Giving birth is no stroll in the park. Whether you are in labour for a few hours or a few days, deliver the baby vaginally or via C-section, all types of birth are traumatic to the body, and it takes time for your body to heal. In the first few days and weeks after giving birth, you may feel severe bleeding, vaginal discomfort, stomach pain, and cramping as your organs, including your urethra, vagina, and anus, shift back into their proper locations.
But even after the initial bleeding stops, it might take your body much longer to heal properly. It takes your body about six to eight weeks to recover physically after a straightforward vaginal delivery. It can take up to 12 weeks if you have a more complicated C-section delivery. According to some doctors, it might take abdominal muscles up to two years to restore the power they had before pregnancy.
One approach to speeding this process along so you can get back to your usual activities more quickly is to use a postpartum compression garment to provide compression on your muscles and organs.
Extra Compression From A Postpartum Garment Can Do The Following:
- Assist your body in releasing the fluid buildup in your uterus so it can return to its average size sooner.
- Achieve faster muscle recovery without resorting to time-consuming stomach workouts.
- Lessen the swelling.
- Allow you to relax and enjoy yourself.
- Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles is as simple as adopting a more upright posture.
- Assist in avoiding the development of abdominal separation.
If You've Already Had A Cesarean Section, Then...
Compression may help reduce the pressure and discomfort of your incision and help you heal more quickly. If you've had a C-section, using postpartum compression garments is even more crucial since compression can help relieve pressure and pain from your incision. In addition, it is a good idea to wear something over the region where your sutures are in order to reduce the risk of anything tugging on your stitches.
What Is The Purpose Of Wearing Postpartum Compression Garments?
What are the benefits of compression for the body after giving birth? The hormone relaxin, which is abundant in a pregnant woman's body, facilitates the enlargement of her joints, making delivery less of a strain.
As your muscles and organs settle back into position and stiffen again after delivery, the quantity of relaxin in your body gradually decreases. Postnatal compression garments compress your muscles together so they can heal more rapidly.
Diastasis recti and Postpartum Garments
Postpartum garments are helpful because they can reduce the risk of diastasis recti, which occurs when the abdominal muscles separate as the uterus enlarges. Although these muscles often return to their normal positions during the first eight weeks after birth, they can be assisted by wearing a compression garment.
To be clear, compression garments are not a panacea for diastasis recti. After eight weeks, if you still haven't seen any improvement in the separation of your abdominal muscles, it's time to consult a doctor.
At The End, What To Avoid With Compression Garments After Giving Birth?
If you wear the compression garments too tightly, you may experience more pain, trouble breathing, or pelvic floor prolapse. You shouldn't wear your garment for more than 12 hours a day or more than 12 weeks total, as doing so might actually weaken your muscles.
These are a few potential side effects of postpartum compression garments discussed at the conclusion of the blog.