So how safe is it to use a garter after childbirth?

 

Laura is at crossroads. Her husband recently bought her a postpartum girdle (garter) to help her get back to her pre-pregnancy size, but because she delivered by C-section, she is not sure whether it is safe. 

 

 Traditionally, women who deliver naturally tightly wrap a piece of cloth around their bellies to help their muscles get back into shape. But what about a woman who has delivered by C-section, is it safe for her to use a garter?  

 

Dr. Othman Kayonge, a gynaecologist at a private clinic on Lumumba Avenue, says in developed countries like the US, some midwives recommend postpartum girdles, even for women who delivered by C-section. However, in Uganda, he warns that some girdles on the market are not suitable for a woman who has undergone a C-section.

 

“I have heard that some products are elastic and tight. But how do you use such a product on a wound or uterus that is just recovering?” he wonders.

 

He explains that in the US, for instance, there are postpartum girdles specifically designed for mothers who have had a C-section to assist in the healing process. “The concept behind this is that it is gives support to the muscles where the incision was made, and can enable the wearer be more mobile, which in itself makes recovery quicker,” he says.

 

Kayonge stresses that in such countries, the girdle is designed to give the mother support as much as possible, not necessarily because of weight problems. 

 

“It gives support to the back, helping to ease the aches and pains, which often come after childbirth. It also helps support the back, given the strain that comes with carrying a newborn, especially when breastfeeding. 

 

“You might regain your pre-pregnancy figure, but that might not be because you bound the stomach. You also have to ensure that you are active and do house chores.”

 

Kayonge says women who have had a C-section must take about eight to 10 months before they can wear a girdle. He explains that a C-section birth needs special rejuvenation because an operation is stressful. A newborn also needs a mother’s attention, so you have to ensure you do not hurt yourself in the process. 

 

“Wrapping the belly is likely to damage the wound and open it afresh, damaging the tissues. Even nine months after childbirth, anything can happen because the layers inside the abdomen would still be healing.” 

 

Kayonge says if one must use a girdle, this should be a year after birth and it should not be tight. The girdle should also be smooth and should not touch the spot where the incision was made,” he emphasises. “For a normal delivery, one can use the girdle after about five to seven weeks.”

 

However, Dr. Damian Ndajimana, a gynaecologist at St. Cosmas Clinic in Kisoro district, warns that even with belly tying and/or wearing a girdle, the stomach would still bulge. 

 

“The sure way to shed the weight is by exercising, or having an active lifestyle. Look at the young mothers in Kisoro. They give birth, and do lots of exercise like climbing hills and digging. You would not know they have ever given birth because they exercise.”

 

He further explains that when one has a C-section, the abdominal wall is cut and the muscles are sewn back together. This creates scarring through all layers of the abdominal wall. “So if you have a scar, imagine squeezing those muscles to get back together? That is dangerous,” he elaborates. 

 

Dr. Ronald Dushaka, a birth attendant at St. Cosmas Clinic in Kisoro district, emphasises: “Using a garter may cause the uterus to rupture because after birth, your body is still vulnerable. The issue of whether or not to tie the stomach after childbirth arises every time we have workshops with mothers.”

 

Indeed,many women have different tales. There are many women who have done everything, from wearing a binding the belly with a cloth, but they still did not shed the bulge. There are also those whose bellies just shrank on their own. What is significant, however, is that everyone’s body responds differently to weight after childbirth.

 

As any mother will tell you, it is usually more difficult to get back into shape after your second child than after your first. 

Experts say after pregnancy, the body needs to normalise and it takes nine months or more to get back into physiological balance. This balance is not just related to one’s hormones, but also how active one is. 

 

Getting back into shape does not come easy, so you have to be patient and make exercise a routine.