Postpartum girdles, also known as abdominal binders, are recommended by many, but certainly not all, OB/GYN's to help the recovery of the abdominal muscles and skin after delivery. Postpartum girdles do not help women to lose weight. But a post partum girdle, together with excercize may help a woman's waistline to return to her pre-pregnancy size.

What is the medical evidence behind postpartum girdles?

Currently there is not much evidence in either direction. Not because postpartum girdles don't work, but because there have not been any studies that we are aware of to test if a postpartum girdle works. The lack of studies is why some OB/GYNs are not convinced enough to recommend postpartum girdles. But postpartum girdles are a type of surgical compression garment. Surgical compression garments are routine and standard after many types of abdomincal surgeries such as breast surgery (breast reduction, reconstruction, augmentation), liposuction and tummy tucks.

How do compression garments work?

Compression garments and compression bandages help to reduce post surgical swelling (edema) and this helps the body to heal faster. Swelling occurs when tissue is damaged during surgery. The medical profession supports the use of compression after many types of abdomical surgery and compression garments are standard therapy in many hospitals to prevent edema following surgery. Yet while many OB/GYNs accept the role of postpartum girdles after delivery others do not.

Why did we try a postpartum girdle?

When we found out that we were expecting a baby we began to research various subjects as many parents to be will. One of the subjects that was important to us, was how to minimize the impact of the pregnancy on the abdominal skin and muscles. We learned about postpartum girdles and asked our OB/GYN about it and she nearly insisted we get one. The reasons favoring a postpartum girdle were:

• Our OB/GYN was in favor of it.
• Compression garments are standard after many types of abdominal surgeries.
• Abdominal binding is standard in many cultures after mothers give birth

We saw no reason not to try a postpartum girdle. As the cost of postpartum girdles is relatively small, we decided that there was little to lose from trying a postpartum girdle.

Our experience with a postpartum girdle

We decided it would be fun to take one photo every month during our pregnancy to document my wife's growing belly. We did not do it intentionally to document the postpartum girdle, but in the end, this is what we did.

Beginning in the first month, we did our best to take the photos at the same time every month and wearing the same clothes every month. Notice that the clothes in the photos below are the same except in the 9th month when she needed slightly roomier jeans:

Below is my wife with our little baby. She gave birth a few months before her 30th birthday. As can be seen in the photos above and below, her belly returned to very near its pre-pregnancy shape:

We believe that the postpartum girdle together with breastfeeding and moderate excercize (she did sit-ups at home when her doctor allowed) helped to return her belly to its pre-pregnancy condition. Except for the light colored "Linea nigra" (brown line on her belly), you would hardly guess that she was ever pregnant.

Which postpartum girdle should you buy?

We believe that all postpartum girdles will do more or less the same job, though some postpartum girdles may be more comfortable than others. The postpartum girdle we purchased was a big piece of stretchy elastic material with heavy duty velcro closure at the ends. The velcro closures allowed the postpartum girdle to be functional over a range of sizes as the belly was decreasing.

Our postpartum girdle worked well, but had a tendancy to fold at the top when seated. Otherwise, we were happy with it. We spent under $20 for our postpartum girdle, however you can spend up to $50 for a postpartum girdle.

Which size postpartum girdle should you buy?

After you give birth, your belly size will immediately decrease to approximately the size you were in your 6 or 7th month. Ideally, by one month post delivery your belly should reduce to nearly the size it was before you got pregnant. Try to buy one postpartum girdle which will accomodate that entire size range.

If one postpartum girdle will not accomodate that entire size range, buy one that could fit you comfortably in the 7th month and be prepared to buy a second one as your waistline decreases. (note: never wear a postpartum girdle while you are pregnant. Just measure your belly around the 7th month in order to estimate the size you will need).

You will know that the postpartum girdle is fitting properly when you feel the compression effect.

When should you begin wearing your postpartum girdle?

We recommend that you take your postpartum girdle with you when you are going to deliver. Then ask your OB/GYN to help you put it on the first time. This has two purposes. First your OB/GYN will help you to understand how tight it should fit. Second, your OB/GYN will tell you if there is any reason you should delay using your postpartum girdle. In our case, a cesarean birth, our OB/GYN put the postpartum girdle on my wife the day after delivery. But your OB/GYN may have different advice for you. Always follow your OB/GYN's recommendations.

After your OB/GYN has put on the postpartum girdle for the first time, take a pen and make a mark on the postpartum girdle to indicate how tight the girdle is. You will want to put your postpartum girdle to that size or smaller as your belly decreases in size.

When should you remove your postpartum girdle?

Unless your OB/GYN advises otherwise, you will want to keep your postpartum girdle on as much as possible. My wife removed her postpartum girdle only for showers and sometimes in the evening if she had difficulty sleeping.

How long should you wear your postpartum girdle?

My wife wore her postpartum girdle from the day after delivery until approximately one month after delivery. Unless your OB/GYN advises otherwise, you will want to wear your postpartum girdle until you feel that your belly has stopped shrinking in size.

What Else Can You Do To Regain Your Pre-pregnancy Shape?

Breastfeed! You probably know that breastfeeding has many advantages for your baby. But did you know that breastfeeding helps the mother to return to her pre-pregnancy shape? This is for two reasons:

• First, breastfeeding consumes alot of calories. Calories your baby eats are calories that do not get deposited in your fat cells. But how does this translate to weightloss? Studies done at the University of California and at LSU showed that mothers who breastfeed shed significantly more weight after delivery than mothers who feed their babies with formula.

• Second, breastfeeding releases a hormone called Oxytocin, which causes post delivery uterine contractions. It is believed that these contractions may help the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size.

In addition to using a postpartum girdle and breastfeeding, do moderate abdominal excercizes (eg sit-ups or tummy crunches) as soon as your doctor allows. Within one month you should be close to your pre-pregnancy shape.

Note: Consult with your OB/GYN or medical care giver concerning your questions about postpartum girdles.

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