BENGKUNG BELLY-BINDING:
What is Bengkung Belly Binding?
Belly binding is an ancient tradition in many eastern cultures. The practice involves using special knots to tie a long strip of cloth around the abdomen - sometimes after applying an herbal paste or essential oils to the abdomen - during the postpartum recovery period to provide support to a woman's womb after childbirth. The Bengkung style of binding is specific to the Malaysian culture.
Benefits of belly binding:
More about Belly Binding
Women are instinctive nurturers. They care for everyone around them, but rarely do they have the opportunity to be taken care of, and even more rarely in our culture of independence is that care given by another woman. Belly binding is a ceremony, a ritual of nurture and healing that recreates the feeling of being surrounded, loved, and noticed that prevails in close-knit communities and families. Binding of the belly is about so much more than weight loss, getting your pre-baby figure back, or even healing physically. It is about honoring that space of motherhood, the transition from girl to woman and from woman to mother, and mother of one to mother of many. It is about surrounding each other with the most basic and essential of human needs: acceptance and love. When I come to bind your abdomen, I bring warmth, understanding, and most of all, love, to lift you up in a time of vulnerability and healing.
The Belly bind is most effective and best used during the first 8 weeks postpartum, but can be useful for support up to 6 months postpartum.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Please visit "book BengKung Belly Binding" for cost and basic information.
Q: Where are you located?
A: I live and work from YUKON, OK. I support the surrounding counties, including Tinker Air Force Base.
Q: How long should I wear the binding?
A: Traditionally, the Bengkung belly bind is done 24/7 for the entire postpartum “confinement” period, which is 30-40 days in the cultures that observe this practice. This is impractical for modern day living, and the results diminish after a week or two. The best time to wear the bind is overnight for eight hours per day if possible.
Q: What if I have a Cesarean?
A: You can still be bound if you have a Cesarean. We will wait until 4 - 6 weeks postpartum, based on your healing and recovery. The bind still has many benefits within the first two months. Depending on your comfort level I may utilize a Taiwanese form of belly binding that is gentler on the incision site.
Q: What makes a Bengkung different from western postpartum girdles like Belly Bandit?
A: Its length and the custom fit. A Bengkung Belly Bind is a long wrap that covers from under the chest all the way down to below the hips. This way it doesn’t just work on the waist but also works on the ribcage and the hips. It also stays put when you move, and so it doesn’t press on the abdomen. The custom fit cannot be found anywhere else and this improves the results you will see.
Q: How effective is this compared to a postpartum girdle, like the ones you can buy at Walmart for $30? (Is it different than a self-bind?)
A: Imagine the difference between buying pants that claim to fit everyone, regardless of size or shape and getting custom-fitted by a professional. What would be more comfortable? The custom fit is, of course, going to give you the best results. Likewise, the Malaysian belly bind is a custom fit every time. It’s made of soft materials instead of having boning or Velcro like most girdles, which can dig into your skin and be painful when you sit or lay down, especially if you’ve had a cesarean. The Bengkung belly bind is the best option for your time and money if you want the results mentioned above.
Q: How do I go to the bathroom while wearing it?
A: I recommend having the bind wrapped beneath all of your clothes for the best fit and most comfort and convenience. The most effective bind stretches from just below your bust to about mid-hip, near your pelvic bone. For modesty’s sake (and because of heavy postpartum flow) you’ll want to wear whatever underwear (mesh, etc.) while I’m binding. It is still easy enough to pull your underwear out from under the bind the first time you use the bathroom and when you’re finished, simply pull them up over the bind or tuck them back underneath.
Q: You mentioned the bind can be useful during pregnancy. Can you tell me more about that?
A: During pregnancy the hormone Relaxin works to loosen up all our joints in preparation for birth. This enables the baby to move more easily through the normally rigid pelvic area, as it allows bones and joints a greater range of movement, Unfortunately this can also result in greater discomfort during pregnancy when the pubic bone begins to separate. Sitting, laying down, and normal day-to-day movements sometimes become painful or even impossible. The Malaysian bind can be tied short, giving support to your growing belly as well as your hips and pelvic/pubic bones. Painful conditions caused by pelvic joint loosening and separation can be alleviated through use of the partial Bengkung bind.
Q: What if I have a miscarriage or stillbirth?
A: You can still be bound if either of these situations occurs. In fact, the belly bind will speed your emotional as well as physical healing. I offer special bereavement pricing.
What is Bengkung Belly Binding?
Belly binding is an ancient tradition in many eastern cultures. The practice involves using special knots to tie a long strip of cloth around the abdomen - sometimes after applying an herbal paste or essential oils to the abdomen - during the postpartum recovery period to provide support to a woman's womb after childbirth. The Bengkung style of binding is specific to the Malaysian culture.
