written several times about these compression belts, and in a quickie search I wasn't able to find the discussion I was looking for, but I do have this quote from Christine:

"All the exercises and postural work we do is designed specifically to move the organs forward - over and in front of the pubic bones, which should be underneath you like flat straps of a saddle. You have a horizontal pelvis that is trying to move the bladder and uterus into the hollow of your rounded lower belly with every breath you take. This is why we shudder when young mommies want to flatten their 'mummy-tummy'!!" - CK

I don't believe you ought to be compressing your belly, now or ever. Cultivate WW posture, restore good lumbar curvature, and let the hips and body revert back to normal configuration the healthy way. - Surviving