Belly Binding is a Traditional, Cross-Cultural Postpartum Care Practice
After birth, the mother’s belly is wrapped with a cloth, providing comfort and support on many levels — physical, mental, and emotional.
Pregnancy is a time of expansion, culminating in birth, which is an experience of open, raw vulnerability.
Belly binding helps close and seal the experience of pregnancy and birth - bringing everything back into place, bringing warmth, and encouraging healing.
BENEFITS OF BELLY BINDING
+Brings warmth to the core - which helps warmth flow throughout the rest of the body, encouraging overall circulation and healing
+Encourages closing/realignment of the hips, ribcage, and spine
+Assists the body in re-establishing (“knitting together”) connective tissues - aiding in diastasis recti recovery, in conjunction with physiotherapy
+Supports the internal organs and pelvic floor
+Reduces water retention; can improve bloating, digestion, and elimination
+Supports the healing process of the uterus, decreasing postpartum bleeding time and lessening afterpains
+Encourages good posture, which helps reduce common back and shoulder pain associated with feeding and holding your baby
+Feels comforting and nourishing; soothes the nervous system (a “mommy swaddle”)
+May help the belly return to its pre-pregnancy shape
YOUR SESSION INCLUDES
WARMING BELLY TREATMENT
Heat is applied to your belly while you rest with a relaxing foot massage, then your belly is massaged with oil before binding.
BINDINGBelly
will be wrapped and you will be shown how to do it, so you can feel confident continuing the practice on your own in the weeks following the session.
FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT
If you have any questions in the days and weeks following your session, just reach out!
(via email or text)
PRICING
Single belly binding session $150 (+HST)
Sessions are approximately
1-1.5 hours, in your home
Depending on your location, extra travel fees may apply. Please note: A belly bind is not provided; it must be purchased separately. I can offer guidance and suggestions when purchasing your bind.
Get in touch to book your
belly binding session
POSTPARTUM
HEALING SESSION
These sessions are longer and include other elements of traditional postpartum care. If you’d like to book a Postpartum Healing Session instead, belly binding can be included in that session along with other healing practices such as herbal baths, vaginal steaming, Closing of the Bones, etc.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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To take advantage of the relaxin hormone still flowing through your body, it’s recommended to begin as soon as possible after a vaginal birth. However you can still find continued benefits several weeks after birth and even up to a year postpartum.
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Yes! For Bengkung style binding, we just need to wait until your incision has completely healed, which could be up to 6 weeks. Consult with your care provider to be sure. Please note, refunds will not be provided in the case of an unplanned c-section; we will simply delay our session until your incision has healed. Also, sometimes clients who have had a C-section opt for a Postpartum Healing Session instead, where we focus on supporting scar tissue healing and scar massage, in addition to belly binding.
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As is the case with most traditional healing practices, there’s no formal research or clinical guidance around this. It’s important to pay attention to how your body feels. Generally speaking, you can consider it like a brace you’d wear if you had a sprain anywhere on your body.
In the first week, you might feel best wearing it most of the time, and then as the weeks go on, you’ll gradually taper off. Ultimately, you can use this in whatever way feels best for your body.
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The wrap is customized to your body each and every time you put it on, whereas some of the mass-produced postpartum belts may not offer as much flexibility. Most women prefer the feeling of fabric that is soft, breathable, and can be worn comfortably under clothing and baby carriers.
Above all else, belly binding is a traditional, sacred practice that honours you and your beautiful postpartum body. The invitation is for belly binding to be a relaxing daily ritual - an opportunity to give yourself the tender care you need at this stage.