There’s no arguing that pregnancy puts an enormous amount of strain on the body. Any expectant mother will confirm that a growing baby bump comes with aches, pains, and a changing body that needs extra TLC and support.
Unfortunately, many of these issues don’t magically disappear after the baby is born.
However, the pay off of those gummy smiles and snuggly cuddles make it all worth it! Motherhood can be the most amazing experience and opportunity for personal growth you’ll ever come across.
But, after giving birth, our bodies need time to heal and recover. In this post we will share with you our favourite postpartum recovery tools and tips, and give you the low down on how Smileybelt can support you postnatally. Because not only can Smileybelt help during pregnancy, it can also offer relief during those crucial postnatal months.
Why Smileybelt Is An Awesome Postpartum Support Belt
Your Body Is Still Recovering
Postpartum, your ligaments are still in a relaxed state and your core is weakened. For many Mums, this is not an issue. However, for many others, you might feel like you need a little bit of extra support for your pelvis, lower back or abdominal muscles. Something to ‘hold you all together’ whilst you begin to regain your strength. In extreme cases, you may have chronic conditions that require extra help to aid recovery.
If you are in the “need-a-little-help” or in the “need a lot of help” category, then Smileybelt can assist as a postpartum support belt. When wearing the Smileybelt after you give birth, it works in the same way as when you are pregnant, by stabilising the pelvis and lower back or supporting and hugging in your abdomen.
You will find that many issues will resolve themselves naturally following the birth, others may stick around or even worsen. If you have areas of weakness and don’t use adequate support, you may inadvertently prolong your healing time. For example, if you experience pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy, there’s a high chance it may persist postnatally.
Victoria Sole, a mother of 3, and a Paediatric Doctor in Wellington had persisting issues after her pregnancies… ”I had both sacroiliac joint and pubic symphysis pain during my second and third pregnancies and the Smileybelt was a lifesaver. I also found it brilliant when recovering from my c-sections, by using it as a belly band. It created a little pressure and padding over the healing wound, as well as extra support for my belly whilst running around after my other two young kids. During both pregnancy and postnatal it held everything together and gave me the support I badly needed!”
More Support To Keep You Active – Getting Back Into Shape
Being a mum to a newborn is an amazing job, but some days it can be a little challenging. Those are the days when you are well aware that your body is still healing, and the merry-go-round of motherly activities is all too much.
But, don’t worry. Not all days will feel this way.
For the ones that do, Smileybelt could be the ace up your sleeve that gets you through. Exercise is an essential part of postnatal recovery. Both mentally and physically. While we are not advocating for hardcore cardio or running a marathon, gentle exercises (approved by your LMC) can help you deal with any conditions or issues brought on by pregnancy and childbirth as well as freshen up your headspace.
Wearing a Smileybelt helps to keep all your joints in alignment and supports your muscles to recover back into their natural patterns of movement as you increase your activity levels.
A Smileybelt can provide you with extra security while you exercise, increasing your comfort levels and support the uterus, abdomen, lower back and pelvis.
Some Helpful Postpartum Recovery Tips
Navigating the world of parenting can be fun and terrifying at the same time! Like anything, at the start, you don’t know what you don’t know. So, we have put together a little list of some helpful tips to aid with your postpartum recovery:
- – Sleep when your baby sleeps! In case you haven’t heard, babies are pretty much nocturnal in their first few weeks/months. Until their circadian rhythm develops expect to be a bit nocturnal yourself and sleep whenever you can during the day.
- – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You will be pleasantly surprised by the number of friends and family that will drop around a meal or rock your little one while you dash for a shower. People inherently want to help… so let them! You could have a designated support person you can call on. Whether it be a friend, family member or a postpartum doula.
- – It is alright to say no. You don’t have to have people come to visit if you aren’t feeling up to it. These first few months are for you to bond with your baby, establish a healthy feeding/sleeping rhythm and to recover from childbirth. So give yourself permission to do just that in whatever way you need to.
- – Remember, with the birth of a child comes the birth of a Mother. This is technically known as matrescence – a woman’s transition into motherhood – and it is very real. It is not talked about enough but this transition is huge. Emotionally, physically, mentally, socially. We love the work of Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson, author of “I wish someone had told me…” who is working to make matrescence a well understood term, and a time for women to thrive. Her new podcast complements her online courses by empowering women through this transitional time. Her interviews with both mothers and experts ‘tell all’ in an uncensored way. Tune in here: www.ToughMothers.com/interviews/
- – I know it sounds boring but be mindful of the way you sit or lie when feeding. Good posture can prevent unnecessary back pain and a tight chest. There are a number of different positions you can try. Check out some of them here. A great yoga pose for opening up your chest and shoulders if you do tend to hunch is gomukhasana, cow face pose.
- – Plan to see a pelvic health physio for peace of mind and to ensure your pelvic floor is on track to recover well… it is the only pelvic floor you have and you will thank yourself for taking care in the years to come.
- – Connect with other Mums. There’s a strength that comes from feeling understood and knowing you are not alone.
- – Take gentle walks outside, with or without your baby. There is just something about fresh air and open space that really aids physical and mental wellbeing. If you can easily get to the beach go soak up those negative ions. Far better than any handful of supplements you could take!
Post Birth Support for a Wide Spectrum of Discomfort
One of our users had a particularly difficult time post-birth and found a Smileybelt to be an essential tool in her path to recovery.
“I’ve had absolutely horrendous back pain since having my breech baby girl in January. I had a spinal for the C-section and my back has been terrible since – to the point of ending up in the emergency department because of massive back spasms and needing to have hospital physio. Luckily I found Smileybelt when I did! My Smileybelt is basically holding me together while I recover from the C-Section, the back pain and the large abdominal muscle separation.
My hospital physio took one look at my Smileybelt and told me to keep wearing it, then she asked me where I got it from! I wear it when exercising, when sleeping if I’m having a bad back day, and around the house.
Can’t recommend having a Smileybelt enough – and when I’m back teaching Yoga, guess what I’m recommending to my pregnancy Yoga students?
Thanks Smileybelt!”
Many women benefit from a Smileybelt during and after pregnancy. Whether you simply need a little extra support for common aches and pains or suffer from more debilitating issues, you will find Smileybelt can offer some relief.
So, if you are looking for a great postpartum support belt, Smileybelt might be just what you need. We have more info available on our website or you can contact us with any queries.