A quarter of a century ago, the bandage was unloved, although necessary, in the wardrobe of expectant mothers. The complexity of putting on this product is often compared with the corset: lacing, hooks, eyelets ... Today, the bandage of modern cut is easy to pick up and comfortable to wear. True, it is also necessary to know how to wear an antenatal bandage.
Why do I need a bandage?
Doctors recommend using the bandage starting from 20-22 weeks of pregnancy, that is, as soon as your tummy becomes noticeable. Of course, you can do well without a bandage, but only if before the pregnancy you are actively involved in sports and strengthened the abdominal muscles. Otherwise, the bandage is simply necessary: it will relieve the load from the spine and muscles of the abdominal cavity and allow the baby to take the correct position for delivery.
In addition, the bandage helps with the threat of premature birth (it does not allow the child to descend), it is indispensable for carrying a multiple pregnancy and can even prevent the appearance of stretch marks.
Which band to choose?
There are antenatal, postnatal and universal bandages:
- An antenatal bandage helps a woman proudly carry a rounded tummy. It looks like a high dense panties, in the front of which there is a special elastic insert - it also supports the stomach.
- Postnatal bandage is indispensable for women who gave birth with Caesarean section: it reliably fixes the seams, relieves tension and supports the abdominal muscles. In fact, these are the same high panties, but already with a pulling effect.
- However, today the most demanded is the universal (combined) bandage. It has the appearance of a belt on "Velcro" and worn both before and after childbirth. During prenatal period, its wide part strengthens the back, and the narrow part is fixed under the belly. After giving birth, the belt is turned over: the wide part on the stomach,
and narrow - on the back.
How to dress a bandage for pregnant women?
If you picked up a bandage in a specialized store, the sales consultants probably told and showed you how to properly wear an antenatal bandage. Perhaps you have already been consulted by a gynecologist or are you just going to ask him how to put on a bandage for pregnant women. You yourself can master this simple thing with the help of the following algorithm:
- Lie on your back, putting a pillow under your buttocks.
- Relax and lie down for a couple of minutes. Your baby will move to the upper abdomen (the feeling of heaviness and pressure on the bladder will disappear).
- Put on and tightly fasten the bandage.
- Turn over on your side and gently, without hurrying, rise.
Check yourself: correctly put on the bandage passes under the belly, grabbing the pubic bone, and leans on the hips. The bandage should never squeeze the stomach! Do not tighten it too tight, at the same time wearing a slightly tightened bandage does not make sense.
You can wear a bandage up to 5 hours a day, but if you or your baby feel uncomfortable, it is best to shorten this time to a minimum.
How to properly wear a postnatal bandage?
Do not rush to chain yourself into the bandage right after delivery. Doctors recommend wearing a bandage for 7-10 days after the birth of a baby. Do not wear a bandage constantly: every 3 hours, arrange yourself a break for 30 minutes. At night, the bandage needs to be removed.
Wear the postpartum bandage as well as the antenatal - lying on the back, when the abdominal muscles relax and occupy the right position.
How to properly wear a universal bandage?
The rules of wearing a universal bandage are absolutely the same as for prenatal and postnatal. Wear it in a prone position, lifting your hips:
- Lay out the bandage on the couch or bed. Lie down so that the wide part of the bandage is under the waist.
- Fix the ends of the bandage under the belly, picking up a comfortable degree of "tension".
- Stand up, correct the degree of pressure on the lower abdomen.