Hello dear parents and soon-to-be parents out there. What I’m about to share has little to do with allergies, but a lot to do with good physical and mental health. And to be honest, we at Artemis are a lot more than allergy relief.
Nathalie and I are both life-long learners of the natural world and the ways in which we can live most harmoniously on Earth for health, happiness, enjoyment of life, deep connection and loving relationships. So yeah, we are a lot more than allergy relief J
For instance, you may not know that, in addition to managing the operations side of Artemis, I’m also a birth doula. If you’re not familiar with what that is, here’s the quick answer – a doula is a trained professional who provides non-medical (i.e. emotional, informational and physical) support to a birthing person and their partner before, during, and shortly after childbirth, with the goal that the birthing person feels empowered, informed, and as comfortable as possible throughout pregnancy and birth and the first couple weeks postpartum.
Being a new parent, especially at the beginning is one of the toughest things to experience. We are literally thrown into chaos, uncertainty, and doubt, AND totally fatigued AND learning to breastfeed AND recovering from a pretty major internal wound (the placenta separating from the uterus). Not to mention if a c-section was necessary, then there’s external healing as well.
We go through SO much to birth new life, it’s hard to believe we have so many families with multiple children (I still can’t believe I went through childbirth 3 times)!
To help make things just a little bit easier, I’m here to share about one of the postpartum healing traditions that’s centuries old and originates from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It’s called Benkgung Belly Binding. And even though this practice is very old, I never heard about until recently; and how I wish it was talked about 20 years ago!
So, in writing this, I hope that the next time you have baby or know someone who’s having a baby, you’ll think about the profound benefits of Benkgung Belly Binding. Below are the most important benefit.
- Provides Abdominal Support: After childbirth, the abdominal muscles and ligaments undergo significant stretching and loosening. Bengkung belly binding offers support to the abdomen, helping to realign the organs and provide stability to the core muscles. This support can alleviate back pain and discomfort often experienced during the postpartum period.
- Encourages Uterine Involution: Uterine involution is the process by which the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy size. Belly binding aids in this natural process by providing gentle compression to the abdominal area, promoting the uterus to contract effectively. As a result, it may help reduce postpartum bleeding and expedite the recovery of the uterus to its non-pregnant state.
- Assists in Diastasis Recti Recovery: Diastasis recti, a condition characterized by the separation of the abdominal muscles, commonly occurs during pregnancy. Belly binding can aid in the healing of diastasis recti because the compression provided by wrapping encourages these muscles to come together, promoting faster recovery and restoring core strength.
- Improves Posture and Mobility: The additional weight gained during pregnancy often leads to changes in posture and balance. Belly binding promotes better posture by supporting the abdominal and lower back muscles. By maintaining proper alignment, it can alleviate strain on the spine and pelvis, allowing for improved mobility and comfort during daily activities.
- Enhances Emotional Well-being: The postpartum period can be emotionally challenging for many women as they adjust to the physical and psychological changes following childbirth. Belly binding provides a sense of comfort and security, like being swaddled, which can have a calming effect on new mamas.
The practice is actually very simple. The only thing you need is a long piece of fabric, preferably organic muslin, about 15 feet long by 1 foot wide. You can make it pretty easily or look on Etsy for the color of your choice. Then check out the Belly Binding video on the resource page for instructions!