Benefits of belly binding:
- It helps to slim the ribcage, abdomen and hips.
- Helps pull the separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) back together to better aid in healing naturally.
- Encourages healing from pelvic/pubic separation (a partial bind during pregnancy can be especially beneficial for pelvic support).
- Helps to comfort and get rid of the "empty" feeling after childbirth.
- Nurtures the mother in a time of vulnerability and healing.
- Prevents back pain. While wearing it, you are reminded to sit and walk straight, a good antidote to the “nursing-slouch."
- Decreases postpartum bleeding time by speeding up the process of getting rid of waste blood in a natural way.
- It’s an ancient traditional natural way of healing after birth.
- In the case of a miscarriage or stillbirth, belly binding can improve emotional healing as it speeds physical healing.
- It feels good!
More about Belly Binding
Women are instinctive nurturers. They care for everyone around them, but rarely do they have the opportunity to be taken care of, and even more rarely in our culture of independence is that care given by another woman. Belly binding is a ceremony, a ritual of nurture and healing that recreates the feeling of being surrounded, loved, and noticed that prevails in close-knit communities and families. Binding of the belly is about so much more than weight loss, getting your pre-baby figure back, or even healing physically. It is about honoring that space of motherhood, the transition from girl to woman and from woman to mother, and mother of one to mother of many. It is about surrounding each other with the most basic and essential of human needs: acceptance and love. When I come to bind your abdomen, I bring warmth, understanding, and most of all, love, to lift you up in a time of vulnerability and healing.
The Belly bind is most effective and best used during the first 8 weeks postpartum, but can be useful for support up to 6 months postpartum.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Please visit "book BengKung Belly Binding" for cost and basic information.
Q: Where are you located?
A: I live and work from YUKON, OK. I support the surrounding counties, including Tinker Air Force Base.
Q: How long should I wear the binding?
A: Traditionally, the Bengkung belly bind is done 24/7 for the entire postpartum “confinement” period, which is 30-40 days in the cultures that observe this practice. This is impractical for modern day living, and the results diminish after a week or two. The best time to wear the bind is overnight for eight hours per day if possible.
Q: What if I have a Cesarean?
A: You can still be bound if you have a Cesarean. We will wait until 4 - 6 weeks postpartum, based on your healing and recovery. The bind still has many benefits within the first two months. Depending on your comfort level I may utilize a Taiwanese form of belly binding that is gentler on the incision site.
Q: What makes a Bengkung different from western postpartum girdles like Belly Bandit?
A: Its length and the custom fit. A Bengkung Belly Bind is a long wrap that covers from under the chest all the way down to below the hips. This way it doesn’t just work on the waist but also works on the ribcage and the hips. It also stays put when you move, and so it doesn’t press on the abdomen. The custom fit cannot be found anywhere else and this improves the results you will see.
Q: How effective is this compared to a postpartum girdle, like the ones you can buy at Walmart for $30? (Is it different than a self-bind?)
A: Imagine the difference between buying pants that claim to fit everyone, regardless of size or shape and getting custom-fitted by a professional. What would be more comfortable? The custom fit is, of course, going to give you the best results. Likewise, the Malaysian belly bind is a custom fit every time. It’s made of soft materials instead of having boning or Velcro like most girdles, which can dig into your skin and be painful when you sit or lay down, especially if you’ve had a cesarean. The Bengkung belly bind is the best option for your time and money if you want the results mentioned above.
Q: How do I go to the bathroom while wearing it?
A: I recommend having the bind wrapped beneath all of your clothes for the best fit and most comfort and convenience. The most effective bind stretches from just below your bust to about mid-hip, near your pelvic bone. For modesty’s sake (and because of heavy postpartum flow) you’ll want to wear whatever underwear (mesh, etc.) while I’m binding. It is still easy enough to pull your underwear out from under the bind the first time you use the bathroom and when you’re finished, simply pull them up over the bind or tuck them back underneath.
Q: You mentioned the bind can be useful during pregnancy. Can you tell me more about that?
A: During pregnancy the hormone Relaxin works to loosen up all our joints in preparation for birth. This enables the baby to move more easily through the normally rigid pelvic area, as it allows bones and joints a greater range of movement, Unfortunately this can also result in greater discomfort during pregnancy when the pubic bone begins to separate. Sitting, laying down, and normal day-to-day movements sometimes become painful or even impossible. The Malaysian bind can be tied short, giving support to your growing belly as well as your hips and pelvic/pubic bones. Painful conditions caused by pelvic joint loosening and separation can be alleviated through use of the partial Bengkung bind.
Q: What if I have a miscarriage or stillbirth?
A: You can still be bound if either of these situations occurs. In fact, the belly bind will speed your emotional as well as physical healing. I offer special bereavement pricing.