Ancient postpartum practices have been traditionally used to provide the postpartum body the support to assist the abdominal wall muscle retraction, improve posture, support loose ligaments, and support the torso while vital organs return to their pre- pregnancy size and position. Using a 14-17 foot muslin + cotton or natural fabric the abdomen is wrapped tightly in order to support your body's natural healing.
For best results women should be wrapped as soon as their milk comes in. The bind should be worn a period of 40 days, but wearing the bind daily for 8-10 hours will do. The binds are made to wear both under or on the outer layer of clothing. Those who have had a cesarean birth must wait until their incision is mostly healed before wrapping , this could be 3 weeks plus before this could be done.
Wearing your Bengkung Bind encourages excellent posture. Caring for your baby can often leave you slouched and slumped over. With excellent posture you can rebuild your strength and put less strain on your body with baby in your arms. Your Bengkung Bind targets your entire abdominal area, unlike commercial binds which only targets your hips and lower abdominal area. Your Bengkung Bind extends from your pubic bone to just below your breasts giving you consistent, overall support. Bengkung Belly Binding supports your body’s natural recovery. The placement of hand knotting in Bengkung Binding directly supports your linea alba (central connective tissue) between your abdominal muscles. As the linea alba shrinks back into place it pulls your abdominal muscles back together. Bengkung Belly Binding may reduce the postpartum “pooch”. When your core muscles are weak or you have poor core muscle control your stomach and uterus can protrude through your abdominal wall. Wearing your Benkung Bind each day during your recovery gives support to those weakened muscles, building their strength to support your internal organs.
Benkung Belly Binding can help minimize diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles which is the parallel bands of muscles that meet in the middle of the abdomen that separate to make way for a baby's growth during pregnancy. Using this bind is helpful in bringing the bands of muscles back together in order for the Linea Alba (connective tissue) to strengthen and support the muscles.
Your Bengkung Bind supports your pelvic area and achy hips, which are a common postpartum complaint during the first few weeks. Since your hips expanded during pregnancy due to the body producing " Relaxin" to prepare for your baby’s birth, the hips become looser and more flexible, but also leaves one feeling achey after birthing. Having the support of your Bengkung Bind can bring some much desired relief to those aches and pains. Wearing the bind places a pressure on the hips and pelvis, it will help firm and support this area that is still lose.
Lastly, Bengkung Belly Binding can help minimize low back pain. When your abdominal muscles are supported and strengthened there is less stress on your lower back. Having the support of your Bengkung Bind can also help your body adjust its center of gravity postpartum, which was shifted during pregnancy. Because the abdominal muscles are directly related to the back muscles, the core muscles are in a weakened state, with more stress on the spine as it has supported the body for the last nine months. This helps reduce the strain and improves the posture at the same time.
I offer 100% Cotton Bengkung Belly Binds that I personally make here in Los Angeles in sizes 13 and 17 feet long with personal instruction that can be purchased on my store for self wrapping. These wraps are machine washable if washed in gentle cycle and in cold water. Line dry is best. Self wrapping can be done by using your mirror to help guide your hands. Starting at the pelvic bone, you move upwards, wrapping around the waste and knotting in front each time you come around.
For house call services I offer various packages for 3, 6, 30 day packages. I come every other day and offer the service that includes a womb rub that massages the uterus with a circulatory massage using hot stones and crystals, followed up by applying a firming paste made of heating spices and sesame oil + conclude with a Benkung wrapping of your abdomen. This service does not include the price of the belly bind, and travel if it is over 12 miles.