Abdominal Binders And Compression After Birth: Do We Need Them?
Abdominal binders and compression garments after having a baby can be a nice option, especially if you are needing extra support for pain control or just overall comfort. Many women, especially after having a C-section, are told to utilize an abdominal binder, but abdominal binders and/or compression garments can also be an option after a vaginal birth as well. In this blog post, I will discuss what an abdominal binder is, the different types of abdominal binders out there, what factors may indicate the need for using one, how to properly place and use one and the option for a compression bloomer as well! I also would like to briefly discuss the differences between a waist trainer and an abdominal binder, as this seems to be a common misunderstanding when comparing the two products. Let’s dive in!
What are abdominal binders?
Abdominal binders are essentially a type of compression garment that goes around your lower abdomen/waist. They can be an option to utilize in the early postpartum time frame for pain and pressure management. They are especially helpful for those who are recovering from a c-section, but can also be used for those who experienced a vaginal birth and are experiencing pain or discomfort in the early stages of healing.
The main benefits to using an abdominal binder is the extra support it offers to the core and pelvic floor. This is important as the core and pelvic floor are weak from pregnancy and birth, vaginal or c-section. The abdominal binder is also a great option for extra cushion and support while getting out of bed, holding your new baby and/or moving around.
Do I need an abdominal binder?
A few questions to ask yourself when thinking about whether or not an abdominal binder is right for you…
Are you looking for something SHORT-TERM to help with pain and pressure management?
Do you have a plan for your core and pelvic floor recovery after the initial healing time period?
If you answered YES to those two questions, than an abdominal binder may be a good option. To elaborate a little further on those questions, it’s important to understand that an abdominal binder is NOT meant as a long-term fix. As stated earlier, it’s main purpose is to offer additional support and cushion in the early postpartum days while your core and pelvic floor are trying to heal from your pregnancy and birth experience. After that initial healing period has lapsed, you will want to have a plan in place to work on a long-term solution for your core and pelvic floor recovery.
If you’re not sure what a long-term solution is, consider looking into my Mind Body Core program! But mainly, you want to think about training your core muscles (and pelvic floor) to be your corset, so that you don’t NEED to rely on anything else to be the corset for you. After all, the main purpose of your deep core is offer that support and stability, which is why over-utilizing something like an abdominal binder can actually cause your muscles to rely on the binder instead of themselves! Essentially, if your core and pelvic floor are in a stage of healing, it’s totally fine to use an abdominal binder to give them some relief and assistance to allow them to heal in those early days. If your core and pelvic floor are no longer in that early postpartum healing stage, then it’s time to look into your long-term solution!
How do I know what type of abdominal binder is right for me?
It’s true - there are MANY different brands and types of abdominal binders out there, so how do you know what type is right for YOU? Here’s my main tip, regardless of the brand or type, the main thing to be aware of is that you are not wrapping it TOO TIGHT. It should feel snug, but not uncomfortable and should still allow you to breathe! If it is too tight, this can lead to excessive pressure down onto the pelvic floor, which can actually exacerbate and lead to further dysfunctions, such as incontinence or prolapse.
If you’re unsure where to start, my recommendation for a really great abdominal binder is the Bodily Binder. Make sure to watch their “how to” video on the product page for a demonstration of how to wrap the binder!
How to Properly Use an Abdominal Binder
If you go a different route than the Bodily Binder, perhaps you were given one or decided to trial a few different options, I wanted to make sure you had a video to refer to for proper fitting and wear. Click below for a little sneak into my “C-Section Pre-Phase Bonus Content” from my Mind Body Core Postpartum and Pelvic Floor Program.
In this video demonstration, you will see how to apply an abdominal binder (Bodily Binder is the one shown) as well as how to utilize and wear a compression bloomer!
Is an abdominal binder the same as a waist trainer?
A waist trainer and an abdominal binder have two very different purposes. While an abdominal binder’s purpose is to provide short-term support and pain relief in the early postpartum, a waist trainer is meant to restrict and cinch the waist to the desired size and shape. It also can grab the lower floating ribs and pull those in to reduce the “flared” appearance some women may feel that they have post-baby. Essentially, a waist trainer is meant to be cinched tighter and tighter to compress and restrict, while an abdominal binder is meant to offer support and should NOT be uncomfortably tight or physically alter your anatomical appearance.
What are compression bloomers?
Compression bloomers can also be a great option if you are needing extra support for pain control and/or just overall comfort. They are less supportive than an abdominal binder, but can offer a nice level of compression in the early postpartum days!
If you are looking for a nice, supportive but not restrictive compression bloomer, I really love THESE! You can use my affiliate code: doclizziedpt for a discount if these seem like the right fit for you! The main thing to look for in a good compression bloomer is that they are supportive, but still offer enough room to breathe normally, allowing abdominal expansion for good pelvic floor and diaphragm mechanics. For sizing, think about selecting your normal size…this should keep them from being too tight or not supportive enough.
How to Properly Use Compression Bloomers
Compression bloomers can be utilized after a vaginal or c-section birth. In the same way the abdominal binders are used, with compression bloomers you also want to utilize them in the early postpartum days and are weaning off wearing them as you start to feel better and your core and pelvic floor are recovering.
Think about compression bloomers for support versus restriction. Bloomers are high, so they don’t land in the mid-section where the incision may be if you are post-surgical, but also give support to the perineum if that is also needed. Compression bloomers being on the higher side are great to avoid irritation to that mid-section, but again, just be cautious that they are not overly tight to allow for normal breathing patterns and rib and abdominal expansion!
Refer back to the video above for a quick demonstration for using the compression bloomers!
In summary…
Whether you had a vaginal or c-section birth, you may want to consider utilizing either an abdominal binder or compression bloomers for the early postpartum days, especially if you are looking for a little extra support, pain relief or pressure management assistance. You want to avoid over-using them or having too tight of a fit - again, we don’t want to exacerbate any pelvic floor dysfunctions! And lastly, after you are past those early postpartum days, consider mapping out a plan for your pelvic floor and core long-term recovery!
Feel free to reach out to me directly or click HERE for some information on my Mind Body Core program if you need a little help with the long-term plan!