QuestionHi,
Growing up I always saw a lot of women in my culture tighly girdle/wrap their bellies after giving birth to help the belly get back in shape. Is this a safe practice at all?
AnswerWhile postpartum "belly shapers" or modified girdles are sold and used by some, I do not recommend their regular use.
In fitness, out mantra is "don't wear a girdle, build a girdle." This means starting postpartum reconditioning with your deepest abdominal muscle, the Transverse Abdominis, or TvA. This is your body's internal girdle and when contracted compresses the abdominal wall.
All support devices tend to cause muscle atrophy with continued use, because if a muscle doesn't have to work, then it won't. Wearing a body shaper to pull the abs in will actually keep your TvA weak, leading to many problems such as instability, a protruding abdomen, a functional imbalance in the external and internal layers of the abdominal wall, and will prevent proper closure of the mid line (abdominal separation).
That said, I have no problem with the occasional use of a body shaper, for instance if you going out to a nice dinner, or a wedding or such and want to look your best for that night.
